Warbird Information Exchange

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Darn those Canadians for getting the USAAF insignia wrong[/quote]

The Canadian-built Mosquitoes supplied to USAAF were B.VII and B.XX versions and bore USAAF serial numbers. The Mosquito in the pic is NS569, a PR.XVI (Photo-Recce Mk.16) built in the UK and transferred to USAAF. It had a very interesting career, including a close scrape when hit by debris from an exploding drone.

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/18475

Interesting to learn... Two (43-34928 and 43-34960) went to NACA at Langley; anyone have photos, and what was their use?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

De Havilland Mosquitos flown at NACA Langley Research Center, Virginia for longitudinal stability and control studies in January 1945. (NASA Langley Research Center Photographs.)

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

And the WIX hivemind comes through again - thanks!

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Well this one has bothered me for a while:



It has a 435th FBS badge on the gun door. Fine so far. But it's trimmed red, which isn't the correct colour for a 435th FBS aircraft.

And it has James Jabara's name on the canopy rail, though he never served with the unit while it had F-86s.

I know it's the owner's choice to do what they want with their property, but this one jars every time I see a photo of it!

What’s the correct trim color (and FS code) for 435 FBS F-86?

I doubt there is/was an FS code, but it should be green. 435th was known as the Shamrock Squadron and wore a shamrock on the RH gun door. Red was the 434th FBS squadron colour. So if it's red fine, but it should have the twin devils of the 434th on the LH door though I still have no idea why Jabara's name is on it.

Thanks for the detailed info. All the period photos I’ve found of 435th FBS Sabres are black and white. Would love to see period color photos. Hopefully some made it online beyond someone’s old Kodachrome slides. .

Great photos, thanks for posting.

Incidentally the squadron colours carried over onto 479th F-100s so I don't understand how this combination of red and 435th insignia made it onto the restored aircraft. Maybe they change the badges every so often? Still no idea why Jabara's name however.

Could be wrt to changing badges. As you know, USAF squadrons had more latitude in those days to modify unit heraldry markings. So the 434th had only the two devil insignia on the LH/port side ammo door and nothing on the RH/star bird side? Do you have any color photos of 434th Sabres? Especially the two devil logo? If its too time consuming, don’t bother but period photos are so helpful informing this history. Thanks again for taking the time to post photos.

Sadly only B&W of 434th. The other two squadrons didn't seem as fastidious when it came to applying their insignia.

Great conversation

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”