AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2013 - 32

BRIEFING

PEOPLE
SLIDESHOW

Nose artist Jerri Bergen
Every aircraft has a story
B Y G E R I S I LV E I R A

Bergen helped restore the badly faded six-foot
“Tony the Tiger” artwork on the B–25J Mitchell owned
by Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. She also
brought other artwork to life on several historic aircraft
in the collection as a volunteer. “My goal is to preserve
military aviation history and to bring the stories of pilots
alive,” she said.
Many of her general aviation paintings are designed
to honor someone, such as “One for Maxine,” which
memorializes the pilot’s mother. “Once I understand the
sentiment, I create a design to represent it,” she says.
She creates one or more sketches that show the idea.
Once the client picks a design, painting it can take anywhere from two to five days.
Bergen has created art for more than 100 aircraft
and at least a couple of hundred jackets.
WEB

CORINA MARIE HOWELL

WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM “NOSE ART” bandied about
by pilots at fly-ins, military museums, and historic aircraft display days, they’re not talking about piercings or
tattoos—they’re referring to the decorative paintings on
the cowlings, fuselages, and tails of the aircraft.
With its roots in military tradition, nose art painting
reached its peak during World War II when pilots and
mechanics created hundreds of paintings. The themes
included pinup girls, sentimental names, jabs at the
enemy, animals, wives, girlfriends—you get the picture.
Today, nose art is enjoying a revival thanks to artists
like Jerri Bergen, owner of Victory Girl in Upland,
California. Bergen started Victory Girl in 2006 with
her twin sister Terri.
Bergen’s interest in art began in childhood as a selfdescribed “committed doodler,” considering any blank
surface her personal canvas. While she envisioned herself pursuing art after high school, her mother suggested
that a career in computers might provide a better living.
So, Bergen earned a degree in computer information systems and worked for McDonnell Douglas for nearly 20
years. After a stint at a small aviation repair station, she
decided that art was her destiny, and Victory Girl was
born. Bergen’s first nose art was on her 1966 Mooney
M20C. “The artwork—a Mooney logo superimposed on
a waving American flag—wasn’t inspiring, but did teach
us much about painting techniques,” said Bergen.

“One for Maxine”
was based on the
owner’s mother’s
love of gardening
(top). Jerri Bergen
and husband Chris
(above).

www.victorygirl.com

“Nose art is my passion. I love it not only for the artwork, but for the
story each piece of artwork has to tell.” —Jerri Bergen

A DERELICT

Lockheed
Lodestar found in
Mark Thompson’s
aviation boneyard
was transformed
into a bomber with
nose art for a
music video.

32 | AOPA PILOT February 2013

THE AUTHOR’S Piper

Pawnee features
the brand of her
family’s cattle
ranch in Fallon,
Nevada, the
M-Spear Ranch.

TONY GADIS’

Globe Swift sports
the iconic blue
feather featured
on the cover of
Illusions, a book
by pilot and author
Richard Bach.

http://www.victorygirl.com

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2013

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