Statement by Isadore Milton Znamirowski concerning modification of United States military aircraft identificatory marking: Reduce losses to friendly fire, by making U.S. marking easier to distinguish from enemy aircraft markings in combat

Statement dated December 2002, transcribed by Brad McCormick, Ed.D.

Isadore Milton Znamirowski was employed at Westinghouse as a design engineer draftsman from where I was drafted for service in World War II.

After training and "boot camp" I was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington, D.C.

Isadore worked himself up to Petty Officer First Class (ED). Isadore work independently. Work assignments were placed on my desk and I would independently complete them in order turn the completed ones over to the supervising person.

One evening after work I had dinner and saw a newspaper. So I picked it up and started to look thru it, when I saw this article on American flyers shooting at each other when flying in sun light. The USA symbol was taken for Japanese symbol. Shock at first and then Isadore immediately the USA symbol has to be modified.

For the remaining of the evening and when Isadore went to sleep my thoughts were of the U.S.A. flyers.

Next morning Isadore had breakfast and off he went to Bureau of Aeronautics to get an early start. I clean my drawing board and get a clean start.

I put down a clean drawing paper and next in center drew the beginning of the symbol circle first then the star. The star and circle remains where they were [see illustration]. Two rectangles added on this end [pointer to left side of symbol]. Two rectangles added on this end [pointer to right side of symbol].

Here is where Isadore started. Leave this center along and added something new.

About 8:10 A.M. a big Admiral [John Sidney McCain, Sr.] with a big big mouth and he barks instructions, "We need a new 'INSIGNIA' Everybody on it." All 40 personnels went his way, but Isadore kept working on our symbol. Little latter on Isadore came on his answer Two RECTANGLES one on each side. [see illustration]. I was overjoyed.

Isadore Milton Znamirowski completed this about 10 A.M. and was about to sign my name when the big Admiral just completed checking everybody. With his big mouth blasted out what kind of personnel have got here. I haven't got anything yet.

Isadore Milton Znamirowski could not go with the big Admiral orders because the USA flyers would have to spend more of their time to trying to remember a new "insignia".

As Isadore through that there two excellent reasons to leave the symbol along and just add my two rectangles to the symbol and you are done.

By Isadore added the two rectangles the USA flyers have no troubles remember them.

Continued about the big Admiral after the big Admiral made his remarks and his was upset. He in Isadore's work area. He bump Isadore to the right wall and stood up, with his hands on his hips for one minute and stared at my drawing. Everybody is waiting to see what he will do now. Then he opens his big mouth WE GOT IT HERE! Take it up and give it to me. Isadore asked him could he sign his name. His answer give it to me.

He ran out of the Bureau of Aeronautics a very overjoyed big Admiral with Isadore's drawing. A second before he was down grader everyone in this room.

Everybody come over to me and wanted to know what I came up.

I told everyone that Isadore did not go with his "new insignia" because I knew there was a better way to solve the problems of sun light on USA symbol. That is why Isadore went with what he had in his mind. All of you were a witness to the way Isadore modified the USA symbol.

All of you witness the big change in the big Admiral, from depression to joy in one minute.

The enthusiasm and effort the big Admiral did not let sign my name to the drawing nor did he thank me.

[Signed] Isadore Milton Znamirowski

End

1943 test demonstrating improved recognizability of new marking. Left to right: "Star and Bars" U.S.A. marking, previous U.S.A. marking, Japanese marking, German marking.

Read  news story about adoption of "Star and Bars": Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin (Aug, 1943), p.32 (facsimile photo).   Return  to Friend of Foe? (more information about "Star and Bars" marking).
http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/isadore2.html Copyright © 2002 Brad McCormick, Ed.D. bradmcc@cloud9.net 28 February 2006 (2006-02-28 ISO 8601) v01.09