XXI_Bomber_Command USAAF_unit_identification_aircraft_markings

b-29 dinah might of 9th bg on march 4, 1945, showing 313th bomb wing markings in use (occasion: first b-29 land on iwo jima.) note aircraft s call sign x triangle 9 .

the 73rd bomb wing began combat in october 1944 isley field, saipan, , marked aircraft of fifteenth air force 55th cbw. letter denoting group painted on upper third of tail fin, square symbol in center, , aircraft identifier, known victor number, in lower third. aircraft commonly used tail identifiers radio voice calls (call signs), i.e. lucky irish (serial 42-24622) of 870th bomb squadron, 497th bomb group (lost november 24, 1944, on tokyo) had voice call square 26 .

the 313th bomb wing moved north field (tinian), in january 1945. aircraft used system identical of 73rd wing, symbol triangle.

the 314th bomb wing based @ north field, guam (now andersen air force base) beginning in january 1945, of groups beginning combat operations in february. in order mark increasing numbers of aircraft, 314th wing painted 96-inch black boxes on tail fins , stenciled group identifier, either m, o, p or k in bmf 72-inch block letters. later infilled bright orange/yellow in mid summer 1945.

the 58th bomb wing relocated india west field, tinian (now tinian international airport), in april 1945 , 315th wing began arriving @ northwest field, guam, in may. earlier system of marking aircraft discarded in april both 73rd , 313th wings. 73rd wing dropped use of symbols , marked aircraft group letter only, painted in 126-inch-high (3,200 mm) black lettering. except 314th wing, maintained markings throughout war, remaining wings of xxi bomber command used 126-inch-diameter (3,200 mm) symbols in black outline 63-inch-high (1,600 mm) group letters. symbol outline of 313th wing circle, of 58th wing triangle, , of 315th wing diamond.

20af group letter identifiers:

58th bomb wing (triangle outline symbol):

40th bg - s, 444th bg - n, 462nd bg - u, 468th bg - i

73rd bomb wing (square outline symbol, 10.5-foot letters):

497th bg - a, 498th bg - t, 499th bg - v, 500th bg - z

313th bomb wing (circle outline symbol):

6th bg - r, 9th bg - x, 504th bg - e, 505th bg (january march) - k, (april september) - w

314th bomb wing (solid black square):

315th bomb wing (diamond outline):

16th bg - b, 331st bg - l, 501st bg - y, 502nd bg - h