Fleet Air Arm Pacific Roundels

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Catch22

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Jun 13, 2007
Edmonton, Alberta
www.coryulmer.com
Ok. The Fleet Air Arm had numerous roundels during the war, but I'm wondering what each of them signify, or if they were just generic roundels.

I know the one with the bars was Pacific Fleet, but I've seen many other kinds, such as the following. Any help would be appreciated!
 

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I'm not very 'well up' on the theatre, but those are the 'standard' SEAC roundels. (South East Asia Command). They originated as the blue/white/red RAF roundel, and the red centre was removed to avoid any possible confusion, at a distance, with the Japanese 'meatball' roundel. The size was reduced, and, on certain coloured backgrounds, to make them more visible, a white outline was added.
I'm not sure, but I think the bars were added, and the roundel enlarged, at about the time the US introduced 'bars to the stars'. This was to make the entire marking appear as a rectangle at a distance, rather than a blur of a disc or square. As to specific area requirements, I don't know, as I know the SEAC roundel was still used in some areas, even when the bars and roundels were also being used.
Hope this helps a bit.
 
Thanks Terry, I think I have it figured out.

What was confusing me was that there are those roundels, and then there are the ones with a lighter blue on the inside.

So basically, those with the blue on the inside I've only seen on Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-47s, or any other RAF plane. The blue and white ones however, like those above, all seem to be on FAA planes. So, the blue/blue ones are RAF, and the blue/white are FAA. If that makes any sense.
 
I can't find any pics Cory but I'll quote a passage for the book "Barracuda Pilot" by Dunstan Hadley,

He was part of 822 sqn which bombed the railyards at Sigli in Northern Sumatra on the 18th of Sep 1944.
 
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