Flying Colors: A vivid history of warplane insignia

[link to militaryhistorynow.com (secure)]

THE ARMIES THAT MARCHED OFF TO WAR in 1914 had long since shed the flashy garb and colourful banners of the 19th century battlefield, opting instead for much less conspicuous khaki, olive drab and field grey uniforms. Yet high overhead, a much different trend was unfolding: The pioneers of the emerging domain of aerial warfare were eschewing camouflage and decking out their new-fangled flying machines with all manner of bright symbols and insignia.

Of course, the colourful crosses, roundels and stars that adorned these early warplanes, which were inspired by the medieval art of heraldry, were more than just decorations. They helped pilots (and anti-aircraft gunners) quickly separate friend from foe in the thick of combat.

As the war continued, air services from all nations adopted distinct insignia to identify their planes from enemy machines. It’s been a tradition that’s continued right up to our own era of GPS, combat identification panels and IFF squawk boxes.

Here’s how different countries’ air forces have marked their aircraft over the years.

https://imgur.com/a/G5hbEtH