Second_B-24_scheme USAAF_unit_identification_aircraft_markings

451st bomb group b-24 # 44-50443 displaying 49th bomb wing markings on germany 19 march 1945. upper tail surface , circle red in color.

in june, 1944, fifteenth air force adopted color-symbol scheme identify groups , wings. 5th bomb wing painted elevators , rudders of b-17s various colors otherwise maintained marking scheme. b-24 wings adopted method color , symbol placement identify groups:

47th bomb wing: diagonally divided tail fins , painted lower half in yellow and/or black, 98th bg using horizontal stripes, 376th bg in black-only, 449th bg in half-yellow half-black, , 450th bg in vertical stripes. former triangle-circle symbol retained in upper half. late in war upper rear stabilizer painted black longitudinal yellow band in center except elevators.

49th bomb wing: upper half of fin painted red, , red symbol in lower half; used same scheme on upper rear stabilizer red on right side , symbol on left. 451st bg: circle; 461st bg: horizontal bar; 484th bg: bow-tie.

55th bomb wing: large black square in upper half of fin, lower half painted black yellow symbol superimposed. 460th bg: ring; 464th bg: vertical bar; 465th bg: horizontal stripe; 485th bg: saltire. rear stabilizer displayed black square outlined in yellow until late in war, when entire surface painted yellow except elevators.

304th bomb wing: large black diamond in upper half; lower half painted group color. rear stabilizer painted group color on left half , had diamond on right. 454th bg: white; 455th bg: yellow; 456th bg: red; 459th bg: black-and-yellow checkerboard.