World War Photos

P-47D 42-26641 “Hairless Joe” of the 56th Fighter Group, 62nd FS

56th Fighter Group P-47 Thunderbolt Markings (January 1943 – September 1945)

P-47C Thunderbolts (January 1943 – Early 1944):

• Camouflage: Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, with some aircraft having a yellow surround on the fuselage cocarde.
• Identity Markings: White type identity markings added from late February 1943.
• Plane-in-Group Numbers:
  • Used from mid-February to late March 1943.
  • Approx. 15-inch high white numerals, painted forward of the intercooler doors.
  • Numbering System:
    • Group HQ: 01 to 09
    • 61st Fighter Squadron: 10 to 39
    • 62nd Fighter Squadron: 40 to 69 (prefixed with “2”)
    • 63rd Fighter Squadron: 70 to 99 (prefixed with “3”)
  • Later replaced with squadron codes:
    • 61st Fighter Squadron: HV
    • 62nd Fighter Squadron: LM
    • 63rd Fighter Squadron: UN
• Squadron Colors:
  • Introduced in February 1944 for in-flight recognition:
    • 61st Fighter Squadron: Bright red nose band.
    • 62nd Fighter Squadron: Yellow nose band.
    • 63rd Fighter Squadron: Light blue nose band.
  • By late March 1944, all nose bands were painted red per VIII Fighter Command instructions. Squadron colors were then applied to the rudders:
    • 61st Fighter Squadron: Red rudders.
    • 62nd Fighter Squadron: Yellow rudders.
    • 63rd Fighter Squadron: Rudders either retained factory camouflage or were bare metal.

P-47D Thunderbolts (Mid-1944 onwards):

• Natural Metal Finish: From early April 1944, natural metal-finished P-47Ds began arriving as replacements.
• Field Camouflage: Camouflage applied using British Air Ministry paints:
  • Disruptive Patterns:
    • Dark Green and Ocean Grey: Used by the 62nd Fighter Squadron and on some aircraft of the 63rd.
    • Dark Green and Ocean Grey blotching: Applied on four aircraft of the 62nd Fighter Squadron.
  • Uppersurfaces: Generally coated in Dark Green, especially for the 63rd Fighter Squadron’s P-47Ds.
• Special Schemes:
  • 61st Fighter Squadron: Most diverse with schemes ranging from plain Dark Green, Dark Green/Ocean Grey patterning, and blotched applications to two shades of grey
• Rudder Colors: In September 1944, the 63rd Fighter Squadron painted its rudders medium sky blue as an additional recognition feature.

P-47M Thunderbolts (January 1945 – September 1945):

• Group-Wide Red Nose: Continued across all P-47Ms.
• Distinctive Camouflage for Each Squadron:
  • 61st Fighter Squadron:
    • Matt black upper surfaces with a purplish tinge.
    • Red code letters outlined in white.
    • Red tail numbers.
    • Repainted national insignia with a lighter blue outline.
  • 62nd Fighter Squadron:
    • Green and grey patterning (likely Dark Green and Sea Grey).
    • Identification Yellow code letters and tail numbers.
  • 63rd Fighter Squadron:
    • Two shades of blue (Dark Mediterranean Blue and Azure Blue).
    • Code letters formed in bare metal by masking before camouflage spraying.
    • Tail numbers in the same blue as the rudder.
• Undersurfaces and Cockpit Canopies: Left unpainted, along with the leading edges of the wings and horizontal tailplane.
• End of Hostilities: A few late-arriving P-47Ms remained unpainted.