P-51K 44-11563 The Brat 83rd Fighter Squadron 78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group Aircraft Markings and Camouflage (1942-1945)
P-38G Lightnings (December 1942 – February 1943):
- Camouflage: Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray.
- Tail Numbers: 8-inch high Identification Yellow.
- Unit Markings: Similar to those used during training in the U.S.
- ‘Plane-in-Group’ Numerals:
- Painted in squadron colors (approx. 18 inches high) on the outer side of each engine cowling below the air intake and on the outer side of each boom radiator housing.
- Squadron Colors:
- 82nd Fighter Squadron: White
- 83rd Fighter Squadron: Red
- 84th Fighter Squadron: Yellow
- Squadron Commanders’ Aircraft:
- Two bands (approx. 6 inches wide) in the squadron color encircling the rear fuselage booms.
- Fuselage Cocardes: A 2-inch yellow surround was added.
- Changes: Squadron colors and numerals were removed as the P-38s were gradually withdrawn and sent to North Africa as replacements.
P-47C/D Thunderbolts (January 1943 – January 1945):
- Initial Camouflage: Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray.
- Tail Numbers: Yellow.
- Fuselage Cocarde: Yellow surround added after arrival at Goxhill.
- Plane-in-Group Numbers: Painted on the fuselage ahead of the cocardes in 18-inch high white numerals.
- Squadron Code Letters (Post-March 1943):
- 82nd Fighter Squadron: MX
- 83rd Fighter Squadron: HL
- 84th Fighter Squadron: WZ
- Applied in standard white 24-inch block capitals forward of the cocarde, with individual letters aft.
- Revised national insignia (late June 1943): Individual aircraft letters were moved closer to the tail.
- Increased Squadron Strength (October 1943): Barred letters introduced for additional aircraft, with bars placed below the letter.
- Checkerboard Markings (March 1944):
- Applied to engine cowlings: Black and white checkerboard with three black and three white rectangles (approx. 8 inches horizontal by 7 inches vertical).
- Checkerboard extended 46 inches back from the cowling lip.
- Natural Metal-Finished P-47s (from April 1944):
- Camouflage added to the upper surfaces using RAF Dark Green; undersurfaces often painted with Sky S.
- Tail numbers repainted in yellow on field-camouflaged aircraft.
- Squadron Colors (October 1944):
- 82nd Fighter Squadron: Red rudders
- 83rd Fighter Squadron: White rudders
- 84th Fighter Squadron: Black rudders
P-51B/D/K Mustangs (December 1944 – August 1945):
- Initial Combat Equipment: P-51D/K models, with P-51Bs used for training purposes.
- Group Checkerboard Design:
- Initially applied to P-51Bs with 8-inch squares (three black and three white) swept down and forward from the anti-glare panel.
- On combat P-51D/Ks, rows increased to eight white and eight black squares (6 inches) swept back under the wing root.
- A 2-inch wide red border was later added to the rear of the checkerboard.
- Spinner Design: Half white and half black, longitudinally, creating a flickering effect when turning.
- Rudder Colors:
- Similar to P-47s with squadron-specific colors.
- 83rd Fighter Squadron: White rudder outlined in red.
- Tail Numbers:
- Initially left unpainted on a stripe when the rudder was given a squadron color.
- Later repainted on the fin when the entire rudder was painted.
- Special Markings:
- Group CO’s P-51D, 44-72218 had black and white checkered wing tips from April 1945.
- Successor’s aircraft, P-51D 44-14251 featured a black and white checkered rudder.
- OTU Aircraft:
- Used normal alphabetical run for individual letters, some with bars, and bore the WW tail marking.
- Unique Paint Schemes:
- P-51B 42-106826WW was modified into a two-seater and painted overall red with no squadron insignia in March 1945.
- At least two P-47Ds were on hand after VE-Day, with one two-seat conversion, 42-27606, painted entirely red.