A Douglas SBD-3 <i>Dauntless</i> ready for delivery at Douglas Aircraft Company's El Segundo, California (USA), plant on 4 March 1942.<br>The red and white stripe rudder markings and national insignia featuring a red circle in the middle were just months from being changed based on experience at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. The red in the insignia caused confusion when engaging Japanese aircraft, which featured red discs on their wings and fuselages. The red and white stripes detracted from the overall camouflage of the airplane's paint scheme.
U.S. Navy
1942-03-04
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/AdvQuery.php">U.S. Navy National Naval Aviation Museum</a> photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16036190&amp;QueryPage=%2Femuwebdoncoms%2Fpages%2Fdoncoms%2FAdvQuery.php">NNAM.1996.253.821</a>