Military Aviation Art
Although the aircraft of WW1 are often
remembered as having bright and colorful paint schemes, in actuality, the
RFC usually did not allow its pilots to adorn their aircraft with anything
other than squadron markings. For a few weeks during the summer of 1917,
however, one unit, 60 squadron, was able to get away with painting its
birds in bright, flashy colors. The unit had just switched over from
flying Nieuports, and in the absence of any “official” markings for
their new SE5s they decided to paint the noses and wheel covers of each
aircraft according to its flight - red for A flight, yellow for B flight
and blue for C flight. The fun was short-lived, however, and the squadron
was soon forced to remove its colorful markings in favor of more subdued
official markings.
This particular aircraft, SE5 A’8936,
belonged to none other than Capt. Billy Bishop - the highest scoring
British ace of WW1.
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