"Tail Colors/Insignia of the 353rd FG's squadrons" Topic

Hi all,

I have finally settled on painting my P-47s for FoW Air Support based on the 353rd Fighter Group and would like to know the tail colors that were eventually adopted for the 350th, 351st, and 352nd squadrons.

I have been using this link resource to help. Yet, there aren't any references to their tail color/insignia, at least that I could find.

I seem to recall a thread (which I can't find for the life of me…my search fu has absolutely deserted me! ) that had a link to a list of all the 8th AF squadrons, their squadron letter designations, and distinctive color markings.

You help will be most appreciated.

Andy Welkley
"Your Phrendlee Hevy Phyzx T-chrr"

P.S. I am choosing the 353rd because of the really cool black and yellow checker Engine Nacelle colors. I know that's going to be a task, but I think it will make for a really cool mini on the table top supporting my FOW ground forces.

None for P-47s – colour-coded tails didn't come in until the P-51 days. (Yellow, NMF and black I *think* then, but a definite not applicable for Jugs.)

Taking a quick look through some of my books, it seems you don't have to worry about tail colors.

Just so you know, the colors were yellow for the 350th FS, no color for the 351st FS, and black for the 352nd FS. However, these markings weren't adopted until Nov. 1944, by which time the Group was flying Mustangs.

Incidentally, you also won't have to worry about the QIM markings – they were dropped about the same time the checkerboard cowling markings were introduced. On the Group's P-47s the checkerboard pattern was in diamond shapes, 5 rows of black and 4 rows of yellow. At least some of their P-47s (possibly just the flight leaders) also had the checkers on the trim tabs and rudder hinge.

Hope this helps.

Dang, Dom beat me by 3 minutes. Curse you my slow typing fingers!

Agreed on the QIM markings – there are a few photos where the QIM tail stripe is visible on an aircraft with a checkerboard nose, but the stripe seems to be much darker than any white in the photo, indicating an inadequate overpaint rather than the markings still in use. Great gallery here:

link

Yup, fresh paint applied over weathered paint.

The galleries at that site are indeed great. I've spent way too much time looking at them.

Thanks Dom and HCF.

@Dom, you link is the same as the one in my post, I just was at the "main" page.

On another note, did any of the squadrons keep their "Jugs" through the end of the war, or did they all go to the 'Stangs?

Andy W YPHPT

Due to the Mustang's better range, aircraft were shuffled so that 8th AF got them as soon as possible for all units since 8th AF fighter groups were mainly tasked to long-range escort. The only exception was 56th Fighter Group, who somehow managed to keep their P-47s (they weren't overlooked, but actually had the clout to say "no Mustangs thanks, we like these"….) From January '45 they got the P-47M (externally nigh-on identical to the Bubbletop D, but with a new engine and absurd performance once they got it working properly) and apparently received the entire production run of the M model. (As they were basically the only unit still flying P-47s primarily in an air-to-air role rather than for mud-moving. They got a few 262 kills with the M.)

In 9th Air Force and other theatres the P-47D remained widespread through to the end of the war, both because it was available, and because it was considered superior for units tasked with fighter-bomber work anyway, being much more rugged than the Mustang – 8th AF was the exception rather than the rule.

(Oh, and if you want something different to go with the P-47Ms, there's always 61st Fighter Squadron's He-111, which I saw last week, albeit back in more traditional markings at Hendon air museum….)