Target for Tonight

© Photographed December 3, 2016, with permission of
EAA Air Venture Museum

Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

43.984169, -88.577507

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Target for Tonight

The crew of Target for Tonight asked their tail gunner Eddy Saville to paint the nose of their bomber. Inspired by a popular swing-era tune titled "Wine, Women and Song," Saville created this imaginary scene with the assistance of crewmate Bob Garner.

A commercial artist before the war, Saville created a unique composition in which four women in bathing suits balance on the edge of a wine goblet. Colorful music notes float below, Despite Saville's visual interpretation of the song, the crew felt the name Target for Tonight was more fitting once the nose art was finished.

Double Entendres

Like many nose art paintings, Target for Tonight reflects a double entendre, or dual meaning, in which one of the meanings can be interpreted as sexually suggestive. Playing on the aircrew's mission to bomb enemy targets, the title also playfully acknowledges the crew desire to seek out a diversion from the war in women, wine and song. Other nose art paintings in the Airpower Museum also reflect multiple meanings. Some are harmless, while others reflect attitudes that may be objectionable to some in 21st century society.

B-17G

Serial #44-8810 or 44-48810

European Theatre

8th Air Force

385th Bomb Group /

549th Bomb Squadron

100th Bomb Group

349th Bomb Squadron

Crew: Bob Garner, Eddy Saville

Target for Tonight is part of the Commemorative Air Force WWII Nose Art Collection, on display November 2015 through December 2017, at the EAA Air Venture Museum located at 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902.

EAA Air Venture Museum

More than 30 pieces of nose art from actual World War II combat aircraft made their first-ever trip outside their home museum, with the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh chosen as the first public display location for this rare collection.

The collection from the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) headquarters in Dallas, Texas, made its debut in November 2015 after a month of preparation in the EAA museum’s Eagle Hangar, which honors the people and aircraft of World War II. The artifacts have been designated by the National Trust for Historical Preservation as an official project of Save America’s Treasures, which seeks to preserve historic structures, art, and published works throughout the nation. It will be on display at EAA throughout 2017.

Commemorative Air Force Headquarters

Click here for more information about the collection and to view all nose art photographed.

Nose artist Eddy Seville looks out

from the cockpit of Target for Tonight.

Target for Tonight is part of the Commemorative Air Force

WWII Nose Art Collection, on display through December 2017

at the EAA Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Click here for more information about the collection
and to view all nose art photographed.