401st Bomb Group (H) Association
The best damned outfit in the USAAF!
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Re: Aircraft Paint and colors

Posted:
By: Bob Rapp
On: 01/24/2006
My dad was an MP at Deenethorpe, and his love of the B-17 and its accomplishments instilled in me a love of all airplanes, but especially the Flying Fortress.

About the 401st aircraft colors: according to Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth," the paint scheme on the 401st airplanes were as thus:

B-17G in olive and grey factory finish. B-17G in natural metal from March 1944. Squadron codes: 612th: SC; 613th: IN; 614th: IW; 615th: IY. Group markings: S in triangle. From August 1944 yellow diagonal band painted on vertical tail, outlined black on metal finish aircraft. On camouflaged aircraft, serial and aircraft call letter usually repained in black on yellow band.