LF Models LFC32100 Brewster Model 339D over Japan

Japanese Air Force Imperial Japanese Army Air Service) were formed in 1912 and are considered to be one of the oldest - if not the oldest - air force in Asia. It is worth noting that in the same year the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service was also formed. Both these formations, practically from the very beginning of their existence, used as nationality markings (hereinafter: insignia) on their planes a motif taken from the Japanese flag showing the rising sun (Japanese: Hi-no-maru or more often Hinomaru). This symbol was a red circle, most often applied directly to the camouflage of airplanes. Hinomaru was sometimes used surrounded by a white border. It is worth noting that such insignia were applied as roundelles on the fuselages and wings, but it was not used to mark the fin flash. You can even risk a statement that Japanese machines in the interwar period and during World War II did not have this type of marking! It is worth mentioning that with the creation of the Air Force of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces ( Japan Air Self-Defense Force) in 1954, the insignia used earlier were also restored, with the present use of Hinomaru with a white border, as well as low-visibility insignia.