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##### DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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## U.S. Naval Aircraft Marking

Aircraft of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps have carrieddistinguishing markings almost from the beginning of naval aviation.The earliest being the aircraft building number, preceded by ablock letter A, painted on a vertical surface, usually the rudder.Before the United States entered into World War I, naval aircraftwere identified by an anchor design on the vertical tail surface,the use of which continued to the time a National Aircraft Insigniawas adopted.
- A National Aircraft Insignia consisting of a red disk withina five-pointed white star on a circular blue field, and red, whiteand blue vertical stripes on the rudder, of the shades specifiedfor the American flag, was adopted.      One of these star designs was to be placed near each wingtip on the upper surface of the top wing and lower surface ofthe bottom wings. The blue stripe on the rudder was nearest therudder hinge. This design was ordered to be placed on all U.S.naval aircraft on May 19, 1917. To avoid confusion with enemymarkings and to conform more closely with designs used by ourallies after our entry into the war, the star design was replacedearly in 1918 with concentric circles of red and blue around awhite center. The order of the rudder stripes was reversed placingthe red forward nearest the rudder hinge. This design was requiredon all U.S. aircraft operating in Europe. 
  - However, not all aircraft at home made the change. This remainedin use briefly after World War I, but the earlier star designand rudder markings were soon readopted. The change on naval aircraftwas directed on August 19, 1919, to be effective on all aircraftnot later than January 1, 1920.       A frequently seen error in this design is the red center beingmade too large. The circumference of the center circle shouldbe tangent with the sides of the pentagon formed in making thestar. The practice of displaying the aircraft serial number inlarge figures on the side of the fuselage, which began duringthe war, continued for several years.
    - Since 1920, numerous additions and changes have been madein aircraft markings which over the years built up an awesomearray of variety and detail. The story of these changes is furthercomplicated by the fact that many   wereinstituted by the operating forces without official Navy Departmentsanction and as a result, some directives issued on the subjectdid little more than to make standard practice official. Someof the more significant, or possibly more apparent, changes effectingheavier-than-air aircraft of the operating forces since that datewere directed as follows:     July 12, 1923       Instructions requiring that the aircraft building letterand number be placed, in 12 inch (30.38 cm) Black letters, onboth sides of the body midway between wings and rudder, were modifiedas permission was given to use squadron designating numbers intheir place.
      December 1, 1923
      - Display of building letter and number in large figures onthe sides of the fuselage ended as markings to identify the unitoperating the aircraft were ordered placed in that space. Withthe formation of the Bureau of Aeronautics, this number becameknown as the Bureau Number. The new markings, which were a groupingof three marks, were described as follows:           For squadrons - the squadron number followed by a letter abbreviationof the squadron mission, followed in turn by a number for theplane within the squadron. Each element was to be separated bya hyphen.
        - For air stations - same as for squadrons, except that an abbreviationof the station name was substituted for the squadron mission letter.When the plane was from a squadron assigned a combat mission,the station letter was to be followed by the squadron missionletter. Both elements being separated by a hyphen.             The directive also permitted display of a squadron insigniaor device on both sides of the fuselage forward of the identificationmarking.
          June 24, 1924
          - Squadron identification markings were ordered placed onMarine Corps aircraft following the system previously prescribedfor the Navy except that on Marine aircraft, the mission letterwas to be placed within a circle.               The same directive added "U.S. NAVY" on both sidesof the fuselage aft of the identification group on all Navy aircraft;no similar provision was ordered for Marine Corps aircraft atthis time. The letters were to be as large as possible, but inno case less than 8 inches (20.32 cm) in height.
            December 15, 1924
            - Display of the gunnery pennant and "E" on bothsides of the fuselage was authorized. Placement for the pennantwas defined as between the leading and trailing edges of the wing,and for the "E" as under the trailing edge.     June 25, 1925               Aircraft for the use of the Marine Corps were to havethe fuselage sides unmarked so that the Marine Corps insigniacould be applied by the receivlng unit.
