what does a squadron look like?

[andron234]

I was wondering has anyone got any pictures of a WW1 (repainted models) German squadron? say about five planes (ish) Also could someone explain how the marking work? does the lead plane always displays the same markings as a lead plane in another squadron?

[gully_raker]

I was wondering has anyone got any pictures of a WW1 (repainted models) German squadron? say about five planes (ish) Also could someone explain how the marking work? does the lead plane always displays the same markings as a lead plane in another squadron?

G'day Drew!
To answer your second question first. The simple answer is no. That only started in WW2.
Some Flight/Kette leaders flew with ribbons or streamers on the wing struts or tail fin but that was more common in the British Squadrons.

Now for your first query do go visit the Jasta/Kette thread in the Painting Showcase up in the Hobby section & you will see a nice selection of aircraft.

[Barkmann]

G'day Drew!
To answer your second question first. The simple answer is no. That only started in WW2.
Some Flight/Kette leaders flew with ribbons or streamers on the wing struts or tail fin but that was more common in the British Squadrons.

Now for your first query do go visit the Jasta/Kette thread in the Painting Showcase up in the Hobby section & you will see a nice selection of aircraft.

Yes, the Jasta/Flik Official Paint Thread is a beautiful display some a squadrons.

[fast.git]

Although German airmen had more freedom to individualize their aircraft than their British counterparts, Jasta aircraft typically displayed some form of identifying squadron markings, although they changed as time went on. At various times...

• Jasta 2 ("Boelcke") adopted an all-white tail trimmed in black, and then a half-white/half-black tail section, with a black border
• Jasta 4 (JG1) had a black spiral ribbon running around the fuselage of their aircraft, and then a black nose, later in the war (many D.VIIs)
• Jasta 5 had green tails outlined in red
• Jasta 6 (JG1) made use of black & white markings and "zebra" stripes on the horizontal surfaces of the tail
• Jasta 10 (JG1) had a yellow nose
• much of Jasta 11 (JG1) adopted the red of their leader (nose back to the cockpit, struts, and wheel covers)
• Jasta 12 (JG2) had a black tail, white nose and black cowling band (they kept the white nose when they switched the fuselage to blue)
• Jasta 13 (JG2) had a green nose & blue fuselage
• Jasta 15 (JG2) displayed white cowlings, as did many JG2 aircraft, as well as dark a dark (possibly brown?) rudder, before switching to red noses & a blue fuselage with white markings
• Jasta 18 had red noses & blue fuselages before switching to a red nose/white fuselage combination
• Jasta 19 (JG2) had a yellow nose & blue fuselage
• many Jasta 30 aircraft were red and/or displayed an orange rhombus (sideways diamond)

Barry and Nicolas are correct... take a spin through the painting threads (Jasta, FliK, Squadron, etc.) and you can see the excellent work done by many forum-members. Additionally, there is a wealth of information online, and the Osprey titles contain some beautifully-rendered full color aircraft plates.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

This is where you want to be Drew.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ainting-Thread

Rob.

[Mau Fox]

does the lead plane always displays the same markings as a lead plane in another squadron?

Interesting question Drew.

Here is an excerpt from Greg VanWyngarden statement I found on another forum:

"Identification of Flight and Squadron leader methods varied somewhat from nation to nation and squadron to squadron.

In many German Jagdstaffeln, the CO's did indeed often use streamers trailing from the wingtips, struts, elevators or rudder. These were sometimes in the German national colors of red-white-black, or Prussian black-white, or even blue and white in Bavarian units. Some Jasta CO's chose to mark their aircraft with some conspicuous display of color as well, or special markings on the wings.

In the RFC/RAF, there were rather specific patterns for streamers from the wings and tail to identify Squadron, Flight and even deputy Flight leaders, I think - but I can't tell you what they were right now. These, too, no doubt changed from unit to unit and as time went on.

In many (but certainly not all) French escadrilles that had large individual numbers painted on the fuselage (and sometimes on the wings or fin), it was often the custom for a commander to use '1'.

In American squadrons, there were regulations for a squadron CO's machine to display a large red-white-blue riband diagonally on the fuselage from cockpit to tail, and to use the individual letter "O". As expected, these rules were often disobeyed or not complied with - but there are plenty of photos of colorful USAS a/c with such markings ."

Greg
__________________
Greg VanWyngarden

I will add that in Italian squadrons, the squadron leader displayed a blue streamer trailing from struts. Later in the war this streamer was superceded by a metal pennant, always in blue color, often with a red band in the middle.

In some squadrons, for sure 76th and 81st, Flight Leaders used to be identified by painting the engine cowling in white, blue and green.

Mau