Feb 18th, 2001

Drop the TPC and 3DZ files into the European Air War directory.

B-24 of the 8th Air Force, England, 1944.

Also corrects/modifies the 3DZs to fix the wing insignia.

Comments, questions, suggestions to HarryM@RedShift.com



Modifications:

Jan 12th, 2002

Now includes non-mirrored fuselage section for partial non-mirroring of model. The squadron codes can be non-mirrored (as those included) but the individual aircraft letter (almost exclusively carried on the tail) must be symmetrical - an A,H,M,O,T,U,V,W,X or Y, as the tail section is still mirrored. It would have been easy enough to do but there was not enough space on the .pcx file. Also, if adding your own squadron codes, do be careful to keep them more or less within the area of those on the supplied pcx file, as the non-mirrored area is not much bigger than that. Codes were generally painted in black on natural metal finish aircraft, medium grey or sometimes yellow on Olive Drab aircraft, using block capitals with 45-degree corners. The individual aircraft letter, if carried, was usually smaller than the squadron codes but by no means always, and the colour often depended on the tail colours.  

The aircraft modelled flew with the 18th BS, 34th BG, 8th AF, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England. This Bomber Group flew combat missions from May 1944 to 25th April 1945. The composite squadrons of this Bomb Group were issued with squadron codes but did not display them on their aircraft. From September 1944 they flew the B17. Mendlesham aerodrome is still partially in existence, about 5 miles from where I live. It was at this airfield that my father and his mates hung around the perimeter fence as boys to watch the bombers taking off, and often the gunners would throw them gum and candy as they passed overhead. This is my small thank you to those bomber crews. For those of you interested, there is a memorial to the men of the 34th BG just off the A140 by the Television Mast at Mendlesham.

Reference: The Mighty Eighth, Roger Freeman, Macdonald and Janes, 1970. ISBN 0 356 02662 0.

Comments or whatever welcome via the SimHQ Forum.

GhostBoy

13/01/02 