Hi all,
I'm doing the research on the various B-17s stationed at Mendlesham in 1944/45 as part of the 34th Bomb Group. The common colour code is a red half tail and dorsal spine (silver rudder) along with red stripes on the wings and elevators. The rest is my best guess from what I've seen, anyone else doing this research?
Now this is where it gets tricky. Many aircraft are seen with either a yellow, red, green or even white noseband and matching propeller hubs. I'm trying to figure out how the coding worked. My guess is that there were 4 colours, each representing one of the 4 squadrons based there (4th, 7th, 18th and 391st)? Of course I'm guessing this is the case? Anyone know for sure? I suspect the 4th was there to 'top up' the other squadrons as it's not listed as flying squadrons as such. (anyone know differently?)
I think this lot are the 7th with yellow: http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/rfc/FRE_005461.jpg
...and another slide with 7th on it and a yellow nose... http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2740
Here's Butch which flew with the 391st sporting a green nose: http://valortovictory.tripod.com/photo17/44-8271ph.htm
This one is from the 18th and has a red nose. I think it was called 'Mount Farm': http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2741
..and again, another with a red nose that flew mainly with the 18th: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/291
Here's 'Sweet Seventeen' with a white noseband, it flew fairly equally with the 7th, 18th and 391st, so is it an anomaly, a 'pool' cab? http://valortovictory.tripod.com/photo17/43-38991ph.htm
I know the aircraft generally flew as a squadron but did mix from time to time.
So in general terms can I say Yellow = 7th, Red =18th, Green = 391st? White is possibly 4th which is a pool aircraft?