Eric MC, aeroplane Q?
Discussion
Aren't they called Invasion Stripes and were to do with D Day or something or nothing?
Wikipedia would suggest they didn't:
"Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of World War II Allied aircraft, for the purpose of increased recognition by friendly forces (and thus reduced friendly fire incidents) during D-Day. The bands, consisting of three white and two black bands usually two feet wide, wrapped around the rear of an aircraft fuselage just in front of the empennage (tail) and from front to back around both the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.
Stripes were applied to fighters, photo reconnaissance, troop carriers, twin-engined medium and light bombers, and some special duty aircraft, but were not painted on four-engined heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force or RAF Bomber Command."
Wikipedia would suggest they didn't:
"Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of World War II Allied aircraft, for the purpose of increased recognition by friendly forces (and thus reduced friendly fire incidents) during D-Day. The bands, consisting of three white and two black bands usually two feet wide, wrapped around the rear of an aircraft fuselage just in front of the empennage (tail) and from front to back around both the upper and lower surfaces of the wings.
Stripes were applied to fighters, photo reconnaissance, troop carriers, twin-engined medium and light bombers, and some special duty aircraft, but were not painted on four-engined heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force or RAF Bomber Command."
Edited by Landlord on Tuesday 17th February 19:13
Lancasters weren't used for towing gliders. Other former heavy bombers were - such as the Halifax and Stirling - so many of the latter two received D-Day stripes.
I wouldn't categorically state that no Lancaster received invasion stripes, but if any were painted as such, it would have been very few.
I wouldn't categorically state that no Lancaster received invasion stripes, but if any were painted as such, it would have been very few.
FourWheelDrift said:
Are you sure it isn't a Halifax? They had stripes for daylight operations such as glider towing.
Sure as i can be given the poor quality of the photo.I have a fiar collection of photos from the war, various ones from bomb bay doors over dresden and the like- not sure if i should have them, but i do.
They were left for me by my much loved grandfather, who flew/navigated lancs in the war.
I also have a great cartoon about the role of the navigator, but my favourite is a picture of a canadian nicknamed 'happy' who was in my granddads crew (and a lifelong friend of his) next to a ruddy great bomb being loaded, whilst he was writing 'if you can read this, you're f
ked'The Suez stripes were yellow and black.
Stripes had been used before D-Day as well. For instance, because of recognition confusion between the Hawker Typhoon and the Focke-Wulf 190, Typhoons were given black and white stipes on the wing undersurfaces. They weren't equal in width so they look quite different to the later D-Day stripes. I am sure it was the experience of those Typhoon stripes that pronmpted SHAEF to order stripes on all aircraft (including gliders) taking part in the D-Day operation.
Stripes had been used before D-Day as well. For instance, because of recognition confusion between the Hawker Typhoon and the Focke-Wulf 190, Typhoons were given black and white stipes on the wing undersurfaces. They weren't equal in width so they look quite different to the later D-Day stripes. I am sure it was the experience of those Typhoon stripes that pronmpted SHAEF to order stripes on all aircraft (including gliders) taking part in the D-Day operation.
Emsman said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Are you sure it isn't a Halifax? They had stripes for daylight operations such as glider towing.
Sure as i can be given the poor quality of the photo.I have a fiar collection of photos from the war, various ones from bomb bay doors over dresden and the like- not sure if i should have them, but i do.
They were left for me by my much loved grandfather, who flew/navigated lancs in the war.
I also have a great cartoon about the role of the navigator, but my favourite is a picture of a canadian nicknamed 'happy' who was in my granddads crew (and a lifelong friend of his) next to a ruddy great bomb being loaded, whilst he was writing 'if you can read this, you're f
ked'Landlord said:
escargot said:
Landlord said:
Aren't they called Invasion Stripes and were to do with D Day or something or nothing?
Plane geek! FAT PLANE GEEK! FAT GAY PLANE GEEK!
Eric Mc said:
Lancasters weren't used for towing gliders. Other former heavy bombers were - such as the Halifax and Stirling - so many of the latter two received D-Day stripes.
I wouldn't categorically state that no Lancaster received invasion stripes, but if any were painted as such, it would have been very few.
Spoke to a colleague today and it would appear you are quite correct, none on a Lanc. I wouldn't categorically state that no Lancaster received invasion stripes, but if any were painted as such, it would have been very few.
Because the Lanc was considered as the best of the heavy bombers, Arthur Harris insisted that all production be for Bomber Command. Therefore, in WW2, very few were made available to the other divisions of the RAF - such as Coastal Command and 2 Tactical Air Force (which was the primary air division of the D-Day offensive and subsequent campaign in Western Europe).
As the Lancaster assumed more and more of the Bomber Offensive, this freed up production of the Stirling and Halifax for other uses. The Stirling became one of the most important glider tug and agent supply aircraft in WW2. The Halifax served in those roles too and was so versatile that it went on to serve with Coastal Command and in various in the near. Middle and Far East theatres of war too.
The decision to add black and white stripes to aircraft participating in D-Day operations was very last minute and many of the stripes were painted on very quickly and very crudely in the few days before 5/6 June.
After D-Day the stripes either wore off or were cleaned off - making aircraft look very tatty and worn. Many aircraft continued to retain the fuselage stripes for months after D-Day (although wing stripes were removed quite quickly).
It was only after WW2 that Lancasters began to move into non-bomber roles (as teh Stirlings and Halifaxes were retired). The glider regiments disbanded soon after the war and the concept of glider borne assault was dropped (the advent of the helicopter signalled that an alterntive was becomming available). Therefore the need for glider tugs also disappeared.
As the Lancaster assumed more and more of the Bomber Offensive, this freed up production of the Stirling and Halifax for other uses. The Stirling became one of the most important glider tug and agent supply aircraft in WW2. The Halifax served in those roles too and was so versatile that it went on to serve with Coastal Command and in various in the near. Middle and Far East theatres of war too.
The decision to add black and white stripes to aircraft participating in D-Day operations was very last minute and many of the stripes were painted on very quickly and very crudely in the few days before 5/6 June.
After D-Day the stripes either wore off or were cleaned off - making aircraft look very tatty and worn. Many aircraft continued to retain the fuselage stripes for months after D-Day (although wing stripes were removed quite quickly).
It was only after WW2 that Lancasters began to move into non-bomber roles (as teh Stirlings and Halifaxes were retired). The glider regiments disbanded soon after the war and the concept of glider borne assault was dropped (the advent of the helicopter signalled that an alterntive was becomming available). Therefore the need for glider tugs also disappeared.
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