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Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East Please use this forum to discuss the Air War in the Far East. |
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#1
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Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Greetings,
Something I've noticed and which caught my eye, Japanese aircraft seem to always have yellow leading edges to about half span on the wings. Why is this? I've been wondering and can't come up with a decent answer, although I'm sure there is one. Thanks, Ryan |
#2
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Quote:
Hi Ryan As far as I know the yellow band was for identification purposes and part of the camouflage introduced during the war . Cheers gian paolo |
#3
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
To quote Aero Detail it is indeed a "tactical recognition marking" or "indentification band", depending on which one you check. BTW not limited to camouflaged aircraft.
__________________
Ruy Horta 12 O'Clock High! And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death; |
#4
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Leading edge could be yellow or red.
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Srecko Bradic Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com/forum Owner: www.sreckobradic.com Owner: www.warplanes-zine.com Email: srecko.warplane@gmail.com Skype: sreckobradic Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/LetLet...s/308234397758 |
#5
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
but red is rare....
The reason is to improve identification in a head-on pass. The RAF in Western Europe had yellow leading edges on the outboard wing for the same reason. The FAA used yellow in the invasion of Madagascar and for Operation Pedestal. The Desert Air Force had red spinners on their fighters - a different approach but the same reason. |
#6
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Any reference/sources to the red tac markings? As in leading edge, not the no step area marking.
I could image some form of yellow orange being misinterpreted as red, but again, new to me. Just curious, since I don't recall ever coming across such an example in my reference work (but it certainly is not my expertise and I can't read most of my Japanese material...so easy to miss some detail like that).
__________________
Ruy Horta 12 O'Clock High! And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death; |
#7
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
From a similar discussion on the J-aircraft forum:
Quote:
Quote:
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Please visit my aviation art gallery @ www.aviationart.aero or view my work on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/aviationart.aero Last edited by Skyraider3D; 10th April 2007 at 10:13. |
#8
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Interesting, which leads to hunting for those rare images of red marked a/c.
__________________
Ruy Horta 12 O'Clock High! And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death; |
#9
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Japanese Bf109 had red leading edge but I have note on images other also have but very very rare.
__________________
Srecko Bradic Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com Owner: www.letletlet-warplanes.com/forum Owner: www.sreckobradic.com Owner: www.warplanes-zine.com Email: srecko.warplane@gmail.com Skype: sreckobradic Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/LetLet...s/308234397758 |
#10
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Re: Japanese aircraft leading edges?
Aloha All,
Thanks for quoting my post: "On 18 April 1942, the Japanese HQ discovered that the US insignia with the red dot confused Japanese AA gunners. They began to place large white squares and 'bandages' behind/around the Japanese national insignia for "Homeland Defense" aircraft. Some of these "Homeland Defense" white markings found their way to the South Pacific. "Head on tests revealed they needed some other quick identification of who was who...and both the Japanese Army and Navy tested RED leading edge stripes on aircraft. "On 11 Sept 1942 the official order came from Imperial Headquarters for the IJA-IJN to have YELLOW leading edge stripes. The order was sent out on 12 Sept 1942 according to the date stamp below. Japanese researcher "Summer" located this order recently, in the Japanese equivalent to the US NARA. "Applications of yellow stripes were noted in the 'field' in October 1942." The document was again posted at: http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7881 Of interest, the width varied...the REX was quite narrow, only two inches! |
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