“Bat Outta Hel” CH146 Griffon Nose Art in Afghanistan

Aircraft nose art is an important component of a combat aircraft’s markings and can help to boost crew morale, esprit de corps and instill pride in the service, as well as add a distinct character to the aircraft. This article builds upon the author’s earlier study of Canadian Chinook nose art by examining the images which adorned CH146 Griffons in Afghanistan. While the art on the big twin engined helicopters largely reflected the transport role of those aircraft, the nose art of the Griffons was inspired by the fighting nature of the Griffons escort role. Ca na di an F or ce s ph ot o IS X2 01 000 35 © Canadian Military History, Volume 21, Number 3, Summer 2012, pp.65-70. 1 : “Bat Outta Hel” CH146 Griffon Nose Art in Afghanistan Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2015 64 Two Canadian Forces Griffon Helicopters approach Kandahar Airfield after a Chinook escort mission in Afghanistan, 31 January 2010. 2 Canadian Military History, Vol. 21 [2015], Iss. 3, Art. 7 http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol21/iss3/7 66 described how the Chinook’s task of carrying and delivering troops and supplies to the outlying regions of the Canadian area of operations in the Panjwaii region of Afghanistan inspired the artwork on those aircraft. In the case of the Griffon, the nose art is more aggressive to reflect this helicopter’s use as a heavily armed escort aircraft. “Ace of Spades” was the first Griffon nose art and was painted during Tactical Helicopter Roto 0 in early 2009. According to Master Corporal Gord Bennett who painted this first artwork, “It was developed and painted onto aircraft 414 after becoming a ‘double ace’ from a steady series of bird strikes, but unfortunately it was felt that it was inappropriate and it had a relatively short lived life.” Following this first attempt at nose art, additional works were not authorized until 18 months later when the policy was changed. The remainder of the artwork was painted by Corporal Richard Aucoin who has graciously provided the images of his work. “Bat Outta Hel” was first shown to the CEFCOM Operation Keepsake1 team during a collection visit to Kandahar Airfield in July 2010. At that time the Chinooks were already sporting their own artwork, so this was the first authorized artwork for the Griffon and was applied to aircraft 401. “Bat Outta Hel” was a large black bat with piercing red eyes. The bat was depicted swooping Top: Griffon 492 carries “Falcon with a Spear and Canada Flag” on its front battery cover as it departs on an escort mission from Kandahar Air Field, 27 July 2011. Inset: Master Corporal Gord Bennett holds “Ace of Spades,” the first Griffon noseart he painted for aircraft 414 in early 2009. 3 : “Bat Outta Hel” CH146 Griffon Nose Art in Afghanistan Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2015 67 in, fully armed with machine guns. The weapons were painted in either light grey or off white to make them stand out against the olive green aircraft nose. The “Bat Outta Hel” lettering was accented by a subtle red highlight. “Bat Outta Hel” may have been inspired by the rock album “Bat Out of Hell,”2 or the bat may have been chosen to represent the Griffon’s use in night operations in Afghanistan. Another possible connection could be drawn to the red bat symbol of the wartime RCAF 440 Fighter Bomber Squadron. The rendering of “Hell” as “Hel” may reference the military abbreviation for helicopter. Unfortunately this artwork was lost when the aircraft was returned to Canada to be refurbished. “To the Finish” was painted on aircraft 414, the same aircraft that had sported the short-lived “Ace of Spades” a year earlier. “To the Finish” is a full colour painting of Popeye the Sailor, a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.3 Popeye has been a popular feature in military aircraft art because of his muscular, ready to fight persona. The character on Griffon 414 has been given some unique features: a black tactical Canadian flag tattoo on his right fore-arm and a black tactical RCAF roundel tattoo on his left. The wording “To the Finish” is painted in blue and is taken from Popeye’s motto, “I fights to the finish because I eats me spinach.” Fighting to the finish can also be used to reflect how the RCAF, like the rest of the Canadian Forces, is ready and capable of fighting to the finish. “Falcon with a Spear and Canada Flag” was painted on aircraft 