Floyd Rutledge - Nose Artist

Nose artist Floyd Rutledge joined the RCAF on 17 October 1940. In July 1943, he painted his first Wellington Mk X nose art at Zina, Tunisia. The art featured a flying stork with the tail of a Wellington aircraft, instead of a baby it carried a new bomb for Italy.

L. to R. – Fred Ault, Skip Rutledge [artist] and D. Begley stand under Wellington Nose Art. The aircraft is possibly serial HE457.	Mr. Nose Art replica donated to Nanton Lancaster Museum 2003.

Floyd “Skip” Rutledge painted a total of four Wellington Mk. X aircraft in No. 420 Squadron while station in Tunisia, North Africa.

In September 1943, the unit moved to Landing Ground Hani East, Tunisia, where Wellington serial HE863 received a painting of a “Swoose”, half swan and half goose.

The aircraft coded “G” completed thirty operations and then was left for the British as the Canadians returned to England on 17 October 43, minus aircraft.

The fourth Wellington Skip painted received a Donald Duck nose art. 60 years later the artist can’t recall much detail, but he still has the original sketch.