The following intel report on German aircraft markings originally appeared in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 20, March 11, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

MISLEADING MARKINGS ON GERMAN PLANES Two German FW 190s over England in January 1943 are reported to have carried their crosses on the wings on a gray background and enclosed by misleading yellow roundels; the effect might have given the impression that they were friendly planes. They also carried yellow bands near the tail end of the fuselage, and vertical yellow stripes on the tail unit. On one occasion during February 1943, five FW 190s were reported to have red, white, and blue vertical stripes on their rudders. As a result, British fighters could not immediately determine their nationality and hesitated before attacking them.

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