WWII Aircraft Markings
Every USAAF unit had its own system of markings — tail letters, fuselage codes, geometric symbols, and color schemes that identified group, squadron, and individual aircraft. These tools help you decode those markings for accurate scale models and historical research.
5
Lookup Tools
140+
Units Covered
1942–1945
ETO, MTO & SWPA
5th Air Force Markings
Interactive LookupIdentify any 5th Air Force bomber, attack, or fighter unit by its tail numbers, squadron insignia, and group markings. Covers all 9 bomb/attack groups and 6 fighter groups that flew from Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, 1942–1945.
8th Air Force Markings
Interactive LookupIdentify any 8th Air Force bomber or fighter by its tail markings, fuselage codes, geometric symbols, and color schemes. Covers all 40+ bomb groups and 15 fighter groups stationed in England, 1942-1945.
9th Air Force Markings
Interactive LookupInteractive lookup tool for 9th Air Force tactical fighter and medium bomber unit markings. Squadron codes, cowling colors, tail markings, and invasion stripes for the tactical air arm that supported the ground war from D-Day to VE-Day.
15th Air Force Markings
Interactive LookupIdentify any 15th Air Force bomber or fighter by its wing symbols, tail color schemes, and squadron markings. Covers all 21 bomb groups and 7 fighter groups that flew strategic missions from Italy, 1943–1945.
12th Air Force Markings
Interactive LookupIdentify any 12th Air Force tactical bomber or fighter by its tail markings, cowling colors, and squadron identification. Covers all 7 medium bomb groups and 7 fighter groups across North Africa, Corsica, Sardinia, and Italy, 1942–1945.
Why Markings Matter
Getting the markings right is one of the most satisfying parts of building a WWII aircraft model — and one of the easiest to get wrong. The USAAF used an evolving system of unit identification markings throughout the war, and the details varied by air force, command, theater, and time period.
A B-17 in the 8th Air Force carried a tail letter identifying its bomb group, a fuselage code identifying its squadron, and an individual aircraft letter. A P-47 in the 9th Air Force used squadron codes on the fuselage and often distinctive cowling colors. A B-24 in the 15th Air Force displayed geometric wing symbols and bold tail color schemes unique to the Mediterranean theater. Understanding these systems lets you build a model that represents a specific aircraft from a specific unit at a specific point in the war.
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