B-25A 17th BG 1941
The North American B-25A Mitchell with tail number 43-17B, from the 17th Bomb Group (BG), stationed at Pendleton, Oregon in September 1941, features a paint scheme typical of early World War II U.S. Army Air Corps bombers.
Camouflage and Colors:
- Upper Surfaces:
- The upper surfaces of the aircraft are painted in Olive Drab (ANA 613). This color served as a standard camouflage on many U.S. military aircraft, helping to blend the aircraft with the ground and vegetation when viewed from above.
- Undersides:
- The undersides are finished in Neutral Gray (ANA 603), a light gray shade that helped reduce visibility against the sky when viewed from below.
- Lettering and Markings:
- All lettering, including the aircraft’s serial numbers and identification marks, is painted in black.
- National insignia (white star inside a blue circle) is positioned on the fuselage sides, above the port wing, and below the starboard wing.
- The words ‘U.S.’ are displayed below the starboard wing, while ‘ARMY’ is under the port wing, both readable from the trailing edge.
Additional Details:
- Unit Badge:
- A unit badge is present on the nose of the aircraft, visible on both sides. This badge likely represents the 17th Bomb Group, though the specific design would vary by squadron and mission role.
- Cowlings:
- The front of the engine cowlings is painted in Mid-Blue. This color detail distinguishes the aircraft and may have been a unit identifier or an aesthetic choice for visibility or maintenance purposes.