Hinomaru

[Pathfinder]

I was wondering when the Hinomaru ('meat balls') were changed from:

a) the single red circle
b) the red circle with a thin white band
c) the red circle on a white rectangular background

Any info on why the change took place and when would be appreciated.

Also, were the symbols always the same on the fuselage and wings? For example:did a single red Hinomaru on both sides of the fuselage mean the aircraft would have the same on the wings?

Cheers,
Pathfinder

[CJE]

AFAIK there was no change as such.
The white band denoted the units involved in the defense of the Motherland.
The while outline was used on camouflaged aircraft.

[Pathfinder]

Thanks for that.

[Nicholas]

In a nutshell. For the JAAF the first marking arrangements were plain hinomaru above and below the wings. 50th Sentai introduced small plain fuselage hinomaru as part of their unit insignia during 1941.

Fuselage hinomaru were introduced generally towards the end of 1942, usually with a white border. During the autumn and winter of 1942/43, when the yellow leading edge IFF strips were being introduced, local variations with a yellow border were also seen. The upper surface hinomaru remained plain on many types.

Later some types/units used white outlined hinomaru on the upper wing surface but many variations were noted, including plain hinomaru on the fuselage. Sometimes the white borders were narrowed or over-painted according to local circumstances. It was not a fixed rule to have white borders on camouflaged aircraft. Photographic references are best.

[CJE]

You're quite right.
I should have written "usually".