Reviewed by Rodger Kelly 

Yellow Wings Decals are available online from Squadron

I guess this is the first sheet in Yellow Wings Decals announced expansion into other than decals of the yellow wing era.

The sheet provides U.S. national aircraft insignia with a (FS13538) yellow-orange surround that are associated with OPERATION TORCH, the allied invasion of French North Africa in 1942.

The markings arose out of the complaints from pilots who found it difficult to distinguish the then standard white star on blue circle background U.S. national insignia from the national insignia worn by German, Italian and even British aircraft. With this in mind, an amendment to the Operation Memorandum No 9, dated 25 September 1942 was issued by the Allied Force Headquarters directing that all American aircraft participating in OPERATION TORCH, display a yellow band around the white star on blue circle background U.S. national insignia on each side of the fuselage and on both lower wings.

Since the memorandum was only concerned with air to ground recognition, no mention was made of the markings on the upper surfaces of the wings. It is apparent though from period photographs that some aircraft did have the markings on the upper surface of their wings suitably altered as well.

The marking was short-lived on U.S. Navy aircraft though as they returned to the U.S. after the invasion but the marking did remain on of the U.S. Army Air Force machines used in the North Africa and Mediterranean theatres.

Yellow Wings supply you with 36 markings in all. Five 60", four 55", six 50", six 45", eight 40", seven 35".

The markings themselves are printed by Microscale. No problems here, they are all in perfect register and have a minimum of carrier film.

As with all of the Yellow Wings Decals sheets that I have seen, this one includes an information sheet that provides you with a comprehensive background to the history of these markings.

The three decals sheets, information sheet, and stiff cardboard header come packed into a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

This is another excellent product from the guys at Yellow Wings Decals that will allow fans of US Naval aircraft to replicate the F4F Wildcat as well as the SDB Dauntless aircraft that took part in OPERATION TORCH.

Recommended.
 

Thanks to Yellow Wings Decals for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2006 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 19 July, 2006
Last updated 20 July, 2006

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