Lining up for Takeoff
P-47s from the 379th line up to take off on a mission
P-47s from the 379th are lined up for takeoff. Final checks are being performed, and they are waiting to be given the go ahead. This was taken at the base outside Rennes, France.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
August-September 1944
The Tail Designations on a P-47
The P-47 tail was painted to represent the type of plane, the Fighter Squadron, and the Fighter Group it was a part of
The markings on the vertical stabilizer of a plane had two distinctions. The bottom stripe delineated what type of plane it was; the black stripe was on all P-47s in the war. The tip of the fin designated which fighter group the plane belonged to; fins in the 362nd Fighter Group were painted red. The rudder was painted in the color of the plane's fighter squadron; yellow was the color of the 379th Fighter Squadron. The horizontal stabilizer had similar distinctions. The number below the stripe on the vertical stabilizer is the plane's serial number. The number shown is the serial number from the plane Colonel Joseph Laughlin was flying in early 1945.
Republic Aviation Corporation
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
P-47 Liftoff
A solitary P-47 aircraft from the 379th Fighter Squadron takes off
A P-47 from the 379th takes off for a mission. Note the closest wheel is already being put away. This picture is captioned as being at Station 159 in Wormingford, Essex, England. The plane is setting out on a bomber escort mission.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
February 1944
Side by Side Takeoff
Pilots of the 379th Fighter Squadron execute a dual takeoff
It was not uncommon for pilots to execute dual takeoffs when launching for a mission. It ensured the planes would get into the air and into formation quicker than doing it one-by-one. This picture is captioned as being at Station 159 in Wormingford, Essex, England. The planes are setting out on a bomber escort mission.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division, Collection # AR.2007.016
United States Air Force
February 1944