The study of Japanese Navy aircraft has noted that many planes had red tails to assist in crash locations. The time period of these red tails as applied by the factory has been questioned over the years. The study of Japanese Navy "Hokoku" (Patriot gifts of aircraft given by monies collected at street corners, etc) markings and the date of ceremonial presentation may help isolate when the red tail application appeared and disappeared.
Factory application of red tails are shown at Hokoku Presentations. The earliest red tails seen were at a ceremony on 14 April 1934...Hokoku #37, #43, #55, #56, #60 and #61.
The last time an aircraft was presented without a factory applied red tail was 11 November 1934 with Hokoku #66 and #67.
The first Hokoku presentation showing aircraft with the red tail deleted was on 21 March 1941 with Hokoku #378, #405, #408, #413, #414, #415, #419, #422, #423, #424, and #425. Yes, #422 was later based on the AKAGI and had a 'field' application of the red tail...but not by the factory.
The red tail was in the process of elimination at Pearl Harbor. The Akagi D3A crash relic from the vertical stabilizer's fillet...shows the red tail over painted with gray-green:
http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/colorsamples.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=98
Hope this helps,
David Aiken
Hokoku Presentation Ceremony
www.b-b.ne.jp/zero/zero006/img/houkoku1-1.jpg
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