Commando Yank Mural

“Commando Yank” painting, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, U.S. Army. Commando Yank is an often forgotten superhero from the golden age of comic books. He was never renewed after his initial run and remains in the public domain, with his final appearance being in 1948.. He was a very popular character among American military personnel during the mid-1940s, embodying a strong sense of patriotism and “getting the job done his own way”, sentiments which appealed greatly to many Americans serving in the war. It was painted on an M3 Halftrack, number 402198, which was captured and photographed by axis forces in Tunisia in early 1943. The mural of Commando Yank was painted on the right side of the halftrack in front of the door.

GC III/7 Emblem "Tête de furie"

The emblem of Groupe de Chasse III/7 (3rd fighter group of the 7th fighter wing), French Air Force. The short-lived squadron operated for just over a year between May 1939 and August 1940, flying the Potez 630, MS.406, and for a short time the D.520. The marking of the group is a depiction of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s “Damned Soul”, a sketch of an anguished head. Through interpretation and subsequent derivative works, the head was given the name “The Fury”, though this is more of a historical nickname than an official title. The striking name and image made for a fitting group emblem, and several aircraft bore the marking. Though as copying Michelangelo with basic equipment was something of a challenge, the quality and colors of the head differed dramatically between aircraft. The marking would most often be painted behind the cockpit on their MS.406 fighters, with the head facing towards the front.

5th Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment Emblem

The emblem of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Company, 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 7th Armored Division, JGSDF. The 7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment was formed on March 25th, 1981, and contains various general and specialized anti-air vehicles and equipment. The 5th Company operate the Type 81 SAM system, which is incorporated into the unit’s emblem. It depicts the roman numeral “V” splintering into a missile, aimed at what appears to be the silhouette of an F-16.The shark was chosen as the unit’s animal chiefly for its agility, swiftness, and ability to react and strike new threats quickly. The emblem was painted on some Type 81 SAM vehicles, positioned on the sides of the missile launchers on hatch closest to the base of the launcher rail.

55. V-Fltl Emblem

The emblem of 55. Vorposten-Flotilla, Küstensicherungsverband Norwegische Westküste (55th “Picket” Flotilla, Coastal Defence Unit Norwegian West Coast), Kriegsmarine. The 55th was formed in June, 1940, and performed coastal defense duties around Bergen. A “picket” is a small boat specialized for harbor and shore defense, and is more of a term applied to a boat fulfilling this role rather than a specific class of vessel, though they are generally fairly small. The emblem was loosely inspired by the panther marking of 4. SFltl, of which several boats were incorporated into the 55. V-Fltl. The crossed swords and the almost frightening panther’s head give the marking a strong defensive impression, making it a fitting choice for such a unit. The marking was most often applied on the flotilla’s S-Boats on the side of the hull to the left and right of the bridge, and was also painted on their M-Class minesweeper above and to the sides of the bridge.

“Happy New Year!” Inscription

"С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ!" (Happy New Year!) Inscription, Soviet Army. While Soviet inscriptions were generally more fierce and patriotic during the Second World War, a small number of examples were more lighthearted. For most combatants, holidays served as brief moments of respite amongst the fighting. The Soviet Army at the time did not recognize the holiday officially, insisting instead it was a time of heightened focus, as the enemy could take advantage and attack. This did not stop soldiers from trying to make the event feel as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, however. Efforts ranged from sharing luxury rations to amateur performances of music and theatre, and, demonstrably, the occasional merry inscription was painted somewhere or other. This message was painted on the right side of the turret on a KV-1 in Moscow at the end of 1941, before it headed back out to the front.

Meritorious Warrior V Inscription

“Meritorious Warrior V” (功臣号) inscription, PLA. The tradition of naming a tank “Meritorious Warrior” (or, simplified, “Hero Tank”) stems from the first ever tank of the PLA, a captured Chi-Ha Kai. The tank performed exceptionally in battle, and received this moniker to cement its legendary status. Throughout each generation, a new vehicle and crew are selected to carry the name, serving as a way to honour the legacy and history of the PLA and serve as a strong symbol of pride. Crews must compete in order to earn the right to carry the title, with only the best of the best receiving the honour. While each variant of the marking has no official name, it is generally named after the generation of tank they are applied to. This marking in particular was painted on the turret side of a ZTZ99A in 2018, on the ERA blocks.

92. jaktflygdivisionen "Ivar Blå" Emblem

The emblem of 92. jaktflygdivisionen "Ivar Blå" (92nd Fighter Division “Ivar Blue”), Swedish Air Force. The squadron was formed on July 1st 1940, initially fielding J8 and J11 biplane fighters, before transitioning to the J21 after the war, and later to the jet-powered J29 and J34. The emblem of the squadron was inspired by Western cartoons and named Bonzo. The name at least is likely directly inspired by the character Bonzo the Dog, created by George Studdy in the 1920s, though the designs are very different overall. Bonzo would also appear as a helmet emblem for the division’s pilots, and still could be found around the Säve Air Base after the division’s disbandment in 1968. Bonzo was painted on the nose of several squadron aircraft. On the J21 the emblem was quite large, while on the J29 it was much smaller, often painted in between the nose and the cockpit.

2ª Escuadrilla de Chatos Emblem

The emblem of 2ª Escuadrilla de Chatos (2nd “Chatos” Squadron), Spanish Republican Air Force. Chatos translates to “Snub-nosed”, which was the nickname of the I-15 in Spanish service, due to its round, blunt engine. The squadron fostered great renown during the conflict, notably during the Battle of Jarama, and also for their success as night fighters, which for the time was an impressive feat for how rudimentary their aircraft were. Their fame was also spurred on in part by their iconic emblem, which led to their unofficial nickname of “Escuadrilla Los Pingüinos” (The Penguin Squadron). Little context remains surrounding the origin of the emblem and its design, but it was most commonly painted on the fuselage to the rear of the cockpit.

3° Squadrone Blindo “Savoia Cavalleria” Marking

A marking of the 3° Squadrone Blindo “Savoia Cavalleria” (3rd Regiment "Savoia Cavalry"), Italian Army.The origins of the Savoia Cavalry go back hundreds of years to 1692, when it was established as a classic cavalry regiment. It would go on to be renamed, restructured, and reequipped numerous times, giving the unit a rich and detailed history. As of 2013, the regiment is attached to the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade, acting as the heavy reconnaissance element. The regiment is equipped with a small number of Centauro armored vehicles. This stylized dragon was a personal marking of one particular vehicle, and was painted on the lower-right plate, next to the wheel well.

No. 1 Fighter Squadron Emblem, IAC

The emblem of No. 1 Fighter Squadron, Irish Air Corps. Despite not engaging in combat during the Second World War, the Irish Air Corps was equipped with early Hurricanes and Gladiator biplanes during the conflict, before upgrading to Seafires after the war ended. The marking depicts the head of a Black Panther along with the inscription “Beag ach Fiachmhar”, or “Small but Fierce”. The emblem was positioned towards the nose on the fighters in operation with the squadron, usually under the engine exhaust or on the cowling. Later jet aircraft in operation would also bear the emblem to the side of the nose.