This is a listing of the nationality markings used by military aircraft of the United States, including those of the US Army, US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard and their predecessors. The Civil Air Patrol is also included for the World War II period because it engaged in combat operations (primarily anti-submarine flights) which its July 1946 charter since explicitly forbade. Official dates refers to when a new insignia was officially ordered but implementation was not always immediate.
Roundels[]
| Roundel | Official dates | Info | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | Superceeded | ||
 |
April 15, 1916 | May 19, 1917 | United States Navy anchor in blue - first official US aircraft insignia. Used on rudders and wings. |
 |
May 17, 1917 | February 8, 1918 | Note larger center dot from later (1/3 diameter) and colors were Flag Red and Flag Blue as specified for the US Flag as Old Glory Red, and Old Glory Blue. |
 |
February 8, 1918 | August 19, 1919 | To avoid confusion with German cross, and for commonality with Allied airforces during World War I, the US changed roundel. Colors were to be based on US flag but availability resulted in considerable variation in hues. |
 |
August 19, 1919 | May 6, 1942 |
Center dot now bounded by pentagon formed by inner points of star, making red smaller than first version. Colors were Flag Red and Flag Blue until late 20s when current colors of Insignia Red and Insignia Blue were specified |
 |
1939 | 1941 | Neutrality marking on fuselage and sometimes wings of aircraft travelling in Europe, including Liberator transports. This flag was official from 4 July 1912 to 3 July 1959 when additional stars were added. |
 |
? | ? | Civil Air Patrol roundel |
 |
May 6, 1942 | June 28, 1943 | Red removed to avoid confusion with Japanese Hinomaru. |
 |
? | ? | Civil Air Patrol World War II roundel. Red removed to avoid confusion with Japanese Hinomaru. |
 |
July 1942 | November 1942 | Operation Torch - yellow varied in thickness, applied to roundels on fuselage and under wing but not overwing, but some units applied yellow borders on overwing roundels regardless. |
 |
June 28, 1943 | July 31, 1943 | Experiments showed that at a distance, shapes were more important than colors so bars were added to the roundel with a red outline. |
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June 28, 1943 | July 31, 1943 | Several units in the Pacific refused to paint the red outline but added white bars pending new orders for a blue outline. |
 |
July 31, 1943 | January 14, 1947 | The red outline was replaced with a blue outline. On some US Navy aircraft in the Pacific the blue outline was lighter than the insignia blue. |
 |
July 31, 1943 | January 14, 1947 | Insignia blue lacked contrast with the Sea Blue or Black used on some aircraft and the roundel blue was dispensed with. Initially applications (as on the F6F) were made without orders however this was made official practice in January 1945. |
 |
January 14, 1947 | Current | Red bars were added to the roundel in reflection of 3 flag colors |
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January 14, 1947 | February 23, 1955 1955 | Sea Blue or Black aircraft |
 |
1973 | ? | F-15 Air superiority Compass Ghost Scheme with 1943 outline removed but with red and white bars retained |
 |
1970s | current | Low visibility marking (also seen in other colors, including with colored area broken into several colors to contrast with background camouflage pattern) |
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1980s | current | Low visibility marking as used on the F-117 |
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1980s | current | Alternate low visibility markings used on some USAF aircraft |
Fin flashes and rudder stripes[]
| Fin "Flash" | Official dates | Info | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | Superceeded | ||
|
April 15, 1916 | May 19, 1917 | United States Navy anchor painted in blue - first official US aircraft insignia. Used on rudders and wings. |
 |
March 19, 1916 | February 7, 1917 | US Army Signal Corps Pancho Villa Expedition - painted on rudder only. |
 |
May 19, 1917 August 19, 1919 |
February 8, 1918 May 8, 1942 |
United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, stripes optional after 10 December 1930 and mostly eliminated from Navy aircraft. |
 |
February 8, 1918 | August 19, 1919 | United States Navy and Marine Corps |
|
May 17, 1919 | November 1926 | US Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps. |
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November 1926 | September 12, 1942 | USAAC - removed from camouflaged aircraft from July 1940 and all other aircraft in 1942. |
 |
1936 | May 8, 1942 | United States Coast Guard |
 |
December 23, 1941 | May 6, 1942 | USN and USMC. Number of stripes not specified until 5 January 1942 when 6 white and 7 red stripes were specified. |
References[]
Bibliography[]
- Archer, Robert D.; Archer, Victor G. (1997). USAAF Aircraft Markings and Camouflage 1941-1947, The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0764302466.
- Bell, Dana (1995). Air Force Colors Volume 1 1926-1942. Carrollton, TX: Squadron Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-316-7.
- Bell, Dana (1980). Air Force Colors Volume 2: ETO & MTO 1942-1945. Carrollton, TX: Squadron Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0897471084.
- Bell, Dana (1997). Air Force Colors Volume 3: Pacific & Home Front 1942-1947. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0897473767.
- Doll, Thomas E.; Jackson, Berkley R.; Riley, William A. (1983). Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1, 1911-1945. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0897471435.
- Doll, Thomas E.; Jackson, Berkley R.; Riley, William A. (1985). Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 2, 1945-1985. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0897471671.
- Elliot, John M. (1989). The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide Vol 1 1911-1939. Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications. ISBN 0-914144-31-6.
- Elliot, John M. (1989). The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide Vol 2 1940-1949. Sturbridge, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications. ISBN 0-914144-32-4.
- Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1990). United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Naval Institute Press. pp. 26–32. ISBN 978-0870217920.
- Section 40.1.1.2 Color of MIL-STD-2161A (AS), the colors of this insignia are established as FED-STD-595 red 11136 white 17925 blue 15044. Visualization of colors is from http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=11136+17925+)
See also[]
The original article can be found at United States military aircraft national insignia and the edit history here.