| Ecuador | |
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History
Since its formation in 1920 the air force of Ecuador has always used a roundel and rudder striping or fin flash based closely on the country's national flag, a horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue and red, the yellow taking up half of the flag. These proportions are followed in the insignia. The yellow represents the sun and Ecuador's natural resources, the blue the sea and the sky, and the red the blood shed for independence. Since the late 1940s Ecuador has adopted the system of marking insignia above the port and below the starboard wings, and omitting fuselage markings.
The navy's air arm was first formed officially in 1967. Markings consist of a black anchor superimposed on the wing roundel. This black anchor design is usually marked on the fuselage sides and on the fin, often on a white disc.
| Egypt | |
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History
A decision was taken in 1930 to form an Egyptian Air Force and this was actually established in May 1932. The first aircraft wore green-painted wingtips marked with a white crescent and three stars. A 'wavy' version of the green and white Egyptian flag was carried on the fuselage, and the rudder was striped green, white and green. Later in 1932, a roundel form for wings and fuselage was adopted. This was green, white and green, with the crescent and three stars on the central green. The force became the Royal Egyptian Air Force in 1939, whereupon a white crown was marked on the outer green section of the roundel.
After the end of the Second World War, some British-supplied aircraft were used with the roundels painted over with green, and without the stars and crescent. With the fall of the monarchy in 1953 a return was made to the original 1932 markings but with a fin flash rather than rudder striping, and without the white crown.
In 1958 Egypt formed, with Syria and Yemen, the United Arab Republic. This would have a joint military command and a similar flag. This was red, for the sacrifice of revolution, over white, for the future, over black, for the years of oppression. The white part of the flag inspired a fin flash and roundel, which carried a number of green stars, in Egypt's case two. Even with the addition of Libya the federation was not politically viable. In 1972 Egypt dropped the two stars, and the national flag (and fin flash) bore a representation of the golden falcon of the Quraysh tribe. This was replaced in 1984 by the golden eagle of Saladin. On some combat aircraft the central black area has been increased in size relative to the rest of the roundel.
| El Salvador | |
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History
From hesitant beginnings as early as 1917 the air force of El Salvador was officially formed in 1922. From the beginning a roundel of blue, white and blue, the national colours, was carried on the wings and sometimes on the fuselage. Vertical rudder striping was used until about 1930 when horizontal striping was adopted. From the mid-1960s a fin flash of the El Salvadorean flag has been the usual marking with roundels often above the port and below the starboard wings.
| Equatorial Guinea | |
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History
This small African country gained independence from Spain in 1968. A few non-combat aircraft were obtained in 1972 and these were marked with the national flag on the fin. Since 2006 aircraft have carried a roundel of green (outer), white, red and blue.
| Eritrea | |
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History
After securing independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea formed a small air arm in 1994. Markings consisted of a segmented disc coloured green, red and blue. Later a yellow star then a yellow sprig of leaves surrounded by a wreath has been marked on the central, red sector.
| Estonia | |
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History
Estonia achieved independence from the Russian Empire after the revolution, In 1918, An air force was quickly formed which used the blue, black and white national colours, These were marked on the wings and occasionally on the fuselage as a triangle with the point facing backwards, The rudder was horizontally striped in these colours. In 1940 the country was absorbed Into the USSR and the Estonian Air Force ceased to exist.
Estonia officially regained its independence in 1990, and a return has been made to the original triangular insignia.
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Ethiopia |
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History
Ethiopia was one of Africa's earliest independent nations. Apart from the period between 1936 and 1941, when it was part of Italian East Africa, it has always been independent. The green, yellow and red colours date from 1897 and were the original pan-African colours.
An air arm was first formed in 1924, and until 1936 these aircraft bore the Ethiopian flag as a wing, fuselage and fin marking. The air force was reorganised in 1946 and aircraft were marked with a roundel of green, yellow and red. A yellow design was marked on the central red disc, No rudder or fin markings were carried. The design of the central yellow marking has been changed several times. It is currently a simple five-pointed star.