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| Question about WW2 RAF schemes | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 27 2013, 08:29 AM (210 Views) | |
| DevilFish | Aug 27 2013, 08:29 AM Post #1 |
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LCDR Paul "Voodoo" Carter
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Simple question, but one that's bugged me for a few days now. Later war fighters, in the grey/green scheme, have the wing leading edges painted yellow. Why? It can't be for identification as it would be impossible to see on a Spitfire wing as it closes in on you at 350 mph. I doubt its for deicing either as black would be a better colour. So why? |
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| tc2324 | Aug 27 2013, 09:25 AM Post #2 |
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LCDR Tony `Banana's` Clay
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Hi Paul, The yellow leading edges were for identification purposes, call it a basic IFF scheme. It was adopted in the ETO, while in the PTO, British fighters were given white leading edges. |
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| DevilFish | Aug 27 2013, 11:34 AM Post #3 |
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LCDR Paul "Voodoo" Carter
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That surprises me. It'd be difficult enough to see on a Hurricane or Typhoon, but impossible on something like a Spit! |
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| tc2324 | Aug 27 2013, 12:00 PM Post #4 |
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LCDR Tony `Banana's` Clay
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I have to admit I wouldn`t be too convinced myself about it working but I suppose it was another aid that any potential attacking `friendly` could look out for. I know the Typhoon was given it because of it`s ground attack roll and the fact that early on in it`s introduction it was confused with the Fw 190 quite often. This is also the same for the RAF camo Mustang`s early on, although it was confused more with the Me 109 rather than the 190. |
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| peebeep | Aug 27 2013, 12:14 PM Post #5 |
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resin fondler
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Yellow leading edge stripes were introduced from 15th August 1941, 'as and when convenient'. The purpose of the stripe was 'to assist RAF fighter pilots to distinguish friend from foe immediately in the difficult head-on position in battle'. peebeep |
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| DevilFish | Aug 28 2013, 11:54 AM Post #6 |
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LCDR Paul "Voodoo" Carter
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The Typhoon was also given underwing "invasion" type stripes to aid in recognition |
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| tc2324 | Aug 28 2013, 12:57 PM Post #7 |
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LCDR Tony `Banana's` Clay
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That`s true..., but that wasn`t until weeks/months before D-Day that they come fully into effect. Prior to the 6th June an early version of the under wing stripes were given to Typhoon units that took part during the Dieppe raid and also some Typhoons had their noses and engine cowlings painted white to avoid friendly fire. |
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| Edgar Brooks | Sep 4 2013, 03:10 PM Post #8 |
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Plastic fiddler
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The Typhoons' early recognition (striped) markings were ordered on 6th December 1942, and confirmed 14-1-43; they had nothing to do with Dieppe. The Dieppe raid was initially planned to take place earlier than it eventually did, and white (only) stripes were originally ordered for all fighters (not just Typhoons) on the cowlings and tailplanes; this order lasted about a week, when the operation was postponed, and the stripes ordered to be removed, never to be repainted. As well as head-on, the yellow stripes were useful when looking in the mirror, since they would indicate that a following aircraft was friendly (if the pilot's recognition was up to scratch.) they were only designed for use in Europe, not the Med or Far East. Edgar |
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