Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (3 Viewers)

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Re 29 Squadron RAF in post #679.

Since the late 1920s, the squadron marking has been three (red) Xs (XXX). Since this closely resembles the Roman numeral for "29" (XXIX) there is a belief among current squadron personnel that this originated as a "misspelling" of the Roman numeral. Although various versions of the tradition are put forward, the most common explanation is that a mis-understood instruction to ground crew to paint "2 X's in front of the roundel and IX behind it" meaning "X,X,(roundel), and 'IX' or 'one-X'" resulted in "XX(roundel)'one times' X". In fact, the marking was always applied as "XXX(roundel)XXX" or as "XXX(roundel)" on smaller types, such as Siskins. Another version is that the original adoption of "XXX" for the 1930s squadron marking was nothing to do with Roman numerals, but was a reference to the brewers mark for Extra strong (XXX), frequently applied to kegs of beer, and that it is only a coincidence that this resembles the numeral for "29"
 
Salinas, California, October 3, 1982. Entertainers John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, center, along with enlisted crew of the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team pose in front of an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft parked on the apron. The Blue Angels performed during a local air show.

 
A U.S. Navy Douglas EKA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo 142661) from Tactical Electronic Countermeasures Squadron VAQ-135 Det.5 Black Ravens refuels a Vought F-8J Crusader (BuNo 150660) from Fighter Squadron VF-211 Checkmates off Vietnam. Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) for a deployment to Vietnam from 7 January to 3 October 1972.

 

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