Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm
Posts: 671
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F4U Folks:
If they were going for the NAVY/USMC inventory those white engine cowls #s indicate the last 3 digits of the Buno of the aircraft. Same with the cockpit id plate.
While doing further research on the elusive KD431 id plate, came to find out that the UK samples. poss Aussie & NZ samples had a diff sequence for their respective assigned block numbers. Those white #s were a temp ferry number for that a/c. Included in the pic are KE 349 & KE 340 which it should match the cockpit id plate. This order BTW according to records was Cx c. July 1945 & the a/c (about 120+) were never exported across the pond.
One of them survived to this date. It also made it back to England & back as intended except this time as a civ sample c. 1990s. It's now with the Cavanaugh Flight Museum at Addison, TX as Buno 92399. We are curious to find out if still has the original UK id cockpit plate in it. We'll find out in due time. KEXXX perhaps?? Photo via AEC/NARA. 2 b cont... 
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