Friend or Foe

Created from original US Army and Naval Aircraft Recognition manuals, Friend or Foe provides over 120 silhouettes of the classic aircraft from World War II. 

During World War II, the US War and Navy departments published a number of visual guides on the recognition of aircraft, ships and armored vehicles. At the time, these Recognition Pictorial Manuals were used as a training tool throughout the services. "The first requirement in warfare is the ability to distinguish friend from foe." 

For aircraft, the US government published a recognition manual (and a number of addendums) that combined aircraft from both the Army and the Navy (the independent US Air Force was founded after the war in September 1947) as well as aircraft from the UK, USSR, Germany, Japan, and Italy. We've combined the best silhouette collections from these guides to provide a visual history of WW II aircraft allowing you to uncover fascinating technology and compare the air forces deployed by all the major combatants. 

A few interesting observations. The giant six-engine German transport plane, Messerchmitt ME 323, dwarfed most other planes. The aircraft provided a key role in supplying Rommel's Afrika Korps in Northern Africa during 1943.  Just behind the 323 is the unsymmetrical silhouette of the Blohm und Voss BV 141. The three person crew were located in a separate crew cabin located on the starboard side. The main fuselage held the engine and tail.