United States Aircraft Roundel With Red Outline (June 1943 - August 1943)

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United States Roundel with Red Outline

   Hi everyone. I’d like to suggest one of the other US star and bars insignia roundel variations used on the aircraft for a very brief period from June 28, 1943, to August 14, 1943. To my knowledge, this variation was used anywhere in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific.


Description

  • Insignia Specification Number AN-1-9a with Red Outline

  • Insignia Blue No.47, Insignia White No.46, Insignia Red No. 45

  • First variation of the national star insignia that added bars to the roundel

  • Applied to the roundels on the fuselage, underwing, and overwing


History

US military officials had initiated a study of its aircraft markings and its link to the friendly fire incidents since American entry into World War II. They concluded that the color of the marking couldn’t be identified from a far distance, but the shape could be identified. They experimented with several different variations, including an oblong roundel with two stars, until they found using white bars flanking the sides of the existing roundel, all with a red outline, was sufficient to be visually striking. This variation became official and was issued on June 28, 1943. However, in the service, the variation did not deliver significant results, and at least one operational unit refused to add the red, resulting in bare white bars on the existing star roundel. Presumably, their refusal was probably due to the color red being associated with German and Japanese symbols found in their markings. By September 1943, the red outline was replaced with a blue outline, which the color exactly matched the round blue field that held the star. This variant was in use until late 1947 when the US Army Air Forces were disbanded, and the US Air Force was established with new Twin Insignia Red lengthwise bars insignia.


Real Examples of Application on Aircraft

  

SBD Dauntless

  

FM-1 Wildcat

  

F6F-3 Hellcat

  

P-38 Lightning

  

P-39 Airacobra

  

P-40 Warhawk

  

P-47 Thunderbolt

  

P-51 Mustang

  


Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   Although only lasted in a very brief historical period, I found the national star and bars insignia roundel with red outline the best looking US roundel of all times. The red outline made it very visually strike, and it had the colors that reflected the three American flag colors. It should be added to War Thunder as a new roundel decal for US aircraft, allowing the users to use this decal and apply it on their aircraft or other vehicles.


Sources


Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

3 Likes

Captain America.

2 Likes

+1, I was planning to make the exact same suggestion, but it looks like you’re putting more effort into this than I would, good job!

1 Like