Tony Starcer

{{Short description|American soldier and artist}}

File:Boeing B-17 (28614735566).jpg

Anthony L. Starcer, (September 16, 1919 – June 9, 1986) was an American soldier and artist during World War II, known for his nose art work.

Retiring as a sergeant in the US Army Air Force, Starcer was a line mechanic and artist for the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), of the VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Army Air Force, based at Bassingbourn, UK in 1942–43.

He painted many pieces of nose art on the Fortresses of "The Ragged Irregulars", including the George Petty girl "Telephone Girl" for the Memphis Belle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.91stbombgroup.com/nose_artists/starcer.html|title=Tony Starcer - Nose Artist - 91st BG}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/starcer-tony.htm|title = USAAF Nose Art Research Project - Named planes of the USAAF during WWII}} The 91st Bombardment Group (H) website lists 124 aircraft that his work adorned.{{Cite web|url=http://www.91stbombgroup.com/nose_artists/starcer.html|title=Tony Starcer - Nose Artist - 91st BG}}

In 1981, Starcer recreated his nose art at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware,{{Cite web|url=http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/starcer-tony.htm|title = USAAF Nose Art Research Project - Named planes of the USAAF during WWII}} for restored B-17G Shoo Shoo Baby, one of the few surviving combat veteran Flying Fortresses,{{cite web |url=http://www.depot41.com/PartsInPlanes.htm |title=Parts in Planes |accessdate=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905052322/http://depot41.com/PartsInPlanes.htm |archivedate=2013-09-05 }} based on Alberto Vargas' "Hawaii" Esquire pin up art.{{cite web |url=http://nylon.net/pinups/vargas/x/vargas$hawaii.jpg |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-09-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021013802/http://nylon.net/pinups/vargas/x/vargas$hawaii.jpg |archivedate=2011-10-21 }} This B-17 flew 24 combat missions from England with the 91st BG, plus three aborts for mechanical problems, before being listed as missing in action on 29 May 1944. On its final mission, to the Focke Wulf aircraft component factory at Poznań, Poland, it crash-landed at Malmö Airport, Sweden, where it would see post-war service before becoming a museum piece.

He was married to Jackie Starcer.Burnett, Paul C., editor, "The Ragged Irregular", 91st Bombardment Group (H) Newsletter, Auburn, Alabama, October 1984, Volume 17, Number 3, page 3.