Techmod 72108 U.S. Serial & Code Numbers

Nationality markings (hereinafter: insignia) on US Air Force planes were used for the first time in 1916, during the suppression of the so-called Pancho Villa's rebellion in Mexico. Interestingly, they only showed a red star - confusingly similar to those that were later used on Soviet machines. However, in the period from May 1917 to February 1918, a white star was used as the insignia of American airplanes in a circular blue field with a red circle in the center. This designation returned in 1919 and was used until 1942. In May this year, the insignia was changed by removing the red circle in the center, due to the possibility of confusion with the Japanese military aircraft markings. During Operation Torch, in November 1942, a yellow dust jacket was applied around the blue field of the white star. However, in the summer of 1943, the white star in the blue field received white ribbons on both sides, and from August 1943 until January 1947 - blue dust jackets were added to the ribbons. In January 1947, the official designation of USAF aircraft was introduced, which is actually valid to this day (2019) - a white star on a blue background, with two ribbons in a blue dust jacket with a single horizontal red stripe on each ribbon. In the 1980s, the low visibility insignia were introduced, i.e. insignia with the graphic layout of the insignia but painted with a uniform white, black or gray paint.