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Shooter · 18 October 1998, 06:25 PM

Vic:

The hard truth of the matter is that no one sees national markings on the opposing aircraft most of the time until combat is already joined. At any real distance, the Mark-I human eyeball is just not up to picking up such detail.

Most identification is made by a sillouette (sp?) image, which is why the identification flash cards of WWII were in black images. By the time one picks up the national markings of an opposing aircraft, if he has not id'd it as enemy, a fighter jock is probably on his way to being toasted.

The Maltese Cross gave way to the Balken Cross because it was much easier to paint upon a German aircraft (less manhours involved).

18 October 1998, 06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shooter Senior Gunfighter Contributor Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Jacksonville, NC	Vic: The hard truth of the matter is that no one sees national markings on the opposing aircraft most of the time until combat is already joined. At any real distance, the Mark-I human eyeball is just not up to picking up such detail. Most identification is made by a sillouette (sp?) image, which is why the identification flash cards of WWII were in black images. By the time one picks up the national markings of an opposing aircraft, if he has not id'd it as enemy, a fighter jock is probably on his way to being toasted. The Maltese Cross gave way to the Balken Cross because it was much easier to paint upon a German aircraft (less manhours involved). __________________ In God we trust, everyone else keep your hands where I can see them! Only the hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss. There is no second-place award for a gunfight. Never bring a knife.