Friday, August 12, 2016

three umbrellas = top cover sorties completed, the eight top hats and sticks = bomber escort missions and the ten brooms = fighter sweeps."

http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-38-lightning/p-38j-lightning-serial-42-67449-miss-mass-of-the-367th-fg/

 Umbrellas, tophats and walking sticks, and brooms?
thanks to Steve! I learned this: From "VIII Fighter Command at War: ‘Long Reach’" by Michael O'Leary":

 "Reading the aircraft's mission log, three umbrellas denote a trio of top cover sorties completed, the eight top hats and sticks symbolize bomber escort missions (as do the bomb symbols) and the ten brooms [are for] fighter sweeps."




http://history.blogs.delaware.gov/2015/09/03/world-war-ii-mission-symbols/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/5858505264/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/5855924480/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/5855231045/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/4848580062/


http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205363486

in the above 2 images, it seems they needed a 2nd photo to get the promo photo they way they needed it, but it finally answered my question, why is there one bomb on it's side... it's representing the mission to Ploesti, which was so low, the bombs weren't dropped as much as placed on the targets.



The ice cream cones represent raids on Italian targets and the key indicates the aircraft’s 21st operation.

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/bombs-painted-on-side-of-bombers.36554/


the goose stepping men symbols represent troop straffing missions, and behind his head are 2 trucks representing troop carriers


https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697406@N05/18817205955/

P 38 in the med
https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697406@N05/18630149668/


50 photograph missions over North Korea, the only photo mission symbols I've seen (thanks Steve!)


https://www.flickr.com/photos/123114342@N04/23386682025/in/pool-435090@N22/

4 comments:

  1. To the rescue my friend!

    Umbrella - top cover mission
    Top hat and cane (something that look like wrench from far) - fighter escort mission
    Broom - fighter sweep mission

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While I was busy finding more cool photos, you nice readers were answering my questions! Thanks! I added several more photos of the variety of symbols in the past couple hours

      Delete
  2. The umbrella was overhead protection mission for ground forces. The broom was a "sweeping" mission on ground targets. The wrench is actually a top-hat and cane for escort missions.

    http://history.blogs.delaware.gov/2015/09/03/world-war-ii-mission-symbols/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While I was busy finding more cool photos, you nice readers were answering my questions! Thanks! I added several more photos of the variety of symbols in the past couple hours

      Delete