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Alternate Terminology: Flying High – Air Force Roundels

Great work on how you included the visuals, Andy, especially as I didn't give you much notice unfortunately! But then this is your area of expertise...

Not sure if this is new or if I just haven't spotted it before, but I like the links to the article writers' published works at the bottom.
 
Great work on how you included the visuals, Andy, especially as I didn't give you much notice unfortunately! But then this is your area of expertise...

Not sure if this is new or if I just haven't spotted it before, but I like the links to the article writers' published works at the bottom.
It's quite new - it occurred to me last week so I've been doing it for the past few days.
 
A great piece, answered lots of questions I'd been wondering about. Particularly like the point about how modern symbols would doubtless look different if the alliance systems had been different in WWI.
 
A great piece, answered lots of questions I'd been wondering about. Particularly like the point about how modern symbols would doubtless look different if the alliance systems had been different in WWI.
I know right? I always wonder if Turtledove was aware of this, given there's a few brief mentions in TL-191 that the US uses eagles and crossed swords and the UK just uses the Union Jack (because no potential confusion in the Canadian theatre?) but not sure how aware he was of these factors.
 
I know right? I always wonder if Turtledove was aware of this, given there's a few brief mentions in TL-191 that the US uses eagles and crossed swords and the UK just uses the Union Jack (because no potential confusion in the Canadian theatre?) but not sure how aware he was of these factors.
I had a play around because I had some time on my hands. Good luck getting the alliance system to actually look like this...

ROUNDELS.png
 
I had a play around because I had some time on my hands. Good luck getting the alliance system to actually look like this...

View attachment 11908
Very good indeed! Russia could also perhaps use a St Andrew's cross (though that might be one of those 'too neat for OTL' things)
 
Some editing required.

71b5e245cb776b65eb6c75c2ffbc2b1a.jpg


The modern Luftwaffe emphatically does NOT use the Balkenkreuz.
 
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Very good indeed! Russia could also perhaps use a St Andrew's cross (though that might be one of those 'too neat for OTL' things)
That's really good - if you like, imagine the above one says '1914-1915' underneath, and the St Andrew's Cross was '1915-1917*'.
 
Some editing required.

71b5e245cb776b65eb6c75c2ffbc2b1a.jpg


The modern Luftwaffe emphatically does NOT use the Balkankreuz.
Huh, fair enough - that's a proper Mandela Effect moment for me because I am absolutely sure I have seen modern Luftwaffe planes with it on. In fact the one you've posted looks like a photoshop to me (as in it's not, but I'm so sure I've seen current Luftwaffe planes with the Balkenkreuz that it looks like something from an ATL).

@AndyC can you please edit accordingly? Thank you.
@Meadow it's a variant on the Cross Pattée.
 
The idea that the Bundeswehr would use any insignia used by the Nazi Luftwaffe is historically implausible.
It's funny because I even remember having this very thought when I first remember seeing modern Luftwaffe planes with it on "huh, would have thought they'd want to avoid that implication". This is seriously creepy.
 
It's funny because I even remember having this very thought when I first remember seeing modern Luftwaffe planes with it on "huh, would have thought they'd want to avoid that implication". This is seriously creepy.

F1045.jpg

republic_f84f_karstenpalt.jpg


The Luftwaffe do paint it on A LOT smaller than they used to, so you can be forgiven for mistaking it for a Balkenkreuz.
 
I always wonder if Turtledove was aware of this, given there's a few brief mentions in TL-191 that the US uses eagles and crossed swords

Seeing as the OTL USAAF changed its national insignia four five times between 1941 and 1945, (Six times between 1941-1947), you can get away with a lot of variation/vagueness.

48239851322_68b5fbdfd2_b.jpg
 
Seeing as the OTL USAAF changed its national insignia four five times between 1941 and 1945, you can get away with most thing . (Six times between 1941-1947), you can get away with a lot of variation.

48239851322_68b5fbdfd2_b.jpg
I was aware of this, incidentally, although I know the text makes it sound like they switched straight to the post-1947 version from 1942 - there just wasn't enough space for that degree of detail.
 
Roundels are one of the smallest details I've had to have clear in my mind for my alternate WW2 series but they are also one of the most important. It would have been easy enough just to shove the colours of a flag on them and leave them as circles, but they are a representation almost of national identity, of belonging, and I've tried to use them to express that.

The roundels of the Kingdom of Britain have their red dots replaced by a very royal lion. www.instagram.com/p/Bu6zYvVhf7w/
The aircraft of the harsh and brutally efficient Prussian Empire have simple iron crosses, while the Emperor of Italy wants to bring back the glory of Rome and has put a laurel wreath and SPQR on his.
American aircraft have yet to be seen in combat but I'm sure when they are their roundels will effectively represent the united continent of the Americas.

(edited for clarity and link)
 
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