              April 6, 1929 
              - Propeller tips were to be painted with three bands offour inches (10.15 cm) each, with Insignia Red at the tip, thenBright Yellow, then Insignia Blue.     June 1, 1931                 Use of 20 inch (50.40 cm) wide colored bands around thefuselage of section leader's planes was directed and the colorsRoyal Red, White, True Blue, Black, Willow Green, and Lemon Yellowwere assigned to sections one through six respectively.
                - With the fuselage bands, the order further required that chevronsof the same color as the section leader's be painted on all planesof the section; to be placed on the upper wing surface pointingforward. It also added colored bands around the engine cowlingin the section color. The leader's plane to carry a complete band,the No. 2 plane a half band on the upper part and the No. 3 planea half band on the lower portion of the cowl.                     The same order permitted use of distinguishing colors on theempennage whenever two or more squadrons of the same type operatedtogether. The colors were to be selected from those specifiedfor section colors but there was no restriction on the assignmentor sequence of colors used.
                  - U.S. MARINES was now required on the sides of the fuselageof all aircraft operated by the Marine Corps.      November 6, 1931                     Branch of service markings - "U.S. NAVY" or"U.S. MARINES" were ordered placed on the lower surfaceof bottom wings of all planes including those of the Naval Reserve,but excluding training planes. This order was canceled July 8,1932.
                    February 1, 1933
                    - Use of a small number on each side of the upper half ofthe engine cowling was authorized to indicate the number of theplane within a squadron.     March 15, 1937                       Distinguishing colors were assigned to each aircraft carrierfor use as tail markings by all squadrons on board, thereby endingthe practice of assigning colors to squadrons and eliminatingthe confusion resulting when squadrons transferred from one carrierto another.
                      - Patrol squadron Wings and Squadrons assigned to battleshipsand cruisers were now identified by a system of solid coloredtails, horizontal or vertical stripes, or checkerboard designs.                           Responsibility for assigning tail colors-to ot :er Fleet squadronswas given to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet.
                        March 19, 1940
                        - Squadrons engaged in the Neutrality patrol were directedto use an additional national aircraft insignia on each side ofthe fuselage or hull of aircraft employed.     December 14, 1940                           Carrier Air Group Commander's planes were to have a diagonalband, 14 inches (35.56 cm) wide painted around the fuselage forwardof the service marking, of the same color as the empennage paintingof the carrier group, and the title "COMMANDER (name of ship)GROUP" be painted horizontally on each side of the fuselage.
                          February 26, 1941
                          - An extensive modification of aircraft marking specificationsintroduced the following basic changes: . National Aircraft Insigniawere added to both sides of the fuselage or hull and two wereeliminated from the wings, leaving one on the upper left and oneon the lower right. . Branch of Service marking was moved fromthe fuselage to the vertical fin above the Bureau Number, thefigures were reduced in size and letters "U.S." omitted.. Use of colored tail markings, engine cowl bands, chevrons, fuselagebands, gunnery pennant and Marine Corps emblem was discontinued.. Air Group Commander bands were eliminated but use of title continued.. Use of vertical Red, White and Blue rudder stripes was discontinued.. Color of markings other than National Aircraft Insignia becamethose of least contrast to the background.     January 5, 1942                             National Aircraft Insignia were returned to both rightand left, upper and lower wing surfaces. Rudder markings werechanged to 13 Red and White horizontal stripes. 
                            May 15, 1942
                            - The red disc in the center of the National Aircraft Insigniaand horizontal red and white rudder striping were eliminated.      November 1942                               In preparation for Operaton Torch, the Allied invasionof French North Africa, an amendment to Operation Memorandum Number9, dated Sept. 25, 1942, was published by Allied Force Headquarters.It directed that all American aircraft participatng in the invasiondisplay a yellow circle around the national aircraft insigniaon each side of the fuselage and on both lower wing surfaces.Since this memorandum was concerned with air-ground recognition,no mention was made of the insignia on the upper wing surfaces.This was a short-lived markng for naval aircraft since they allreturned to the United States after the invasion. But it was continuedin use in North Africa and Europe by the Army Air Force.
