| POST WAR
Reversion to RAF Roundels
The need to adapt markings in order to operate alongside an ally in battle evaporated with the war’s end, but so did the sense of urgency to re-adapt to peace. The first move was fored during preparations, in February 1946, to send Corsairs to Japan as part of the occupation forces. The decision was for these aircraft to revert to standard A type roundels in all six positions, the bars being deleted in the process. In the same month permission was sought by Whenuapai Station , and granted by Air Department, to delete the white bars from Dakota roundels.
In April 1946 a policy decision was taken to revert gradually to RAF markings – at the time this meant C type roundels in all positions. This standard was just beginning to gain widespread effect when, in June 1947, the RAF introduced the D roundel to replace the C.
Superficially the same as the pre-war A, the D differed in having a red centre “twice” as large. In the A the diameter of the red had been the same as the width of each of the other two colour bands, but in the D it was the radius of the red which had this relationship. Thus the proportional description became 80/40 compared with the A’s 72/24. The D roundel is still the RAF standard for all except camouflaged aircraft. The RNZAF, however, has modified the D through several stages, and these are discussed later under the ZF, ZS and ZK roundel types. But first we will consider some roundels which saw limited use.
The attached photos show the FG-1 Corsairs at Hobsonville in February 1946 awaiting shipment on HMS Glory to Japan. The aircraft have not been repainted merely having the wartime roundels and bars painted out (rather roughly in most cases) and type A roundels applied.
Other shots show an Anson 1 and an Oxford wearing the type C roundel in late 1946. |