Warbird Information Exchange

Had a guy at the museum today with this picture and was wanting some info about it. The only way I had to copy it was to lay it on the floor and take a picture of it with my point and shoot.

F4U-1A #25 (at Torokina, Bougainville) flown by 1Lt Bob Marshall of VMF-216 after returning from a dogfight over Rabaul on Dec 19, 1943. 2 of his squadron mates were shot down and killed on this mission.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Thanks, Jack. Why am I not surprised you were the first to respond?

67N20:

..Buno 17736 for now!!

1Lt Bob Marshall VMF-216 leans on the stabilizer of his F4U-1A #25 on Dec. 19, 1943
with 1Lt Neil Kidwell on the left and 1Lt Doc Marker on the right.

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Don't touch my junk!!

67N20/Jack:

Great pic indeed! It is Buno 17736 according to a B/W on A/C series #29 F4U in Action pg.15. Tks

Jack: any chance that you may have F4U-5N Buno 124715 in Navy schemes??

Lookit that hole in the star...20mm? I doubt one of the 7.7s could have done that

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

Hi Jack,

Question for you as you'll probably know.

This Corsair has the field and star with the white bars either side. The date of this pic is 19th Dec 1943. By then the bars and the red then later light blue outline was suppose to be in place - Sept 1943?

Have seen a number of F6F's of VF-38 with just a white bars and no red/light surround as well. It seems the red/light blue outline was only applied in early 1944?

I have not read anywhere that the field/star and white bars was an official national marking though seems to have been used by the units in the Solomons for a couple of months?

Nice pic though.

regards

Mark

PS - what is the size of the '25' on the side and was this a standard stencil size?

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

when you look at damage like that you can see the need for the -3 Manual for Structural Repair.

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Andrew King
Air Museum Director with no Museum to Direct
Open to Suggestions