Learned something new today…
During World War II, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAF) painted their planes with a single roundel on one wing to make it harder for attackers to aim at the cockpit:
Asymmetrical placement
The roundel was painted on the top of the left wing and the bottom of the right wing, making the plane appear asymmetrical.
Draws attention away from the center
With only one roundel, the attacker's attention is drawn to it, causing them to aim slightly off center.
Helps identify friend and foe
The asymmetric placement helped differentiate between friend and foe.
Surprise attacks
Many aerial victories were achieved through surprise attacks, where the target was unaware they were being attacked.
The US Navy initially resisted the change, reverting to roundels on both wings in January 1942. However, the US Navy and Marine Corps officially returned to the one-wing roundel policy on February 1, 1943
Asymmetrical placement
The roundel was painted on the top of the left wing and the bottom of the right wing, making the plane appear asymmetrical.
Draws attention away from the center
With only one roundel, the attacker's attention is drawn to it, causing them to aim slightly off center.
Helps identify friend and foe
The asymmetric placement helped differentiate between friend and foe.
Surprise attacks
Many aerial victories were achieved through surprise attacks, where the target was unaware they were being attacked.
The US Navy initially resisted the change, reverting to roundels on both wings in January 1942. However, the US Navy and Marine Corps officially returned to the one-wing roundel policy on February 1, 1943
46-50, F
