Speaking of paint jobs...

[RyanShort1]

Paint jobs being a well-worn (pun intended) and tired subject around here, I wonder how many of y'all would be willing to put your money where your fingers go.

As most of you know, I work with the Alamo Liaison Squadron, and am often found flying their Stinson L-5 to events. We inherited the current paint scheme, but would like to eventually spruce it up a bit.



In that light, I will be kicking off a fundraising effort next week or so to repaint this bird in an authentic WWII paint scheme. Short of finding a picture of it on Guam, we will likely be painting it the markings of a WWII Stinson L-5 on the Philippines, Okinawa, or in the CBI - but NOT a Guinea Short Lines scheme, as those are already well represented.

Here's one of the birds I have given serious thought to representing.



Do you have any suggestions for us? Is it that big of a deal that we have it in authentic markings?

Could we maybe do a once a year "Paint-a-thon" on WIX to return a warbird to authentic markings?

Ryan

[CWBuff]

Is it that big of a deal that we have it in authentic markings?

I think you already know that there's potentially as many different answers to that question as there are folks answering it.

Speaking for myself... as an amateur researcher/historian type, or what some here might call 'paint-expert-wannabe', I cringe at some of the paint jobs that are out there. I like to see paint and markings that are at least somewhat authentic in appearance.

But to you as the owners/operators, it's only as big a deal as you wanna make it. It's your bird, paint it however you'd like. If satisfying the 'paint-experts' on that point is of concern to you, groovy. If not, cool. Whatever you do, the bird will still be seen by the masses and appreciated by them... in one way or another.

And however you wind up decorating this warbug, I look forward to seeing it. I only wish I had some suggestions for you.


Fade to Black...

[Dan K]

Could we maybe do a once a year "Paint-a-thon" on WIX to return a warbird to authentic markings?
Ryan

Absolutely... but only if a WIX tramp stamp is applied.

Do you prefer the 48- or 60-inch size?

[RyanShort1]

Could we maybe do a once a year "Paint-a-thon" on WIX to return a warbird to authentic markings?
Ryan

Absolutely... but only if a WIX tramp stamp is applied.

Do you prefer the 48- or 60-inch size?

Believe it or not, that's part of the plan. I am suggesting to the squadron that we put sponsor logos on the inside of the rear hatch door or the inside of the fuselage - or on the cowling, in WWII style. We could do it in such a way that it appears to be a stock WWII paint scheme in photos.

Example of cowling logo:


We could feasibly put a logo here on the rear hatch door, that people would see clearly if we were doing static displays, but would be "hidden" when flying or taxiing.


(Sorry. I just had to throw the reenactors shot in there to further stir the pot.)

What do y'all think?

Ryan

Last edited by RyanShort1 on Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

I think that is great, and I also think it is something that Warbird Rescue would like to donate towards.

[The Inspector]

How about a Korean War scheme (the forgotten war) and put the airplanes story on the stretcher door?

[LadyO2Pilot]

How about a Korean War scheme (the forgotten war) and put the airplanes story on the stretcher door?

I agree with this and may be able to share some pictures with you.

[RyanShort1]

How about a Korean War scheme (the forgotten war) and put the airplanes story on the stretcher door?

If it was my plane, I'd strongly consider that, but our organizations stated mission is to tell the story of WWII liaison pilots, and we know that this bird was in the Pacific during WWII. That leans me heavily towards painting it in a sister ship's markings, unless I can find an actual photo of this bird.
I'd still like to see the photos Karen!

Ryan

[LadyO2Pilot]

Ryan....I'll scan some today if I can or next week and send to you.

Also was is the B/N on War Bug??

[RyanShort1]

This is what Jim Gray of the Sentinel Club came up with for me so far...

