Warbird Information Exchange

Screen captures from a USMC archive color films, shows a unique modification to the paint scheme of a single FG-1D Corsair. Seen here is VMF-513 aboard CVE-111, USS Vella Gulf, during exercises off San Diego on May 23, 1945, prior to heading overseas. The Corsair in question is painted in the standard factory scheme at the time of overall glossy sea blue. The distinctive markings consist of a red prop hub and tip of tail in addition to the upper outside edges of both wings being trimmed in yellow. Letter / number combination on the fuselage sides, also in yellow, reads "V 14", however the number "58", in white, appears on the stub doors of the landing gear visible from the front. could be the mount of the group's CO?

VTMB-234 TBM-3Es also in back aft.









Here's the videos:

Just a guess...to help train LSOs...
The bright leading edge would indicate if wings are level, and gear & flaps down.
or...
Considering the Corsair's early problems with carrier operations...maybe someone thought special paint would aid a LSO in guiding Corsair rookies onto the ship.

I've never seen a CO or CAG with a scheme like that.

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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Logical guess.

Here's another video related to the USS Vella Gulf

Page 2, second paragraph. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/140076873?objectPage=2

Yellow winged Corsair - perhaps to mimic a Japanese aircraft for gunner tracking/training?

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45-47=-2

In that case, I could see yellow leading edges, but not the extensive paint on the trailing edge/flaps.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I could say the same thing for LSO training. Just two shot-in-the-dark guesses.

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45-47=-2

Simple..the bright paint on the flaps would show the LSO the flaps are down...and their setting (how far down they are).
That would not necessarily be the case with dark blue flaps against the dark blue of the wing and fuselage.

I'm not carrier qualified, but I'm guessing that flap settings are vital on approach.

Again, a guess.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

The yellow is only on the topside of the flaps, not seen when on approach.

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45-47=-2

This might work - if the yellow on the flaps was on the bottom. It's only on the top and unseeable by the LSO...

C2j

This is a total guess. The airplane is used for gunnery training where they track it but have to be careful not to hit it. They practice following it with their AA guns.

OK, also a WAG. Perhaps an "aggressor" aircraft for ACM training?

Randy

Got to get a new mouse. Double post.

Could it be a formation ship for training purposes before Air group being shipped out?

XF4U-1 had yellow leading edges, purpose of which was visibility if it ditched in the ocean.
Looks like it also had colored prop bands.
This may or may not relate to the example posted here, looks to me like all plausible theories have been covered.
I would go with some sort of formation rallying craft, perhaps for a very particular purpose.

Edit: Looks like the entire upper wing surface was painted yellow, not just the leading edges,so probably no direct relation to OP example ,, But obviously, both were painted with visibility in mind.

Formation line-up aircraft?

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Magister Aviation
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