Slovakia’s marking on the tail of a MiG-29.

The simple black outline for a style of US insignia that was applied to USAF F-15 Eagles in the early-1990s. Dark grey has generally replaced black for this style of marking

Grummans under different flags. A US Navy F6F Hellcat photographed from a Royal Navy Avenger of the British Pacific Fleet. Both navies co-operated during the heavy fighting for Okinawa in April 1945.

An eagle has replaced the springbok in South Africa’s castle marking, this being one of two variations

On the Tornado, these are trainers at RAF Cottesmore, the RAF fin flash is swept to run along the rudder hinge line and high enough to escape the worst of the APU exhaust sooting.

As Russia changed in the early-1990s so too did the national colours! This MiG-29V pictured in 1992 carried both the red star of the former communist government and the white-blue-red colours of the succeeding administration. Both markings are still to be found on Russian military aircraft, with the star very gradually beginning to disappear.

Venezuelan EMB-312 Tucanos displaying large and small markings on the wings depending on the role of the aircraft. Note that aircraft of the FAV usually carry the fin flash on the sides of the fuselage, leaving the tail for unit insignia.

Zimbabwe Hawk No 605 in the latest ZAF insignia which has replaced the earlier marking just discernable under the fin flash.

Between April 23 and 27, 1945, the first of BOAC’s fleet of 21 Avro Lancastrian Mk Is, G-AGLF, made a record flight to Auckland, NZ, covering the 13,380 miles in 53 hr 13 min.