TM 1-410. Technical Manual, Airplane Structures 1941: Section 19 - Insignia and Markings

SECTION XIX: INSIGNIA AND MARKINGS

72. General.-The insignia on service aircraft indicates the nation, branch of service and organization to which the aircraft belongs. Identification markings show by letters and numbers not only the branch of service and organization to which the airplane is attached, but also its type designation, the names of its assigned personnel, and other pertinent information concerning that particular airplane. The identification colors for the various systems of piping used in the service airplanes are also included in this section.

73. Insignia.-a. The design of wing insignia is a red circle inside a white five-pointed star inside a blue circumscribed circle. The red circle is in the center of the star; that portion of the star not covered on of the circumscribed circle by the red circle is white; and that portion not covered by either the red circle or the white star is blue.

b. Rudder insignia consists of one blue stripe parallel to the rudder post and thirteen alternate red and white stripes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane.

c.  Organization insignia are those designs, etc., that have been approved by the War Department for use by an individual organization. Each aircraft assigned to a permanent organization, including schools, bears the insignia of that organization.

74. Markings.-a. The marking U. S. ARMY is painted on the lower surface of the lower wing in the case of biplanes, and on the lower surface of wings of monoplanes. The letters U. S. are painted on the right wing and the word ARMY is painted on the left wing, with the top of the letter toward the leading edge of the wing.

b. The following markings are stenciled on left side of fuselage forward of front cockpit, except that where cockpit is in nose of fuselage, markings are placed to rear of cockpit.

U. S.ARMY-(Model designation).

AIR CORPS SERIAL NO ------------

CREW WEIGHT -------------------

Each airplane has name of home station placed immediately above foregoing technical data legend.

c. As the means of identifying the organization to which airplanes are assigned, suitable depth of front portion of engine nacelle is painted in the color combination assigned to that organization. Command airplanes are identified by painted stripes encircling fuselage immediately back of rear cockpit. These stripes are same color as organization identification color.

d. Each airplane has a distinctive designator assigned consisting of a combination of letters and numbers. The system of assigning designators uses first the wing, group, squadron, or other unit identifying number. This number is followed by a letter or letters designating type of equipment as B for bombardment. P for pursuit, etc., or if not applicable, assignment of airplane as W for wing, AB for air base, etc., followed by a number to designate particular airplane. For example, 5AB1 designates 5th Air Base Squadron, airplane No. 1. Airplane designators are painted on in a centrally located position in the following locations:

(1) On each side of vertical stabilizer, lettering appearing in two lines with individual airplane number on top line and unit or organization designator on bottom line.

(2) On upper and lower sides of left, wing only (in the case of a biplane upper side of left upper and lower side of left lower wing). Lettering will appear all on one line, with top of letters toward leading edge.

(3) In addition to above, airplane identification number is painted on engine cowling, or on forward portion of fuselage.

e. Names of permanently assigned members of the combat crew are posted on the inside of the door. In the case of open cockpit airplanes they are stenciled or painted on forward portion of left side of fuselage..

f. Code markings are the means by which number, identity, and age of protective coatings of airfoils, fuselage, etc., and other pertinent data relating to the airplane are determined. They consist of letters and numbers designating contractor or repair depot manufacturing or repairing the part; kind and number of under and finishing coats applied; date coatings were applied; and date of manufacture of frame structure. For example, AA-39-9YSPD6-10-1-39-Mfg.8-15-39 means that a contractor whose code letters are AA applied six coats of semipigmented yellow nitrate dope on October 1, 1939, to surface of a fabric-covered frame which was manufactured August 15, 1939. The dope used was furnished in fiscal year 1939 by paint manufacturer whose code number is 9. Such code markings will not be altered, relocated, or effaced except as required by repairs or refinishing operations, in which case markings will be replaced properly.

g. Identification colors for the various pipe line systems are

(1) Fuel.-Band of red paint near each union and on each side of every flexible connection.

(2) Oil.-Band of yellow paint near each end.

(3) Cooling.-(a) All piping used in the cooling system near each union and on each side of every flexible connection is marked

1. Water.-Band of white paint.

2. Prestone.-Band of white paint on each side of a band of black paint.

(b) If the engine is cooled with any liquid except water, the cowling or structure near the filler unit is marked with letters not less than 1 inch in height designating cooling liquid required.

(4) Fire extinguisher.-All lines are marked with band of brown paint near each end.

(5) Flotation equipment.-Band of light blue paint near each union.

(6) Oxygen.-Band of light green paint near each union.

(7) Air speed.-(a) Pitot pressure.-Band of black paint on each side of all union connections.

(b) Static pressure.-Alternate bands of black and light green on each side of all union connections.

(8) Manifold pressure.-Alternate bands of white and light blue near each union.

(9) Vacuum.-Alternate bands of white and light green near each union.

(10) Hydraulic pressure oil-Bands of light blue painted on each side of a band of yellow near each union.

(11) Compressed air.-Alternate bands of light blue and light green when pressures carried are less than 25 pounds. When over 25 pounds, alternate bands of yellow and light green near unions.

(12) Steam.-Alternate bands of light blue and black near unions.

(13) Purging.-Alternate bands of light blue and yellow near unions.

(14) Exhaust analyzer.-Alternate bands of light blue and brown on each side of union connections.

(15) Anti-icing fluid.-Alternate bands of white and red on each side of union connections.

(16) Vent (closed compartments).-Alternate bands of red and black near each union.