Liberators and Invasion stripes

[rossm]

Please can anyone tell me if Coastal Command Liberators wore the Black/White stripes seen on just about every other type used at the time of the D-Day invasion ? I've seen photos of the stripes on Coastal Command Wellingtons but never Liberators. I'm especially interested in the squadrons based at St.Eval (53,206,224 & 547), also 311 at Predannack,

Thanks,

Ross

[Steven Eisenman]

I cannot remember ever seeing any with D-Day stripes. As a general rule the four engined aircraft did not carry them, although there may have been an exception.

One reason why the four-engined heavies didn't carry them is because they were usually at too high an altitude to be of any use, and Germany did not fly four-engined aircraft, for all practical purposes.

[Erwin]

If my info is correct,only the big glidertugs Halifax and Sterling carried the stripes.

[Steven Eisenman]

The exception, Glider Tugs. Lower level operation over the Channel.

[AnonymousA667]

Coastal Command Warwicks carried invasion stripes, but I doubt B-24's carried them as they usually operated well away away from the D-Day zone. I'd love it if someone came up with evidence they did, it would make for a spectacular scheme.

peebeep

[Steven Eisenman]

Warwick, yep two engines

[Bill B]

You could have a B17 with red (yes - red) & white invasion stripes. This was B17F 42-30721 "Sweet and Lovely" of the 381 BG. After 27 bombing missions it was used over the Channel from July 1944, relaying radio messages to air sea rescue aircraft. There's a colour picture of Sweet and Lovely's rear end (!) in Fortress at War -Olive Drab aircraft with standard 381BG markings of triangle L & code letters VP for the 533BS. Aircraft letter is I. Red & white 24 inch "invasion" stripes are neatly applied in exactly the same proportions as the real black & white invasion stripes.The cover of the first edition of Castles in the Air has a photo of Sweet & Lovely on the cover, complete with the usual artwork - bomb log, name, kill swastika, squadron badge & of course a nude ginger haired Sweet and Lovely.

Anybody know any more - especially whether there were stripes on the wings?

Bill

[Steven Eisenman]

The red and white stripes are not invasion stripes, they are ASR (Air Sea Rescue) ID bands. Commonly seen on the War Weary P-47s used in ASR. Those P-47s had ASR ID bands on the nose, D-Day stripes on the fuselage and wings and IFF bands (yellow on OD aircraft) on the fin/rudder and tail planes. You think there was enough ID markings?

Edited October 16, 2008 by Steven Eisenman