                              - The Invasion of North Africa took place between 8 to 11 November1942. Carrier aircraft from  USS Ranger  and the escort carriers USS Sangamon, Suwannee and Santee  of Task Group 34.2 ofthe Western Naval Task Force, covered the landings of Army troopsnear Casablanca on 8 Nobember and supported their operaton ashoreuntil opposing French capitulated on 11 Noovember. The escortcarrier  USS Chenango  accompanied assault forces to thearea and launched her load of 78 Army Air Force P-40s on 10 and11 November for operations from the field at Port Lyautey.     January 12, 1943                                 Identification letters and numerals were assigned to airstations of the Operational Training Command and ordered placedon the sides of the fuselage of all aircraft of that Command.
                                February 1, 1943
                                - One National Aircraft Insignia was again removed fromthe upper and lower wing surfaces, leaving one on the upper leftand one on the lower right.                                     Tri-colored propeller tips were discontinued by a new requirementthat all propellers, except those presenting no hazards to personnel,be painted on both sides from the tip four inches (10.16 cm) inwardwith Orange Yellow and the remaining blade area including thehub, with Black.
                                  June 28, 1943
                                  - A change in the National Aircraft Insignia added Whiterectangles to the left and right sides of the Blue circular fieldto form a horizontal bar, and also added a Red border stripe aroundthe entire design. The dimensions of the insignia are based onthe diameter of the Blue field. A general rule of thumb for theplacement is to be the largest size possible but not to exceed75 percent of the vertical height of the point of application.On the wings, it normally should be located one-third of the distancefrom the wing tip to the fuselage.      September 14,1943                                     The red border stripe was eliminated from the NationalAircraft Insignia and use of Insignia Blue was ordered in itsplace.
                                    October 7,1944
                                    - The optional display of the gunnery "E" wasomitted from marking specifications effective this date. Provisionwas made for optional use of additional identification markingson combat aircraft by tactical commanders, such markings preferablyto be applied with temporary paint. This resulted in many geometricdesigns.     June 13, 1946                                       A glossy International Orange band was directed to beapplied around the rear fuselage of all Reserve aircraft. Thewidth of the band was to be equal to the outside diameter of theblue border surrounding the National Aircraft Insignia. This bandwas to just touch, but not overlap, the blue border.
                                      November 7,1946
                                      - A letter identification system for marking all Navy andMarine Corps aircraft, including those of the Training Commandand the Naval Air Reserve, was adopted and letters were assignedto all carriers, wings, groups and squadrons of the operatingforces.     January 2, 1947                                         Display of unit identification letters was ordered onboth sides of the vertical fin and rudder and on the upper rightand lower left wing surfaces near the wing tips, thus requiringthe relocation of several standard markings.
                                        - The model designation-branch of service-serial number groupingwas moved from the vertical fin to the fuselage midway betweenthe forward point of the horizontal stabilizer and the lowestpoint of the fuselage.                                             The unit aircraft number was moved from the rudder and finto-the fuselage forward of the National Aircraft Insignia, excepton patrol planes where it was placed aft, and also placed on theupper right and lower left wing surfaces inboard of the identificationletters. Additional optional locations were specified as on eachside of the upper half of the nose and on landing gear fairings.
                                          - The space for optional display of squadron insignia was movedto a point below the cockpit rim and forward of the windshield.                                               Display of unit decorations and campaign ribbons, arrangedin a vertical row below the space reserved for squadron insignia,was also optional.
                                            January 14, 1947
                                            - A horizontal red stripe, centered on the white horizontalbar, was added to the National Aircraft Insignia.     February 28, 1947                                               A modification of the letter identification system providedthat shorebased aircraft of units and stations, to which lettershad not been assigned, would display the air station name or unittitle in its place.