HISTORY OF 44-17397

I looked at the history card for 397 again and it clearly shows that it was assigned to the 5th Air Force, Brisbane (code name LEFT) and that at the end of the war it was assigned to the 5th Air Force, Guam (code name DUVA) when it was released to the Foreign Liquidation Commission (FLC) for disposal. Based on this, I tend to believe that the plane was probably assigned to the 314th Bomb Wing at Guam right at the outset as this is the only 5th Air Force unit to be based on Guam (with its associated squadrons) during 1945.

There is still a possibility it could have been a 3rd Air Commando bird, but I'm leaning toward an initial assignment with the 314th on Guam. One reason is that Guam is about 1,500 miles from the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan, so it didn't fly there from those places. Another is that at the end of the war, the vast majority of L-5's were either assigned to occupation duty in the Philippines, Japan, Okinawa or Korea, or they were transferred to the reconstituted Philippine Air Force (PAF), or they were scrapped. In fact, of the L-5C's assigned to the USAAF in the Pacific Theater, only 2 others have survived.

There was a block of 16 L-5C's that were shipped to the 5th Air Force from San Francisco on April 16th and 17th and they share the same Project Number, which is 96980-R. N45TX was among these aircraft, and it would have taken 4 to 5 weeks for them to arrive in the Philippines and be assembled - exactly the time the 3rd ACG received their C-models. Since we have two definite blocks of 5 assigned to the 157th and 159th, and a probable 5 to the 160th, that leaves 1 plane potentially unaccounted for. I suspect it may have been 44-17397 for the reasons given earlier.

Reinforcing that theory, by 1945 almost every USAAF Air Base Unit and Combat Group HQ (bomb, fighter, recon, transport, etc) had one or two L-5's assigned to them for courier and general utility use. Presumably, when the 314th Bomb Wing arrived on Guam in December 1944, they needed an L-5 or two to shuttle between the 3 airbases on the island, across which all the 314th's Squadrons were spread. It is doubtful that they would have brought any already assembled L-4's or L-5's with them from the US, and when they packed up and left for occupation duty in 1946, it makes sense that they would have left any such small aircraft behind on Guam and acquired new ones in Japan.

All this is only speculation at this point, but I think you can see the logic to what I'm guessing at. While 44-17397 could certainly gone to either the 159th or 160th Liaison Squadrons, I think that because it ended up on Guam that it may have started out in Guam with the 314th.

If I cannot come up with a picture related to this, it seems to me that portraying a sister ship, or one similarly on the Philippines would be an acceptable substitution, and honor the men who fought on the Philippines. I haven't seen too many Philippines Island schemes on warbirds recently.

Ryan

[LadyO2Pilot]

Can't help with pictures for Pacific L-5 as my Dad flew them and several other L-Birds during WWII in Europe and North Africa IIRC correctly conversations prior to his death. He did fly all the different L-Birds and helos in Korean War and the pictures I am scanning are from that era. I'll still look for that B/N in stuff I have.

[RyanShort1]

Can't help with pictures for Pacific L-5 as my Dad flew them and several other L-Birds during WWII in Europe and North Africa IIRC correctly conversations prior to his death. He did fly all the different L-Birds and helos in Korean War and the pictures I am scanning are from that era. I'll still look for that B/N in stuff I have.

Hey, ANYTHING that you would be willing to put together - whether it be copies or such, would be something we could use in our new museum... if you are interested. We just got the building's shell up a few months ago. I've been trying to find items we can use for exhibits in the near future.



Our eventual goal is to have a small museum in this building and a restoration hangar next to it.

Ryan

[LadyO2Pilot]

I'll do what I can.....great building....applause for y'all taking the initiative to create a Museum there!!!!

[RyanShort1]

I'll do what I can.....great building....applause for y'all taking the initiative to create a Museum there!!!!

It's nothing fancy, and things are moving slowly, but they ARE moving now!

Ryan

[StangStung]

Ryan, the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. You're really onto something there with the museum and kudos to trackign down the history on your bird. Sounds pretty unique! You going to get fancy t-shirts like those Yellow Rose guys?