When not knowing history leads to incorrect information

Looking at pictures on the 1,000 Aircraft Photos site, I came across a Coast Guard training airplane from the 1940s, a time when many trainers were painted yellow. Caption information stated the pictured aircraft was known as the “yellow pearl.”

Maybe that one was a “yellow pearl,” but other USCG and USN trainers were called “yellow peril” because of the color and the risk of damage by student pilots.

“Yellow peril” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries referred to immigrants from China and Japan. As often happens in the military, the civilian phrase was carried over to another terminology.

I didn’t write the specific airplane link, and now am unable to find it.