                                              May 1, 1948
                                              - Changes in aircraft marking specifications made mandatorythe use of distinguishing colors for squadrons of a carrier airgroup on the propeller spinner and across the top of the verticalfin and rudder, assigning Insignia Red, Insignia White, LightBlue, Light Yellow, Light Green, and Black outlined in White respectivelyfor squadrons one through six of each carrier group. Paintingof arresting hooks in alternate four inch (10.16 cm) bands ofBlack and White was also required. Size of Branch of Service,Model Designation, was increased to two inches (5.08 cm). AircraftSerial Number was increased to 4 inches (10.16 cm).                                                   The new specifications also provided for the optional useof the Marine Corps emblem in place of, but not in addition toa squadron insignia, and the display of the abbreviated rank andlast name of the pilot on both sides of the fuselage under thecockpit rim.
                                                February 1, l949
                                                - A specific block letter alphabet was shown for the firsttime. This style has remained in effect to the present time.     May 12, 1950                                                   Branch of service markings -- "NAVY" or "MARINES"-- were greatly increased in size and moved to the fuselage justforward of the empennage
                                                  and additionally placed outboard on the under surface of the leftwing.
                                                  - Squadron designation was added and located on the fuselage,centered under Branch of Service, and one-half the height of Branchof Service.                                                       Unit Identification Letters on the under surface of the leftwing were moved to the under surface of the right wing, midwaybetween the National Aircraft Insignia and the fuselage.
                                                    - Unit Aircraft Number on the lower left wing surface was reducedin size and moved inboard.     June 16, 1952                                                       Shore-based aircraft which did not have Visual IdentificationLetters assigned were to apply the station or unit name to theupper surface of the right wing in the location specified forthe Visual Identification Letters. It was also to be applied insmaller letters on the under surface of the right wing.
                                                      - Aircraft used by Naval Attache were now to carry the wordsUNITED STATES NAVAL ATTACHE (name of country) on both sides ofthe forward fuselage. The United States flag was also to be appliedto both sides of the vertical fin and rudder.     March 9, 1955                                                         Aircraft operated by components of both the Navy and MarineCorps Reserve could now carry both NAVY and MARINE on the aftfuselage. If used, the station name was omitted.
                                                        All identification markings, including the National Aircraft Insignia,on swept-back wings was now to be applied along the 50 percentchord line.
                                                        September 18, 1962
                                                        - The system of designating U.S. naval aircraft which hadbeen in use since 1922, was abolished. All U.S. military aircraftwere now to be identified by the system used by the U.S. Air Force.To help with the conversion, both identifications were applied,for a short period, on those aircraft that were in use under bothsystems.     May 27, 1971                                                            The side number designation, for Air Wing (CVW) and AirGroups (CVSG) was modified to blocks of 100 numbers for each ofthe nine squadrons, starting with the basic number rather thanthe previous 101, 102, etc. This made possible the 00 identificationassociated with the Air Group Commander's aircraft.
                                                          April 1, 1980
                                                          - Naval Air Reserve aircraft now were identified by two-letterdesignations the same as Fleet aircraft. Marine Air Reserve hadbeen doing this since January 12, 1972.     April 18, 1985                                                             MIL-STD-2161(AS) made sweeping changes in the paintingand markings applied to U.S. naval tactical aircraft with theintroduction of tactical paint schemes utilizing two tones offlat gray. All the exterior markings remained. However, they werereduced in size and were to be the contrasting shade of gray tothe background to which applied. In the case of Marine Corps aircraftin the land camouflage scheme, the markings were to be flat Black.
                                                            - The best reference source for a more in depth study onNavy and Marine Corps aircraft markings and color schemes is Mr.John M. Elliott's set of four volumes on the subject. It is themost authorative and in-depth study on the subject. The four booksare: The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps AircraftColor Guide, Volume 1, 1911-1939.The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps AircraftColor Guide, Volume 2, 1940-1949.
- The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps AircraftColor Guide, Volume 3, 1950-1959.   The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps AircraftColor Guide, Volume 4, 1960-1993.*These books were published by Monogram Aviation Publications,P.O. Box 223, Sturbridge, MA 01566. Phone number (508) 347-5574,FAX (508) 347-5772.29 April 96*