Why US planes Only had 1 Roundel

Often when you see pictures of a WW2 US plane, it always has one roundel on one side of the wings Was this just random coincidence? or perhaps because it looked better? In this video you will discover the rather Eerie truth to Why US planes Only had 1 Roundel throughout World war 2 and beyond!

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Sources

Music : "Mark Hutson - Ancient Trials" is under a Creative Commons (BY-ND 3.0) license:

Background history on the Yellow wings!

The era of Interwar Yellow Wing USN Aircraft stands as a pivotal chapter in the annals of US Naval Aviation, tracing its roots back to the early 20th century when Captain W.I. Chambers was appointed as the overseer of all aviation affairs within the USN in 1910. While the CV-1 Langley was recommissioned as a carrier in March 1922, it wasn't until October of that year that the inaugural aircraft took flight from its deck, marking the dawn of a new era in naval aviation.

During this significant period, Navy Aircraft boasted a distinctive appearance, characterized by overall Aluminum-doped fabric complemented by orange yellow wing tops on the upper wing and aft horizontal stabilizer. Despite the official order forthe yellowpaint not being issued until May 1925, this vibrant hue had unofficially become a standard practice since 1920, serving as a crucial aid in locating aircraft that had made forced landings in water. The aircraft were adorned with a National white star,with a red circle in its center against a blue disc. Aircraft insignia were to be placed on the upper and lower wings, with the aircraft's Bureau Number prominently displayed on the fuselage sides. The size of the star was intricately determined, reflecting the precise dimensions between the leading edge of the wing and the leading edge of the ailerons, while its position along the wing spanwise was meticulously defined by the wing's chord. E.g. if an aircraft's wing had a 3 foot chord the disc would be painted three feet from the outer edge of each wing.

The first military aviation insignias of the United States include a star used by the US Army Signal Corps Aviation Section, seen during the Pancho Villa punitive expedition, just over a year before American involvement in World War I began. The star was painted only on the vertical tail, in either red (the most often used color)or blue (less likely, due to the strictly orthochromatic photography of that era, rendering the red star as a black one in period photos). At the same time, the US Navy was using a blue anchor on the rudders of its seaplanes.

American entry into World War II
The US Army Air Corps began painting its roundel on only the top of the left wing and only the bottom of the right wing February 26, 1941, intended to help facilitate recognition of friend and foe if the United States became embroiled in the spreading conflict. The other reason was to “eliminate a balanced target” by presenting a somewhat asymmetrical effect — if you see two white stars one on each wing), it is easier to aim your guns between them. The US Navy resisted this change and reverted to the roundel on each wing early in the war January 5, 1942. However, the US Navy finally adopted the asymmetrical single wing insignia February 1, 1943.

In the months after Pearl Harbor - following the late-June 1941 conversion of the USAAC into the United States Army Air Forces - it was thought that the central red dot could be mistaken for a Japanese Hinomaru, from a distance and in May 1942 it was eliminated. On aircraft in service they were painted over with white. During November 1942, US forces participated in the Torch landings and for this a chrome yellow ring (of unspecified thickness) was temporarily added to the outside of the roundel to reduce incidents of Americans shooting down unfamiliar British aircraft, which could themselves be distinguished by a similar yellow outline on the RAF's "Type C.1" fuselage roundels of the time.

one of these solutions was entirely satisfactory as friendly fire incidents continued and so the US Government initiated a study that discovered that the red wasn't the issue since color couldn't be determined from a distance anyway, but the shape could be. After trying out several variations including an oblong roundel with two stars, they arrived at using white bars flanking the sides of the existing roundel, all with a red outline

[videre]

Thank you for making a video that isn't 20 minutes long and starts with the history of the plane. Thank you for the video, I didn't know that.

[winstonsmith]

I learned TWO things: I learned what the heck a "roundel" is and I learned why they only used one.

[KaiserFrazer]

This is the same reason the Polish Air Force staggered their chessboard "roundels" on the top wing of their aircraft. They were asymmetrical for the same reason; so that enemy aircraft, if using the roundel positions to aim, would not only miss the cockpit, but either miss the plane entirely or hit a part of the plane which could withstand the damage.

[a.g.]

That's logical, never thought much about why. I was guessing to save paint.😂

[garyowen]

US tanks (Sherman) had a star, centered, on the sides of the turret. Crews quickly learned to paint over, or scratch them off. It gave German gunners an eye catching target.
Also, urinals often have a dot baked into the center-bottom of the porcelain bowl, for the same reason. Guys like targets.

[PedroConejo]

If you look at photos of ex-RAF Spitfires used when the US first arrived in the UK, you can see where the RAF roundel has been blanked on the upper right wing.

[ivancho]

The effect is called Target Fixation and I know of it when a motorcyclist focuses on the solitary tree at the side of the road which he must avoid but by looking at it he drives straight into it.
Excellent video, thank you. 👍

[robert]

Poland did something similar. Planes had two markings where one was placed typically at the end of the wing where second one was closer to the cockpit.

[seesafar]

Feather me props! Right Rudder!
As a child, I built assembled (Glued and put together from a kit) many small plastic model airplanes and always wondered why there was only one decal on the wings- now, thanks to you, I am no longer uniformed. Thank you from a child who is now an old grandfather....

[Vercingetorix]

Yes I have wondered why! 😂

Never thought that question would be answered... 🤣🤣

great video as always Sgt. V!!

[ericbainter]

Whether intended or not a single roundel on the left wing would also aid in identifying friend from foe, especially at a distance where the details of the roundel are indistinct. Knowing who NOT to shoot is as important as knowing who to shoot, maybe more when there are more friendlies than enemy.

[Joe-Guybee]

I consider myself a semi expert on all things WWII and have asked so many people this question. I've asked friends of my father's who were in the USAAF and they didn't know the answer. Of course, my father, who was a flight engineer on a B-17, and I knew the answer. Thanks for doing this video and spreading this info. I love your channel.

[TyroneSayWTF]

The Soviets during WWII were the smartest regarding the placement of upper-wing national insignia. They had none!
This makes sense if the aircraft is covered with gallons of camouflage paint to begin with - so as to make the aircraft blend in better with the ground features - when viewed from above. In other words, having a red star on one or both upper wings would have completely defeated the purpose of applying camouflage paint to the upper surfaces of aircraft in the first place.

[jarikinnunen]

Finnish war planes had white swastikas (since 1918) in both wings in early war. Later it was light gray for camouflage.

[DavidSmith-sscg]

I first built model airplanes 60 years ago; my Dad was an Air Force pilot and had flown in WW2. I never wondered, but you've got a good explanation in an interesting video. Bravo!

[donalddodson]

Thank you, Vittie! I never knew there was a pattern, before. If I had ever wondered "why, " I would have guessed it was to cut costs. 😂

[rogerw]

That's the kind of thinking that comes out of a nation that places safety and survival of their fighting men at the top of the list. It's far easier to recruit people when they know you don't see them as just an expendable, easily replaced bit of inventory.

[dogwalker]

Because Master Sargent Bilko sold them all 😂.

[jbrown]

Very interesting and straight to the point! 👍

[Maryland-WatchWatch]

In the 90's I went to Bolling AFB in DC.
The 55th FG of the 8th. AAF history was there on Micro Flim. I read it all. It took the whole day.
What I learned was that there were consent daily upgrades and changes being ordered in by the General Staff in anything and everthing that would give the FG an advanged over the enemy.
The whole group had a ton of work to keep up with the "New" directions and it all paid off for them collectively.
Thanks for your report!