Fleet Air Arm Pacific Roundels - Aircraft of World War II

Catch22 · 02-06-2009, 01:53 AM

Ok. The Fleet Air Arm had numerous roundels during the war, but I'm wondering what each of them signify, or if they were just generic roundels.

I know the one with the bars was Pacific Fleet, but I've seen many other kinds, such as the following. Any help would be appreciated!

109ROAMING · 02-06-2009, 07:06 AM

Sorry mate I can't be of help (as proven by my Corsair)

Interesting pics though!

Wildcat · 02-06-2009, 08:41 AM

RAAF wannabe's

Airframes · 02-06-2009, 11:47 AM

I'm not very 'well up' on the theatre, but those are the 'standard' SEAC roundels. (South East Asia Command). They originated as the blue/white/red RAF roundel, and the red centre was removed to avoid any possible confusion, at a distance, with the Japanese 'meatball' roundel. The size was reduced, and, on certain coloured backgrounds, to make them more visible, a white outline was added.
I'm not sure, but I think the bars were added, and the roundel enlarged, at about the time the US introduced 'bars to the stars'. This was to make the entire marking appear as a rectangle at a distance, rather than a blur of a disc or square. As to specific area requirements, I don't know, as I know the SEAC roundel was still used in some areas, even when the bars and roundels were also being used.
Hope this helps a bit.

Catch22 · 02-06-2009, 04:16 PM

Thanks Terry, I think I have it figured out.

What was confusing me was that there are those roundels, and then there are the ones with a lighter blue on the inside.

So basically, those with the blue on the inside I've only seen on Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-47s, or any other RAF plane. The blue and white ones however, like those above, all seem to be on FAA planes. So, the blue/blue ones are RAF, and the blue/white are FAA. If that makes any sense.

Airframes · 02-06-2009, 05:35 PM

Yep, I think that's about right Cory.

Wayne Little · 02-07-2009, 05:54 AM

Sounds reasonable....

Wildcat · 02-07-2009, 06:01 AM

I'm sure I've seen pics of FAA Burracuda's with the SEAC Blue/blue roundels. Anyone else else seen these or am I mistaken?

Catch22 · 02-07-2009, 12:07 PM

I personally haven't seen them. Do you have access to them?

Wildcat · 02-07-2009, 07:52 PM

I can't find any pics Cory but I'll quote a passage for the book "Barracuda Pilot" by Dunstan Hadley,

Quote:

We were to join Victorious...... I now had my own aeroplane. Its number was LS709 and it had a large Q painted on the side. All the aircraft had by now had all their red paint or dope covered. The roundels were simply dark blue with light blue centres, but the letters which were also red had not yet been changed.

He was part of 822 sqn which bombed the railyards at Sigli in Northern Sumatra on the 18th of Sep 1944.

Catch22 · 02-08-2009, 01:55 PM

I couldn't find any pictures either, however I did find this neat shot of Victorious at the FAA Archive.

Lucky13 · 02-09-2009, 03:07 AM

Neet pic Cory!

02-06-2009, 07:06 AM	#2
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 4,994	Sorry mate I can't be of help (as proven by my Corsair) Interesting pics though! __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

02-06-2009, 08:41 AM	#3
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	RAAF wannabe's __________________

02-06-2009, 11:47 AM	#4
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	I'm not very 'well up' on the theatre, but those are the 'standard' SEAC roundels. (South East Asia Command). They originated as the blue/white/red RAF roundel, and the red centre was removed to avoid any possible confusion, at a distance, with the Japanese 'meatball' roundel. The size was reduced, and, on certain coloured backgrounds, to make them more visible, a white outline was added. I'm not sure, but I think the bars were added, and the roundel enlarged, at about the time the US introduced 'bars to the stars'. This was to make the entire marking appear as a rectangle at a distance, rather than a blur of a disc or square. As to specific area requirements, I don't know, as I know the SEAC roundel was still used in some areas, even when the bars and roundels were also being used. Hope this helps a bit. __________________

02-06-2009, 04:16 PM	#5
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	Thanks Terry, I think I have it figured out. What was confusing me was that there are those roundels, and then there are the ones with a lighter blue on the inside. So basically, those with the blue on the inside I've only seen on Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-47s, or any other RAF plane. The blue and white ones however, like those above, all seem to be on FAA planes. So, the blue/blue ones are RAF, and the blue/white are FAA. If that makes any sense. __________________

02-06-2009, 05:35 PM	#6
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Yep, I think that's about right Cory. __________________

02-07-2009, 05:54 AM	#7
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Sounds reasonable.... __________________

02-07-2009, 06:01 AM	#8
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	I'm sure I've seen pics of FAA Burracuda's with the SEAC Blue/blue roundels. Anyone else else seen these or am I mistaken? __________________

02-07-2009, 12:07 PM	#9
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	I personally haven't seen them. Do you have access to them? __________________

02-08-2009, 01:55 PM	#11
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	I couldn't find any pictures either, however I did find this neat shot of Victorious at the FAA Archive. __________________

02-09-2009, 03:07 AM	#12
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,140	Neet pic Cory! __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

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