those things on the side of planes that represent kills...

[mike172]

Ive been searching google but have been unable to find what I am looking for. During WWII and other wars what is the painted... thing... that signifies a kill? I hope someone will understand what I am asking. I am trying to figure out what the name is for the "thing" refered to above.

 

[AJB37]

I believe it is referred to as a scorecard, but I'm not all that sure.

 

[Pugs]

I've always heard of them as kill markings but I don't know if the collection of them has any official names.

 

[FastMover]

Generally the type of marking depended on what nation operated the aircraft. In the PTO I've only seen rising sun flags painted under the cockpit. In Europe they used swastikas or the black cross that the Germans used to ID their airplanes.

Later on during Korea and Vietnam red stars or MiG silhouettes were used to represent kills.

 

[HeyJoe]

US Typically posted victories below or near cockpit and there were variations in theatre and even among squadrons and individals

Navy's top ace in WWII and his personal choice of markings

Germans in WWII marked victories on the rudder

Galland's Me109

USAAF top ace Richard Bong put more emphasis on his wife than his kills

VF-17 Jolly Rogers preference for markings in the air

and on the ground

Israelis use roundels replicating markings of the victims

More Israeli F-15s showing successes in the air

Robin Olds racked up 17 kills in WWII and went on to score again over North Vietnam

ETO leading ace John C Meyer before the jeep wreck that pulled him out of contention

Gabby Gabreski's choice of markings in WWII in ETO

Leading Korean Ace Joe McConnell's F-86
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/020925-O-9999G-005.jpg

 

[bunk22]

US Typically posted victories below or near cockpit and there were variations in theatre and even among squadrons and individals

Navy's top ace in WWII and his personal choice of markings

Germans in WWII marked victories on the rudder

Galland's Me109

USAAF top ace Richard Bong put more emphasis on his wife than his kills

VF-17 Jolly Rogers preference for markings in the air

and on the ground

Israelis use roundels replicating markings of the victims

More Israeli F-15s showing successes in the air

Robin Olds racked up 17 kills in WWII and went on to score again over North Vietnam

ETO leading ace John C Meyer before the jeep wreck that pulled him out of contention

Gabby Gabreski's choice of markings in WWII in ETO

Leading Korean Ace Joe McConnell's F-86
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/020925-O-9999G-005.jpg

Good photo's!! I think I've some books that are all about kill markings on aircraft. They had pics from WWI, II, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

 

[phrogdriver]

In days of old (A4s and HAL help me here) were pilots more likely to fly "their" aircraft than today? I used to have a 46 with my name, but I didn't fly it anymore than anyone else. It mostly meant that the crewchief and I had to field day it once a month.

 

[HH-60H]

In days of old (A4s and HAL help me here) were pilots more likely to fly "their" aircraft than today? I used to have a 46 with my name, but I didn't fly it anymore than anyone else. It mostly meant that the crewchief and I had to field day it once a month.

What was involved with the field day?

 

[HAL Pilot]

In days of old (A4s and HAL help me here)

How old do you think I am? I'm 46 and I only retired in 1998.

Plus I was a P-3 guy...we didn't do the name thing except for the CO.

 

[Catmando]

In days of old (A4s and HAL help me here) were pilots more likely to fly "their" aircraft than today? I used to have a 46 with my name, but I didn't fly it anymore than anyone else. It mostly meant that the crewchief and I had to field day it once a month.

The average odds of flying “my F-4” on any given day were about 13:1 (except if she were the hangar queen).

And unlike HAL, I’m older than dirt.

 

[mike172]

Thanks Guys.