Help pick the new paint scheme for Mustangpilot's Corsair!

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

Mustangpilot's Corsair is being beautifully restored by John Lane and crew at Airpower Unlimited. Mustangpilot tells me that he hasn't decided on a paint job for the Corsair yet. So, now is your chance to help him choose. (Don't worry mustangpilot, there's no charge for me helping you!)

Here's the ground rules.:

1. American markings
2. glossy sea blue (no tri-color)
3. accurate for an FG1D(or any other 3-bladed version)
4. No skull and crossbones
5. A paint scheme that isn't currently in use.
6. One that has significance in the Pacific North West gets bonus points (JACK COOK!!!!!!!)

I personally like the Bunker Hill paint or one from the USS Saidor.

No guarantees that your idea will be chosen. He once had a bunch of us pick out a paint job for the Cobra and then painted it completly different.

After this one is taken care of, we'll try and get him to repaint the Skyraider!

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:54 am

Brad...what is the Dead-line in this contest?..meaning.. How long do we have to dig through our "wishbooks"??
Thanx..

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

I like the bunker hill also! Very nice paint job

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:01 am

Were there any bent-wings at NAS Seattle or Sand Point?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:24 am

Got it locked in.
Lt jg Ed Schiess VBF-83 USS Essex from Salem, OR
with 3 kills DFC , 4 Air Medals, PUC. He also flew FGs at Sand Point
in the Reserves. His son flew F-16s in Desert Storm and was CO of the
116th FS at K-Falls not long ago.
You guys already have his complete uniform on loan from me
(donated after the paints dry!) and the display on him I set up in the
hanger last time I was up.
Lets see here, overall glossy blue, US, FG-1D, no Jolly Roger, never on a post war Corsair, Pacific NW and he's all over the hanger. Game over.

PS: Brian said no VF-84 (Bunker Hill) because he didn't want to be mistaken for Crash!!! Bring on the Skyraider!!
http://community.webshots.com/album/255512420qdCQGi

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:14 pm

My first choice would also be the Air Group 84 Corsairs that flew from the USS Bunker Hill. These planes were shared by squadrons VF-84 / VMF-221 / VMF-451. They are surely one of the most distinctive F4U/FG-1D schemes with the big arrow onthe tail & wings, as well as the yellow paint on the nose that was applied during the strikes on Kyushu, Japan in January of 1945. My uncle flew with this group so I have a very sentimntal attachement to their scheme! Navy ace Roger Hedrick commanded VF-84 and confimed his 10th, 11th, and 12th kills on February 25th of 1945 in Corsair #167. Also, Marine ace and Seattle native James Swett (15.5-kill ace / VMF-221) also flew these planes from the Bunker Hill, and is best known for downing SEVEN Japanese bombers on his FIRST combat sortie!. Some sources say the yellow paint on the plane's noses had been removed by then, but I haven't been able to prove one way or the other. Regardless, the yellow noses and white arrows are 100% authentic, and there hasn't been a Corsair painted in this scheme since the John Stokes' FG-1D back in the mid-1970s. He was only able to enjoy the scheme for about a year before repainting his plane allover blue for the Black Sheep series. It's an excellent choice!

My next choice would be USMC ace Phillip DeLong's F4U-1D scheme. It sported 11.5 kill flags uniquely alligned on the side of the forward fuselage next to his aircraft number "F-107". It was otherwise a standard overall blue Corsair but the unique "buzz" number and massive arrangement of kill flags is very eye catching.

The VMF-351 Corsairs of WWII were also pretty colorful. This one was flown by Donald Yost who was an 8-kill ace. He shot down two in this aircraft.

Jack has a strong point with the VBF-83 / USS Essex Corsair!! It's a very distinctive scheme and the history apparently ties in well. Not sure if you can determine a particular aircraft number that Schiess might have flown on a notable sortie, etc.

John Lane · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:00 pm

Thank's Brad! I'm not going to put my two-bits in on this one. Great stuff guys! I know Barrett Tillman could help sort out the historical snags if need be. Good Luck!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:23 pm

Come on John you know you'd like #15 named "Thumper"!!!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:14 pm

Brad,
You probably figured I go off like a rabid dog (your correct) over this and that Rob would be right behind me (big surprise also). Brian is probably enjoying the show also.
Rob, by the way, no fair with the model airplanes.
Whatever Brian does I really like to see something original, from the Pacific Northwest and not a triple ace with rows of flags down the sides of the airplane (that stuff mared Marine's Dream not ever close to Walsh's a/c).
Phil DeLong is awesome but he already has a Corsair flying in his markings. Besides that Corsair is from Cherry (boring) Point MCAS. His VMF-212 bird was a tri-toned F4U-1A.
Roger Hedrick is equally awesome but also, there's a Corsair flying in his markings already (limit 1 per pilot unless your George Preddy).
VF-84 (Air Group 84) how many TBMs are flying in those markings already? Answer: a lot! The yellow came off very fast. Bill Popp said it was like waving a red flag at a bull "here we are-come shot us down".
Brad likes the Escort carrier markings. Over done!!! How many TBMs and FMs are flying in these markings? answer" a lot!!
I'll hedge my bets here. So here are my choices:
1. Lt jg Ed Schiess VBF-83 USS Essex (he has his logs and knows the #s of every Corsair he flew!!!) also NAS Sand Point.
2. 2Lt Don Wilson VMF-122 Pelilu 1945 (check out the color photos!!)
3. Lt jg Bill "Beads" Popp VF-84 (without the yellow nose!!) USS Bunker Hill 1945
4. 2Lt Nat Whisenhut VMFB-251 Philippines 1945
I've posted photos on my webshots including color of Don Wilson's!!
One final word I did leave out my cousin. Capt Don C. Owen VMF-112 USS Bennington 5 kills KIA May 1945 over Japan. I think that would be to depressing a reminder.
Here's a link to my color Corsair photos:
http://community.webshots.com/album/255512420qdCQGi

Tim Landers · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:59 pm

Being good friends with two Bunker Hill Aces, Archie Donahue and Dean Caswell, I will vote for Bunker Hill markings

Tim Landers

gary · **Joined:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:18 pm **Posts:** 142

WITHOUT A DOUBT........GIVE IT FRENCH MARKINGS
(since your restricted options rule out other looks)
Brad, it's yours to clean, paint it black, same color as the gallons of oil it spews................

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:39 pm

Gary,
No interfering you trouble maker. Be nice or Brad's the new P-51 crew chief. Besides, the FG doesn't spew oil unto itself....It spews it on Brad.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 4:24 pm

I have to go with Tim. Archie Donahue is an old CAF buddy of mine. His colors would be great. :lol:

Look forward to seeing the machine when its done. I have a soft spot for Corsairs. My Dad flew P-51s, & I love em, but I also used to work on the late Merle Gustafson's F4U4.
Regards
Robbie Stuart

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:42 pm

Posted for Jack Cook:

jaybird · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:16 pm

Call me crazy for mixing a few of my favorite elements to create a non-historic scheme, but I'd have to go with Bunker Hill arrows and a checkerboard cowl.

I wonder what a checkerboad cowl painted with an airbrush to give a 3D effect to the squares would look like?

It seems the "blues" that share the same name sometimes give a different appearance when compared to each other in person. My favorite Corsair blue (in person) has to be Jim Read's. What blue is on Gerry Beck's? It sure is distinctively light.

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