AN RAAF PBY CATALINA, A24-17, CODE LETTER 'H', ON THE SURFACE IN NEW GUINEA WATERS DURING WW2. ...

AN RAAF PBY CATALINA, A24-17, CODE LETTER 'H', ON THE SURFACE IN NEW GUINEA WATERS DURING WW2. ON THE LEFT FORWARD FUSELAGE IS A NOSE ART DEPICTING THE POPULAR DISNEY CHARACTER DONALD DUCK THROWING BOMBS. THIS AUSTRALIAN FLOWN AIRCRAFT WAS MISTAKENLY ATTACKED BY US NAVY F4F 'WILDCAT' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ON 27 JUNE 1942 WHILST RETURNING TO HAVANNAH HARBOUR SEAPLANE BASE IN THE NEW HEBRIDES (NOW VANUATU). THE US NAVY PILOT MISTAKING THE RAAF UPPER WING ROUNDELS (BLUE AND RED) FOR A JAPANESE HINOMARU (RED CIRCLE). THE AUSTRALIAN CATALINA WAS DAMAGED AND NO CREW WERE WOUNDED. THIS INCIDENT WAS A KEY PART OF THE DECISION TO CHANGE RAAF MARKINGS IN THE PACIFIC THEATRE OF WAR TO NOT INCLUDE ANY RED WITHIN THE ROUNDELS. POST-WAR THE ROUNDELS RETURNED TO THE TRADITIONAL RED, WHITE AND BLUE.