B-24 Liberator with weird paint scheme

system · August 2, 2021, 2:39pm

B-24 Liberator with interesting paint scheme. I've never seen something like this. Would this be one of those "follow me" planes that are sent to help corral the bombers into formation? The date of this photograph is 1945. Nothing else is known.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ww2incolor.com/gallery/us-army-air-force/18741/b-24-liberator-with-weird-paint-scheme

koala · July 13, 2008, 6:16am

These planes were painted a bright colour because they were used as "follow me" planes to get the rest of the group/squadron to form a formation around ready for a mission. The bright colours were to avoid other planes running into themm. They used to call planes painted like this sacrificial lambs but I cant remember if they flew the entire mission into enemy territory.

system · August 2, 2021, 2:39pm

SS_Ouche-Vittes · July 13, 2008, 10:06pm

In addition to Koala’s comment: Garishly painted B-24s were used as ‘lead ships’, acting as markers on which the huge Eight Air Force bomber formations would assemble before setting off on raids over Europe.