Monthly Decals for October!

Hi everyone! We’re back with some more historical decals for October, 5 new and 5 from previous events. We’re happy to finally include the famous “A Colpo Sicuro” inscription for Italy, and a new frog friend from the somewhat obscure Wekusta 5 reconnaissance squadron. Thanks for taking part in getting these as always, we hope you like adding the decals you’re interested in to your collection, and keep leaving your suggestions for markings you’d like to see in the future!

The following decals will be available from October 8th (11:00 GMT) until November 7th (09:00 GMT).

All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

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Wekusta 5 Emblem

The emblem of Wettererkundungsstaffel (Weather Reconnaissance Squadron) 5, Luftwaffe. The squadron was formed in early May 1940 in Trondheim, Norway, and operated under Air Fleet 5. The weather reconnaissance flights were considered vital, and each day the crew would fly to gather meteorological data to aid the air force. The crew on these reconnaissance flights was usually more limited, consisting of only a pilot, a radio operator, a mechanic (who also served as the gunner), and a meteorological expert. The rather comical emblem of the squadron depicts a “Wetterfrosch” (weather frog), a creature from German folklore based on the European Tree Frog that could supposedly predict the weather. People at the time believed the frog would climb vertically if the weather was to become sunny and downward if it was going to rain. This behaviour was not predictive but rather reactive however, giving no accurate foresight into the weather. Despite this, many people kept these frogs in jars, believing them to be something of a living barometer. The squadron operated several reconnaissance aircraft, including the Ju 88, He 111 and Do 17, with their frog emblem commonly positioned to the side of the cockpit.

A Colpo Sicuro Inscription

"A COLPO SICURO" Inscription, Royal Italian Army. Directly translated, the inscription reads "With a sure shot", though a more idiomatic translation would be “Without Fail”, or “With Certainty”, in context embodying the sentiment of confidence and precision. The marking more broadly was the motto of the 133rd Armored Division "Littorio", and was painted on several of its armored vehicles, though some sources claim that it could have originated earlier, with details overall being scarce. It has been identified on both M13/40 and M14/41 tanks, positioned on the gun mantlet curving above the barrel. Sources conflict on whether the inscription was red or black as the colors appear similar in black and white photographs, though more modern analysis suggests the inscription was likely painted black.

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"Serving the People" Inscription

“Serving the People” (为人民服务) inscription, PLANAF. The personal inscription of pilot Lü Jiliang (吕纪良), who flew with the 6th Fighter Division during the 1960s. Slogans like this were especially common at the time, often portraying sentiments of loyalty, spirit and dedication. Lü Jiliang scored a shared victory against an F-4 Phantom that entered restricted airspace in 1967, with both Phantom pilots bailing out safely after the fight. As was typical with similar inscriptions,