Hello all,
Just a simple question from a curious newcomer. I was wondering if it is true that WWII pilots made some sort of marking on the side of their planes every time they shot down an enemy. Is this just a myth or is there some truth behind it? And if so, what were these markings called? Thanks.
Some did make kill/victory markings on the side of their aircraft by the cockpit. It wasn’t universal as far as I know however, and some markings were elsewhere (IIRC at some point Adolf Galland was painting them on his tail - can’t confirm that though).
The Swastika just by the cockpit is the kill marking here, indicating the pilot has shot down one enemy aircraft.
It was also common for bomber crews to paint a bomb/mine/similar on their aircraft after each successful mission.
Hello Finch80,
Western-allied pilots were marking swastika or cross when they shot down german plane, tiny japanese imperial flag when they shot down japanese plane and italian planes were marked with italian airforce symbol. Soviet pilots painted a red star when they shot down a german plane.
But there were no defined marking rules for all.
what do all of the runes on the plane pictured represent? missions?
I’m not an expert, but I assume that they may represent successful missions.
Here are different markings for shot down german planes.
Yes, not very common custom but.
Later in the war some newbies were painting locomotives, tanks, strafing of trucks etc.
Thank you all for your responses and pictures. I’ve been fascinated by WWII for quite some time, and I enjoy delving into all aspects of the war. I’ve always wondered about this tradition (?) that some pilots seemed to have taken on but could never really find anything factual about it. The only thing I can remember are the Looney Tunes cartoons where a pilot will shoot down an enemy and promptly pull out a stamp with which he marks his plane! :o
Slightly off topic but this is an interesting site
G’day,
German pilots in the early to mid war period usually had a bar painted for each victory on the tail. Depending on the pilot or unit when the kills reached a certain level the number say 50 was recorded with extra bars below with each subsequent kill. Oak Leaf laurels sometimes surrounded the number if the pilot had received an award.
Regards to all,
Digger.
Gallands tail in BF-109F mid 1941.
Here is a picture of Lt. O’Hare in his Wildcat fighter, featuring 5 Japanese ensigns painted by the cockpit:
http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=2115
This is another Wildcat, in flight, with three Japanese ensigns painted:
http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=2022
Those two are the only ones I can find on my website with kill markings on them.
Colonel Francis S. ‘Gabby’ Gabreski - top scoring WWII USAAF ace in Europe in his P-47 Thunderbolt.
http://www.18thfwa.org/whosWho/FrancisGabreski/FrancisGabreski_files/image006.jpg
In 1961 and 1962, Colonel Francis S. ‘Gabby’ Gabreski the top living American Air Ace, commanded the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Kadena AFB, Okinawa. Today, late in the year 2001 he retains that Top Living American Air Ace title, with twenty-eight enemy aircraft destroyed in WW-II aerial combat, plus three on the ground, and an additional six and one-half victories during the Korean war … for a total of 34.5 victories in the air and three destroyed on the ground.
http://www.18thfwa.org/whosWho/FrancisGabreski/FrancisGabreski.html
Biography
http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_gabby.html
Obituaries in the News…Col. Francis Gabreski
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/620333/posts
Gabreski, who recorded 37 1/2 kills as a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War, joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. Throughout the war, Gabreski was credited with a record 31 kills in WWII. He added 6 1/2 more kills during the Korean War, his daughter said.
Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, WWII Air Ace Obituary
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Gabreski.html
Cdr. David McCampbell - Top Navy Ace
http://www.acepilots.com/usn_mccampbell.html
Won Medal of Honor, shot down 34 Japanese aircraft
Commander - Air Group Fifteen (CAG-15) on USS Essex, Hellcat pilot
http://www.sinclair.edu/sec/his103/photo/dm04.jpg
http://www.sinclair.edu/sec/his103/diary/tm03.htm
Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington
C.O. VMF-214, Black Sheep Squadron
http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_boyington.html
“Just name a hero, and I’ll prove he’s a bum.” - Pappy’s self-assessment.
Undoubtedly the most colorful and well known Marine Corps’ ace was Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, commanding officer of VMF-214.
SEE ALSO:
American Aces of WWII
American fighter pilots and airplanes of World War Two.
http://www.acepilots.com/index.html#top
Major Richard I. Bong
http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_bong.html
Top American Ace of World War Two
Shot down 40 Japanese Planes in the Pacific
RICHARD IRA BONG
ACE OF ACES
http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/bong.htm
Major Richard I. Bong
http://usfighter.tripod.com/bong.htm
Dick and his P-38 “Marge” (P-38J-15-LO Lockheed Lightning, #42-103993)
Dick and wife Marge after their “piggy back” ride
In front of the P-38 after Marge’s ride
Dick Bong was the first known aviator to use an actual photograph as nose art. And what better photo than that of his beautiful wife Marge.
Major George E. Preddy, Jr.
Top Mustang Ace
352nd Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force
The Complete Fighter Pilot
http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_preddy.html
http://www.aviation-history.com/airmen/preddy.htm
http://www.highironillustrations.com/aviation/fullhouse_1.html
http://www.modelaces.com/148_scale_model/p47d_thunderbolt.php
http://www.starduststudios.com/GPTMA.htm
http://www.web-birds.com/8th/352/352.html
P-51 MUSTANG CRIPES A’ MIGHTY 3rd ALUMINUM AIRCRAFT NOSE ART PANEL
http://www.pacprod.com/cgi-bin/hazelnt.exe?action=DETAIL&item=MVP51C
http://www.starduststudios.com/bluegep.htm
Maj. George E. Preddy, Jr.
328th FS 352nd FG
North Carolina
December 25, 1944
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
St. Avold (Moselle), France
http://www.352ndfightergroup.com/assoc/memorial.html
Interesting that he died on Christmas Day while flying his plane named “CRIPES A’ MIGHTY”.