What is the checkerboard?

[chipuk]

We visited Duxford a couple of weeks ago ( well worth a visit), and we were in one of the hangers and a lot of the American fighter planes had black and white checkerboard on the nose of the aircraft. None of us new the answer as to why.

Can anybody enlighten us. Paddy i'm hoping you will know.

We also got a flight in a Dragon Rapide.
It was a fantastic flight.

 

[jake431]

We visited Duxford a couple of weeks ago ( well worth a visit), and we were in one of the hangers and a lot of the American fighter planes had black and white checkerboard on the nose of the aircraft. None of us new the answer as to why.

Can anybody enlighten us. Paddy i'm hoping you will know.

We also got a flight in a Dragon Rapide.
It was a fantastic flight.

The checkerboard nose was a fighter group identifier - if memory serves, the 78th FG.

-Jake

 

[Zemke Fan]

Jake's got it right

78th Fighter Group "Eagles of Duxford"

See: 78th Fighter Group Web Site

ZF