1-300 Ethiopian Air Force Roundels 1941-1974 Decals
These 1-300 Imperial Ethiopian Air Force roundel decals reproduce the distinctive national aircraft marking associated with Ethiopia during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie and the growth of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force before the 1974 revolution.
Decal Information
The sheet includes Ethiopian Air Force Roundels 1941-1974 markings suitable for use on 1-300 scale aircraft miniatures.
They are printed on clear-background waterslide decal paper. They need to be individually cut out. Apply over a properly prepared and gloss-coated model surface using normal waterslide-decal techniques.
Key Historical Details
Region / Nation: African Bush Wars Service: Military Aviation Time Period: World War II Primary Marking: National Aircraft Roundels Scale: 1-300 Application: Historically appropriate aircraft and aviation subjects
Historical Information
Ethiopia rebuilt its military aviation capability after the end of the Italian occupation in 1941. During the 1940s, the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force adopted national markings based on the Ethiopian colors and a central star motif. Reference sources show variations in the exact shape and proportions of the central star, and the standardized form most commonly illustrated is associated with the mid-1940s through 1974.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Ethiopia developed one of the stronger air forces in sub-Saharan Africa with substantial American assistance. Aircraft carrying imperial-era markings included the F-86 Sabre, F-5A Freedom Fighter, T-28 Trojan, T-33, C-47, and numerous training and transport aircraft.
The imperial marking remained associated with Ethiopian military aviation until the 1974 revolution, after which the new Derg government progressively replaced imperial symbols with republican and socialist-era insignia.
Different forms of the central star can be found in period photographs, and older markings sometimes remained in service as aircraft aged. Reference photos are recommended when matching a specific Ethiopian aircraft to a particular year.
