Eighth_Air_Force_tail_markings USAAF_unit_identification_aircraft_markings

446th bomb group b-24s displaying 1943 division , group marking scheme





1st bomb wing/1st air division ( triangle )







2d bomb wing/2d air division ( circle )





b-24s of 458th bomb group, 96th combat bomb wing, in 1944-45 color scheme





4th bomb wing/3d air division ( square )





the 100th bg s square-d still in use in usaf successor unit, 100th air refueling wing.

¹markings b-24 groups only

°b-17 markings

color identifiers

these markings effective within mile of viewer, numbers of groups increased sixteen forty, assembly difficulties increased. in february 1944 usaaf decided discontinue further camouflage painting of aircraft, , 2nd bomb division devised system b-24s whereby entire tail fin painted in color (each of 5 combat wings assigned color) , black or white band placed across fin either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally identify group within wing. 93rd cbw of 3rd air division, operated b-24s may september 1944, adopted color system in june.

uncamouflaged 486th bomb group b-17g 4th combat bomb wing, 3rd air division color marking scheme

the first color markings b-17s appeared in july 1944 when 1st combat bomb wing (91st, 381st, , 398th bomb groups) painted empennage of airplanes bright red. remainder of 1st air division began using color schemes in september, each combat wing adopted different method, depicted in link below under external links .

the 3rd air division, once converted all-b-17 command, followed suit in winter of 1944-1945, employing elaborate schemes included colored chevrons , bands on aircraft wings required months of labor convert aircraft. schemes depicted in b-17 link below.