CAF question???

[N3Njeff]

The fact remains the everybody know who the Confederate Air Force is.
But who the heck are these Commerative guys?? A decal will never fix that

thats funny.

well I certinly did not mean to open a can of worms with this one but aparently I did. I am not a big fan of the decal either. I am not againsed that logo being under the horizontal with the n number tho. but under the window or the side of the fuselage, thats just dumb.

My only point was, do they plan on keeping that N in those markings??? If they bought the sticker, I am assuming not. I just thought that the CAF tries to preserve history of military aircraft. Yes its nice that another N is out there flying but for that group, I did not think that was the rule.

[N3Njeff]

So theoretically we could rename TEXAS RAIDERS to HANG THE EXPENSE if the Ol' Tomster gave us a big enough donation and HQ approved it.

hmmmm


PS... N3NJeff... Did you post YOUR spiffy youtube videos of the N3N-3 on WIX and I just missed them?

Nope don I diddent post on WIX.

PS..............how many N's the CAF got?..............am I right by saying 3??

[B29B24crewchief]

Gary, et all,

Please don't think I'm trying to hijack this thread. I have been an aquaintence of Gary's for a few years now, and aside from a small personal disagreement, have found him to be a ture professional and his hiring was the best thing the CAF has done in many years. It's too bad that other people's egos got in the way and he was forced to leave. I can't even begin to imagine how anyone could have thought that he had any other than the best intentions for the organization during his tenure. Sure, he made people do work that they didn't want to do, but we have far better aircraft because of it. I was truely sorry to see hime leave.

RICK

Woha now! Lets get this straight! Gary has admittedly been very good for the b29/b24 squadron and the CAF in general. He has made many improvements in the aircraft of the squadron and has made the CAF aware of the many aircraft that need improvements in the CAF. They may not like it but make no mistake, they know it's true!! First truth, Gary left the CAF and I believe he would tell you this, of his own personal situation. He was not forced out unless I'm unaware of some underlying incident?
Gary, please let this slamming of the CAF cease! I know you're upset and I know you want everyone to know how you feel and most do by now!! Let it Go!
Dave

[retroaviation]

Gary, please let this slamming of the CAF cease! I know you're upset and I know you want everyone to know how you feel and most do by now!! Let it Go!
Dave

That, my former friend, was a bad move on your part. I've already said on that last post that I was done with this argument here on WIX.....so please check your e-mail for my response.

Gary

[Taylor Stevenson]

(deleted)

[Jase]

Sorry, I disagree. There's at least four standing next to Gary. And two of em are RedHeads....which I think oughta equal a couple hundred lesser mortals.

Shae & Jase

Count on at least two of us who are in your corner, Gary.

Scott and Ellen

[Second Air Force]

Sorry, I disagree. There's at least four standing next to Gary. And two of em are RedHeads....which I think oughta equal a couple hundred lesser mortals.

Shae & Jase

Count on at least two of us who are in your corner, Gary.

Scott and Ellen

Yup, those redheads do count for extra!
Scott

[Scott Apple]

About 12 years ago we repainted our SNJ at the AZ Wing. I did the research on this particular airplane, and came up with a scheme that depicted where it was during it's time with the Navy. Anyway, our AZ Wing staff at the time voted on it, and cleared it with HQ. We did the same thing with the Hienkel when we painted it in a desert camo scheme before it's untimely demise. Most people forget that the airplanes belong to HQ/American Airpower Heritage.

[NathanT24]

Ok I may get slammed for this response but I am putting my Nomex Suit on. I dont mind the decal, granit it COULD be smaller and put it in another place on the planes yes. But the CAF is a brand, they are trying to get their numbers up. I am saving up to join the CAF now. I will be joining in a couple months once my bills get taken care of. I am the younger generation, I am 31 and am glad to see these planes flying. Also when it comes to some paint schemes, I remember when the CAF P-40 was getting repainted and heard Tex Hill himself helped with the paint. I have read stories of Kittyhawks headin to Europe getting switched over and if Tex himself said its accuerate then I am happy. Again lets all be happy these planes are flying, the decals could come off someday but let the CAF get its name out there!. BTW I just found all my Autograph phots for the tent at Wings Over Houston, Tex Hill, Archie Donahue, and Robert Morgan all got their photos signed. All resting in peace now so I am glad I got to meet all 3. So lets get back to supporting these birds and when I join I will be glad to help a certain B-17 thats about to get air under its wings again, and I may join some other Wings as well when I can join. So who knows I may see you at some shows someday crewing Texas Raiders
or if I can West TX wing and the SB2C Helldiver!

Nathan Thompson "who wishes he was REALLLLLLLLLLY RICH"

[Jack Cook]

if Tex himself said its accuerate then I am happy.

I'm doubtful he ever saw it so it would have been difficult for him to sign off on it. I'm doubtful that a/c will ever see the big decal

[mustangdriver]

I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but I have to go with Jack on this. There are many color photos of the AVG aircraft, and they look nothing like the CAF P-40. The tramp stamps are not a good thing either. The CAF needs to take a look at the Planes of Fame. They have a small logo on some of the planes, but it is not so in your face. Other than that, the CAF does a great job on things. They really started the warbird movement and should be proud of that, but they need to pay alittle closer attention to detail on paint schemes and things. In closing I will say, good job by them for saving as many aircraft as they have.

[eagle21]

I don't want to put too much fuel on the P-40 fire, but I will say that the discussion got me curious.

I pulled from my bookshelf "THE GHOST SQUADRON of the CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE", printed in 1975, to see how the P-40 was painted then. On page 168 and 169 there are four photos of the P-40 in almost exactly the same paint scheme it is in today, complete to the blue paint on the underside. Whether this paint scheme is accurate to what it should have been in China in 1942 I can't say-I wasn't there. However, this is how it was painted in 1975.

As far as the discussion of the large decal, as I was reviewing the book, there was some pictures of aircraft with a large "CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE" and some with small lettering. Notably the bombers and transports seemed to carry the larger lettering, but the is one picture of N25Y with large lettering.

Right now the CAF is suffering from a shortage of members, so product placement is very important-the CAF needs people to know who is providing aircraft for the show to try and attract new members. IF membership begins to grow (along with the money new members bring) then perhaps the larger decals can be re-thought. However, until then the word has to get out somehow. Personally, I don't really think they are all that obtrusive, and from a distance a warbird still looks and sounds like a warbird-decal or not.

I am not trying to hurt any feelings or flame anyone, I just wanted to set the record straight that the P-40 had at one time been painted like it is now.

John Curry

[Obergrafeter]

Funny you picked 25Y as one that had large CAF lettering on it as it wasn't then and never was in the CAF!

[bluehawk15]

Cuz,

I think, since he was talking bombers, he meant 25YR. The Rose has a billboard in bright yellow on her side under the horizontal.

[eagle21]

Funny you picked 25Y as one that had large CAF lettering on it as it wasn't then and never was in the CAF!

True, I was a little surpised myself. Yes, I meant Lefty Gardner's P-38. At the time the picture was taken it was in the white/red paint scheme with a large Confederate Air Force logo on the boom.

JMC