Color profile USAF Aggressor NEW BLUE all-around camouflage by which model based its paint scheme, major difference with OLD BLUE camouflage was latter had non-camouflage underside. With all-around pattern, fighter blends into ground terrain and also negates opponent's ability to predict flight direction (since they can no longer depend on non-camouflage underside as reference point). F-5E and F-5F aggressor units served with VF-126 squadron at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar and VF-43 squadron at NAS Oceana. These squadrons would later adopt F-16N fighters in aggressor role, passing F-5s to VF-95 at NAS Key West and VFA-127 at NAS Fallon. However, VFC-13 at NAS Fallon flew 12 F/A-18 and 25 F-5 aggressor fighters, it was noted that the F-5 operated at 1/3 the operational expense compared to F/A18 fighters. Don Color F5 - www.jpsmodell.de/dc/luft_flug.htm#f5

• F-5E USAF Aggressor Old Blue Schema - www.jpsmodell.de/dc/draw/f5blue_o.jpg

• F-5E USAF Aggressor New Blue Schema - www.jpsmodell.de/dc/schemes/blue_n.htm

Inset 1 : USAF F-5E Aggressor with New Blue all-around pattern and low-visibility markings in hangar park. 3 branches of US military participates in Top Gun exercises : Air Force, Navy, and Marines. US Army not part of training regiment since they do not operate high-performance fixed wing fighters. F-5E/F Tiger II Factory Paint Schemes - www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/northrop/tigerpaint.shtml

This division of labor instituted in 1960s to vest strategic flight assets within one military branch, thus not replicate mission responsibilities - personnel resources - hardware cost among other branches. Nevertheless, Army can operate certain tactical aircrafts for direct ground-support operations. Warplane Colors - modelingmadness.com/WarplaneColors/

Although Army lost out in this arena, US Navy did attempt to "muscle into" Air Force nuclear arm in early-1960s by developing long-range carrier-borne bombers (aka A-3 Skywarrior) capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Program was eliminated when Air Force pointed out that enemy forces could simply detonate nuclear warheads in fleet vicinity to immobilize (if not outright destroy) the carrier and her aircrafts. A-3 Skywarrior - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-3_Skywarrior

Thus, current US nuclear deterrent divided into 3 areas : 1) Air Force controls strategic bomber and continental US land-base missile silos, 2) Navy controls submarine-armed nuclear missiles (if necessary, carrier-borne bombers could deliver tactical nuclear warheads), 3) Army controls tactical and theater-based nuclear weapons (ex. Neutron Bomb-type enhanced radiation warheads). Neutron bomb - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_bomb

• Deterrence theory - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deterrence_theory

Rollover : New Blue Aggressor top + bottom color profile, its pattern was pencil traced onto the grey paint primed model, demarcated areas hand painted with designated colors. US inter-military service rivalries are considered to conducive in building "esprit d' corps" teamwork and organization allegiance. However, some aspects of unofficial distrust among military branches can be traced to WW2, by which veterans now serving in senior command positions carried over such attitudes. One glaring case was Aug 1942 - Feb 1943 Pacific battles centered around island Guadalcanal, which dominated Allied supply lines between US and Australia. Guadalcanal Campaign - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal_Campaign

During US Marine Guadalcanal landings on Aug 1942, US Navy feared possible Japanese submarine attack, hence only transported circa 50% of supplies onto shore before abandoning operation, forcing Marines to fight on meager ammunition and rations against multi-prong Japanese attacks. Dilemma was compounded when US Navy took heavy losses at 8-9 Aug 1942 Savo Island battle off Guadalcanal, nearly 1,300 Allied sailors were killed during that night-time battle, more causalities suffered than the US Marine units defending Guadalcanal Island throughout its 6-month campaign (of which suffered about 1,200 KIA). Battle of Savo Island - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Savo_Island

Fearing additional lost of ships would undermine future military posture, Navy elected to unilaterally withdraw from battle. Thereby leaving Marines on island to be pounded at-will by Japanese battleships cruising offshore until US could regroup its naval forces. It is these combat experiences which inherently vested the need for each military branch to assume - control - dedicate personnel and hardware to protect its own military interests. All be it, this inter-service problem has waxed and waned since 1990s as veteran-WW2 senior commanders retire from service, while veterans from Vietnam - Somalia - Persian Gulf - Iraq wars assume senior command posts. Battle of Savo Island - Aug 9, 1942 - www.ww2pacific.com/savo.html

• Battle Of Savo Island & Loss Of HMAS Canberra - www.gunplot.net/savoisland/savoisland.html

• Opening Salvos: The Battle of Savo Island, August 9th, 1942 - www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/savo_island.htm

Inset 2 : F-16 fighter in FLANKER aggressor camouflage, color may be similar to NEW BLUE, but its pattern is more linear. Transition of some Top Gun units from F-5 to F-16 and F-18 fighters to mimic Russian Mig-29 fighters, which is part of their arms export inventory, hence increased probability than US pilots will face these fighters in future engagements contrasted with aging Mig-21 inventory among 3rd-world air forces. F-16C USAF Aggressor Schema - http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/luft_flug.htm#f16