| VMAQ 2 | 28 Jan 2008 7:40 a.m. PST |
I'm trying to understand at what point the US went from putting starts on both wings to only the left wing. I have an Osprey book that shows USAAC fighters in 42 with only 1 star on the left. But the USN in 42 has stars on both wings. I'm painting up USN, USMC and USAAC aircraft for Mid 42 to Mid 43. Thanks |
| Cpt Arexu | 28 Jan 2008 8:44 a.m. PST |
I dig the nickname – when were you in (or are you in now)? Cpt Arexu
Q-2 ECM tech 81-86 |
| VMAQ 2 | 28 Jan 2008 9:31 a.m. PST |
Haze For some reason my WINDWARD ID vanished form the DB so I just created a new one. I don't know why but my IDs keep vanishing from the DB. --Tom |
| Cpt Arexu | 28 Jan 2008 10:42 a.m. PST |
Ha! that figures… there couldn't be that many Q-2 members here. How's it going back there in snow country? I don't know why but my IDs keep vanishing from the DB. That's no good -- I hope Bill can fix that leak… I thought you were using your G_Yankee_dog moniker here. did that one vanish too? |
| VMAQ 2 | 28 Jan 2008 11:03 a.m. PST |
Correct, its still in the DB, but the email seems to be gone (as with Windward), I can't log into it. I should contact Bill and see if I can get them squared away. --Tom |
 Doms Decals  | 28 Jan 2008 11:41 a.m. PST |
Practice varied by unit – USAAF aircraft had the "top left and bottom right" arrangement ordered from 1940 – it came out in the same directive as camouflage painting of aircraft. Some units seem to have persisted with insignia on both wings long past this date, particularly training formations and those working closely with the RAF in North Africa. For the navy (and presumably the USMC too) February 26, 1941 saw it ordered that units switch from insignia on both wings to upper left and lower right only. January 5, 1942 saw the removed insignia re-instated, so both wings from then. February 1, 1943, saw the "upper left and lower right" arrangement reinstated once again, effective to the end of the war. Dom. |
| VMAQ 2 | 29 Jan 2008 1:24 p.m. PST |
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| Top Gun Ace | 30 Jan 2008 10:41 a.m. PST |
I've seen early F4U's with the six-insignia placement scheme. Plain round navy insignia, with plain white stars. |
| Windward | 01 Feb 2008 8:18 p.m. PST |
Well that would jibe with what Dom said. The early Marine F4U squadrons where deployed in early Feb '43 so they would have been carrying the six markings, and would have to remove the other marking in the field. So I'm willing to bet some of the photo's are from California and training. |
| Gozerius | 02 Feb 2008 7:50 p.m. PST |
Or they could be from the field. Often as not, aircraft remained in the markings they entered service with. There are photos of USN and USMC aircraft with circle and star on one wing and star and bar on the other from later 1943. |
makes flight stands for 1/300 scale aircraft.