ETO vs. PTO

[Shay]

I was wondering if someone could clear up a couple of questions. First off why was the Aircraft coding worn by each plane in the European theatre not carried on to the Pacific theatre? What's the reason for the difference? Also does anyone know in the plans for the invasion of the Japanese main land. In the event that the Japanese did not capitulate or if the Bombs were'nt dropped, Were "D-Day" stripes or some sort of aircraft identification planned to be applied to allied aircraft? Thanks

Shay

[Waltz41]

I can't be of great help, but there were ID bands on some of the PTO fighter aircraft in terms of large black bands on the fusealage and wings. check these pictures:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p5 ... fic/10.jpg

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/p5 ... fic/10.jpg

you can see the bands. i don't know if there were any other plans though to have the aircraft use 'dday' type ID.

as far as the coding, i'm not really sure, i could guess that there weren't as many fighter groups in the PTO as in the ETO so they could use a simple number system, which you see on a lot of the PTO planes. but this is all a guess.
wish i could be of more help, i'm sure someone here can direct you to a better answer.

brian

[Dan Johnson II]

My assumption would be that the USAAF copied RAF practice with squadron letter codes and individual letters in the ETO and did not in the Pacific, sticking to numbers or an individual code letter and number combination.

Dan