Fifteenth_Air_Force_tail_markings USAAF_unit_identification_aircraft_markings

1 fifteenth air force tail markings

1.1 b-17 markings
1.2 first b-24 scheme
1.3 second b-24 scheme

fifteenth air force tail markings

the fifteenth air force had 4 groups of b-17 s , eleven of b-24 s when first marked aircraft unit identification.

b-17 markings

the b-17 s of 5th bomb wing used simple symbol system on tail fins, adopted in fall of 1943 before becoming part of fifteenth air force (triangle 97th bg, square 301st bg, diamond 99th bg, , circle 2nd bg). when 2 additional groups joined wing in april 1944, wing identified groups letter y on uppermost area of tail fin, superimposed on symbol used (in manner similar system used eighth) new 463rd bg using cone-shaped device , 483rd bg five-pointed star displayed below y instead of underlying it.

first b-24 scheme

the more numerous b-24 groups used standardized scheme 4 bomb wings. on outer tail fins, above , below aircraft serial, 2 white circles painted. in upper circle painted geometric symbol in black denoting wing, triangle 47th bomb wing, square 55th, diamond 304th, , circle 49th. in practice of 49th, because of type of stencil used, resembled concentric ring bull s-eye of target. lower circle contained 1 of numerals 1 through 4, painted in black, denoting group.

15af b-24 group numeral identifiers:

47th bomb wing (triangle):

98th bg - 1, 376th bg - 2, 449th bg - 3, 450th bg - 4

49th bomb wing (circle/bulls-eye):

451st bg - 1, 461st bg (second wing assignment, 1944-45) - 2

55th bomb wing (square):

460th bg - 1, 461st bg (first wing assignment, 1944) - 2

304th bomb wing (diamond):

454th bg - 1, 455th bg - 2, 456th bg - 3, 459th bg - 4



second b-24 scheme

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.