I am on the research phase of a build for the Escuadron 201, Aguilas Aztecas (Aztec Eagles). Which was part of the FAEM (Mexican Expeditionary Air Force") and attached to USAAF in the Philippines in WWII.
I plan on dressing the aircraft in the colors/markings used during the liberation of the main Philippine island of Luzon in the summer of 1945. Which is the first graphic below.
I keep coming across variations in the color of the markings. I do not know the significance for the differences, nor where to look to find out. Below is one of the variations, you will notice the black lines contain a white border. These borders vary in color, some are yellow or red.
Others have yellow lines instead of the black ones. I am guessing those are trainers.
Anyway, if any of you have any links that can help me sort out the various markings please pass them along. Your help is appreciated.
Here is the yellow stripe variation.
Now that is one different scheme. I wish I could help but I really don’t even know where to begin. I do know the USAF muesuem has some good info on them.
I’m liking the one with the yellow stripes on the wings.
I think the yellow one is straight up Mexican AF, whereas the others are FAEM flying under the US flag (attached to an American flight wing). But I am just guessing here, I still cannot find good documentation on them.
The black bands on the wings were a theater recognition marking on US single engine fighters in the PI in 1945. See Air Force Colors Volume 3 by Dana Bell for more info on those stripes. Since the Mexican squadron was attached to US forces, those markings carried over. I would not rely on color plates for the various border stripes. Those are a result of the artists intepretation of B&W photos in most cases, and not any color phot, written documentation, or veterans memories. If varying colors were uses, it could be used to denote flights withing the squadron. I would suggest going with Aztec’s instructions as they research their subjects pretty well.
Here is a link to the Wiki article on that squadron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escuadrón_201
and a color photo of one of their P-47s in flight
