ESCI put out a decal sheet of WWII US aircraft insignia that shows a YELLOW surround on 1943-44 barred emblem. Was there ANY aircraft to which this was applied anywhere? The short lived red surround was quickly replaced by blue. A yellow surround was only applied to the 1942 variant during Operation Torch and some African theater Aircraft. Did they simply make an error, or can anyone shed light on this?

Matt, one should never say never in an area like this, but I've never heard or seen the likes of this before, ever. I believe it's a mistake, especially since the bars on the Nat. Insignia appear oversize. I would need to see color photographic proof in the form of a period colot slide with a detailed "provenance" and background description of the hows and whys this happened.

Otherwise, MISTAKE!

From all I can find, that is just wrong! That may have come about from some photos with the red surround showing up very light. But that is a result of the type of film. There were two types of black and white film used during WW II and on one type, red shows up very light.

Hello Matt,

This may help...or it may not.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/stories/army_paint.html

http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/05/28/flying-colours-a-vivid-history-of-warplane-insignia/

http://wwiisquadronpatches.com/NationalInsigniaHistoryUSAircraft.html

HTH

See ya in the funnies..........

Color photos.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/col_photo_f6f_10.jpg

Odd one, Fw-190 in white with U.S. Markings.

http://www.vintagewings.ca/Portals/0/Vintage_Stories/News%20Stories%20G/Aviation's%20Cross%20Dressers/WTF238.jpg

Ooops, forgot this.......Navy markings.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/aircraft-markings.html

See ya in the funnies.........

Now here is a decidedly nonstandard application of white "bars" to a national insignia with a "North African" yellow border on the insignia blue circle with white star. Interestingly, there is no border at all to the white bars (like in the Pacific theater early on) but the yellow border remains on the blue circle!

I just stumbled across this photo, and it is unique so far as I know. I've never seen an aircraft with this national insignia variation before. Maybe it's the inspiration for the decal sheet that has the yellow surround going around the bars as well as the white star in blue circle.

i dont know but in the last photo look like the white bar was added later,the star is less bright,for me the work was not finished,maybe an hour later the yellow had disappeared under a coat of blue or red,is not possible they just made a field change on a "operation Torch" star?....

The only time that a yellow surround was used that I can find any reference for, was Operation Torch.



I found this answer on a review of the Yellow Wings Operation Torch decal sheet by Rodger Kelly:

"The markings arose out of the complaints from pilots who found it difficult to distinguish the then standard white star on blue circle background U.S. national insignia from the national insignia worn by German, Italian and even British aircraft. With this in mind, an amendment to the Operation Memorandum No 9, dated 25 September 1942 was issued by the Allied Force Headquarters directing that all American aircraft participating in OPERATION TORCH, display a yellow band around the white star on blue circle background U.S. national insignia on each side of the fuselage and on both lower wings."

I hope that this helps to clear up the issue.


Joel