Yankee Air Pirate

Keith Park? He had his own Hurricane, but maybe he borrowed a Kittyhawk.

Thank you. I'll Try it

Tried google for "VF-6 USS Enterprise 1942", lots of photos, most if not all show plain (presumably yellow) prop tips. As a bonus, TBDs and SBDs. TBDs all appear to have three color tips, SBDs appear mixed. I haven't figured out how to attach photos, I'll keep trying. Hope this helps.

Love these photos. I wish I knew why my own searches turned up so little! Thanks again, gentlemen.

I honestly did not look at the date on Nick's post, and I will defer to Dana's legendary expertise. I noticed the thread because of Bary 881's post . I am about to start on a pair of New Guinea based P-400s, so the topic caught my eye. My comment was general, as I have often seen "BuNo" used for serial number on this and other forums. I apologize if I insulted anybody, it was not my intention. As I said, it's just one of those things makes me cringe, so I "said" something.

This is off topic a bit, but will people PLEASE stop referring to "BuAer" orders or "Bu Numbers" for US Army/Air Force aircraft. BuAer stands for Bureau of Aeronautics, responsible for Navy/Marine/Coast Guard aviation. Bureau Numbers were assigned in blocks to production a/c. Army a/c carried Serial Numbers, based on the Fiscal Year during which the aircraft was ordered. followed by a sequential number 1 from to whatever number equaled the last a/c ordered. This was displayed in a data block near the cockpit (usually), in black or red (usually). The last digit of the fiscal year was combined with the sequential number to create a Radio Call Number, which was to be painted in Identification Yellow on both sides of the vertical fin and rudder, thus, for example, P-38G 43-2264 would have carried 32264 on the outer side of each fin. It's stateside radio id would have been "Army 32264". I know this is trivial, but it hits me like the proverbial fingers on a chalkboard. End of rant.

Thanks, guys. Exactly what I needed. The second picture from TISO really cinches it. I hope I can return the favor someday. Don

USAF suits were "Sage Green", a little grayer than OD, probably not a big deal on a 1/72 or 1/48 model. ADC also had dark blue flight suits, Robin Olds recounts being given a hard time when he first arrived in theater because he still had a blue flight suit! Story is in his autobiography.

I am planning a Hasegawa Ju-87 in Italian (Regia Aeronautica) markings. My question to the experts is, did the Italians use their own bombs? A search of the web turned up very few photos of armed RA Ju-87s (?), but a couple of poor photos seem to show Italian bombs. There is a neat looking set of resin Italian bombs available from Ultracast. Any info greatly appreciated!

Okay, I am not an optometrist. I have taught hundreds of people to shoot, both tactical shooters (both eyes open) and target shooters (one eye open). The tests done in such training are not intended to prescribe corrective lenses, they are intended to make shooters more proficient. Either your optometrist didn't understand that, or he is, as you would say over there, a clot. None of the trainers I worked with were selling anything. As to the one handed straight arm stance BSA was taught, that is still used in what in the US is called National Match competitions, which are shot with .22 semi-auto pistols. End of rant.

I think the "both eyes open" explanation sounds right. To add to the "personal experience" tales, in the mid-1970s, when my (US) unit was issued M-16s, all the lefties, self included were pulled out and issued Harrington & Richards rifles. Reason: the extractor tossed the expended shell straight to the right, rather than to the right rear. We then trained on them shooting left handed. My eye dominance was established the first day of police training, and I spent twenty years training both police officers and civilians, always checking eye dominance in the first session. That was 40 or 50 years back, and involved the U S Army, but it contrast to some of the European experience.

Wow, I didn't mean to open THIS can of worms! I was an IPMS/USA member for years, but I lost interest when the contests became the be-all, end-all. The Nationals in those days had great speakers like Robin Olds, "Gabby" Gabreski, B(A)-26 and B-57 expert Robert Mikesh, and many others. They were dropped to spend more time on contest results. I lost interest. I even remember remember my mamber number, 2916.

Short story: 40-odd years ago, my new bride went to an IPMS convention/contest with me (she loves looking at models, and likes guns, lucky me). About half way through the display room, she was so angry at the nasty comments she heard people making about other people's models she vowed never to go near a contest again. She meant it, too.

Thank you all for the help. In the absence of a photograph, I think I'll just pick a serial # / code combination from Mason's "Hawker Hurricane", and go with it. After all, 1) I don't do contests, and 2) Who's going to prove me wrong? Thanks again.

Personal opinion: Eduard is not enough of an improvement over Airfix to justify the massive price difference. However, as the man said, "You pays your money and you takes your choice!".

Thank you , Smithy. But I think that's the "Day Fighter Scheme", With the Grays.

Need help with long sought info. I want to do a Hurricane IIc from the summer of 1941. By June 1, 1941, at least # and 257 Squadrons had Mk IIc's on strength, and Norman Franks quotes a combat report in which a Hurricane pilot describes missing a '109 because of cannon failure. ("Fighter Command's Air War 1941", by Norman Franks, Pen & Sword, 2016) . My problem is, after many years of off and on searching, I have never found a picture of a Hurricane IIc in the Temperate land scheme, which would have been in use in the summer of 1941. Can anybody help? Thanks in advance, and sorry about length of this post.

I don't know how to post links, but try the following: gonavy.jp/AirWingsf.html They give detailed lists of carrier and aircraft types assigned to each Air Wing, by deployment. According to this site, CVW-19 never operated A-7Es, only As and Bs. CVW-5 apparently never operated any A-7s while operating F-8s. Hope this is useful,

I have a copy of Aero Editions "Camouflage and markings Nr 1 French Air Force 1938-1945", by Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt, published in 2000. I don't know if it's still available. It includes a seperate color chart. This chart shows "Kaki" as a slightly greenish brown, worlds away from "Vert", which is a true dark green. In fact it looks a lot like U S olive drab. Given Mr. Ehrengardt's reputation, I'd go with his judgement. Unfortunately, the only D.510 photograph in the book is bare metal. If you can find the book, it's fascinating.

Two comments from my side of the Atlantic: 1) The F-111K would likely have been a long time coming. In 1968-69, the '111 was an unwanted step child, with the naval B already canceled and the A having more teething troubles than a set of quintuplets. A product of political hubris (the execrable Robert McNamara thought he and his "Whiz Kids" could decide weapons requirements better than the users, among other things), the fact that it had the lowest loss ratio in Linebacker and served well in the later years is a testament to the contractors and USAF determination to make the thing work. They succeeded. Don Logan did a great book on the whole story of the F-111 some years ago. 2) The RAF, according to the sources I've read, would have been very happy with a more-or-less off the shelf, J79 powered Phantom. The US versions had better altitude performance for the intercept role. The RN's need for the Spey to get the big beast off the Ark Royal meant redesign, higher costs, and compromised performance somewhat.

Thanks. In accordance with Murphy's Law, I found the BLG info right after I posted the request. The tank info solves the rest of my problem.

Looking at photos of French Jaguar A on the web, many seem to have a Mirage style 1200l tank on the centerline station. I have found no confirmation of this. Anybody know? Also, could the twin carriers hold two BLG-66? There's a photo of a built up kit out there so armed, but again, no confirmation that I've found yet. Would make a neat load out for the KH kit. Thanks for any help you can give.

TF-9Js served as fast FACs in Vietnam, carrying a four shot 5" rocket pod under each wing. Replaced by TA-4J in 67 or 68. They were the only US Cougars used in combat.