5th Bomb Wing

As opposed to group/squadron markings, did combat aircraft
serving with the 5thBW/12thAAF display any additional tactical
markings on wing, tail or fuselage surfaces that identified
them as being assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing?

I am not aware of any markings other than the tail markings that identified the groups in the 5th Wing.  They did all use a Y in their tail markings, with the 2nd BG having their Y in a circle, the 97th having theirs in an upward pointing triangle, the 99th's in a diamond, the 302st inside a square, and the 463rd inside a downward-pointing pie shape.  The 483rd had a 5-pointed star below their Y, but the Y was not insode any shape.  Some of the groups also put their Y's on the horizontal stabilizers as well. 
 
Within the various groups, there were some additional markings to differentiate the squadrons, some using different colored cowling leading edges, some had numbers on the tails for each squadron.
 
Marty

Thanks Marty.

I'm just trying to double check all my data to make sure I haven't missed anything.

As I'm sure you're aware, some of the heavy bomb units within the Eighth AAF utilized
tactical Wing markings in addition to the other more localized unit designators. I'm
making the rounds of the Forum just to see if there's anything out there I've missed.

Thanks again for your response,
Bob

Skybear,
I did not see anything in Mighty Eighth book about Wing markings, unless you are referring to the Triangle, Circle, and Square shapes, but those were Division symbols, not Wing markings.  Please tell me how to identify the Wing a plane belonged to.

Mark

You are asking about the markings on the 5th Wing B-17s while they were in the 12th AF.
From photos in The Diamondbacks, the 99th History of the 99th BG, and from the photos in Venit Hora, I suspect that the B-17s in the 12th AF started out with NO tail markings, and then adopted just the plain
circle for the 2nd, the plain diamond shape for the 99th , the plain  triangle for the 97th, and the plain
square for the 301st, without the Y.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect the Y came when the four B-17 bomb groups were transferred to the 15th AAF at it's inception, and when the two additional B-17 Bomb groups arrived to commence thier combat tours.  

And I also suspect that the 98th and 376th bomb Groups, when they joined the four B-17 bomb groups to form the 12th AAF heavy bombers, did not concern them selves with any major tail markings, until the B-24 buildup of the 15th B-24 additional 13 bomb groups.

Jim :-) 

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Jim        the "Y" was used from spring 1944 when the last 2 groups joined ( the Eighth didn't use "Y" ) ; as there was only one B-17 wing in the MTO there was no need for additional Wing markings.
As there were 15 B-24 groups they were split into 4 Wings each with their own system of identification ( by areas of colour and shape ).
As you said in the Twelfth the original 4 B-17 groups just had hollow tail symbols ie. circle, diamond, square and triangle.--then squadron symbols added later.                  Regards   Nick