492. The falcon is the symbol of 430e Escadron tactique d’helicopteres, which is based at CFB Valcartier. With the phase out of the Twin Huey and Kiowa helicopters, the squadron acquired the Griffon helicopter in 1994. The RCAF website describes Above: Griffon 401 carries the art work “Bat Outta Hel.” The image shows a black bat with a red eye carrying two large machine guns, one of which is the 6-barrelled Dillon minigun. Right: The squadron badge of 440 Squadron features a large red bat with wings extended. Below: Popeye, the resourceful, capable sailor with superhuman strength, is featured in “To the Finish,” the nose art which adorns Griffon 414. Ca na di an F or ce s ph ot o AR 20 11 -0 31 103 3; In se t: Ph ot o co ur te sy M as te r C or po ra l G or d Be nn et t. Ph ot o co ur te sy C or po ra l R ic ha rd A uc oi n Ph ot o co ur te sy C or po ra l R ic ha rd A uc oi n 4 Canadian Military History, Vol. 21 [2015], Iss. 3, Art. 7 http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol21/iss3/7 68 Door gunner, Corporal Michael Zebiere, provides security from a CH146 Griffon helicopter with the Dillon M134D small caliber defence suppression weapon during a reconnaissance of Task Force Kandahar (TFK) helicopter landing spots in the TFK area of operations, 13 January 2010. Below: A Griffon armed with a Dillon minigun escorts a Chinook on a mission in Afghanistan, January 2010. Ca na di an F or ce s ph ot o AR 20 10 -0 00 844 5 : “Bat Outta Hel” CH146 Griffon Nose Art in Afghanistan Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2015 69 the 430 Squadron badge as depicting a “Gyrfalcon’s head in front of a sun in splendour. The Gyrfalcon, found in northern Canada, is noted for its exceptional and alert fighting ability. The sun in splendour is used to depict the squadron’s role of fighter reconnaissance. (The bringing of light or information to the troops).”4 This nose art features a maroon coloured falcon with a yellow beak and talons, accented with a red eye and claws, streaking down to attack an unseen foe. The falcon clenches in its talons a black spear that trails a red and white Canadian flag. “Gun Slinger” features a fullcolour gun fighter reminiscent of the American West of the 1870s as depicted in Hollywood cowboy movies. “Gun Slinger” was painted on aircraft 465 and refers to the Dillon six-barrel guns that were slung on the Griffon. This painted figure has captured in great detail the dress, stance and look of a seasoned gunfighter as he stares down his opponent prior to drawing his two six-shooter revolvers. This is the only figure to be painted facing the viewer and would appear to be advancing forward as the helicopter flew closer. The final piece of nose art is “Dragon with Machine Guns,” which was painted on aircraft 425. A green fire-spitting dragon gripping two machine guns has been superimposed in an attacking stance over a red Canadian maple leaf. The dragon has been given brown, orange and red detail highlight colours and spits red flame from its mouth. This mythical and much feared creature holds what appears to be two M1914 air-cooled Browning machine guns which have been painted in light grey or white in order to stand out from the olive green colour of the helicopter. The two Second World War era machine guns may have been used in this artwork as a historical link to the weapons used on RCAF ground attack aircraft during that war. Above: “Falcon with a Spear and Canada Flag” adorns Griffon 492. Left : The badge of 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron displays the falcon which is the totem of the unit. Below left: The old west cowboy “Gun Slinger” from Griffon 465 is ready to draw his six-shooter revolvers which symbolize the Dillon miniguns carried by the helicopter. Below: “Dragon with Machine Guns” shown on Griffon 425 was inspired by a Taliban’s characterization of the intense firepower brought down by the miniguns as the “Dragon’s Breath of Alla.” Ph ot o co ur te sy C or po ra l R ic ha rd A uc oi n Ph ot o co ur te sy C or po ra l R ic ha rd A uc oi n Ph ot o co ur te sy C or po ra l R ic ha rd A uc oi n 6 Canadian Military History, Vol. 21 [2015], Iss. 3, Art. 7 http://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol21/iss3/7 70 The dragon symbol was probably inspired by the Taliban’s reported description of the intense firepower brought down by the miniguns as the “Dragon’s Breath of Alla.”

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