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Lightning bolts

Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:03 am

Was there a FG that had lightning bolt markings? Or am I dreaming again? :lol:

Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:29 am

There was a pacific based group that flew P-51's that had them like the one in Empire of the Sun. There was also a navy unit that had them on the tails of ther F6F Hellcats.

Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:37 am

There was also a P-47 Group in the Med that had a diagonal lightning bolt on the vertical-I have a photo somewhere of a four-ship formation.

Scott

Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:45 am

23rd Fighter Group P-40s.

Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:46 am

Empire of the Sun shot...

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Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:46 am

The 118th TRS of the 23rd FG in China had P-51's with a lightning bolt down the side. Like the one in Zane's pic.

Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:31 pm

50th Sentai

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/774/65/2/11_b1

Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:39 pm

Since the movie "Empire of the Sun" takes place in China, that means (gasp!) they actually painted correct squadron markings on the Mustangs. Historical accuracy in a movie...what a concept!

Too bad it's never caught on... :roll:

SN

Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:49 pm

The 2nd FS / 2nd Air Comando Group in Burma flew P-51's with big black lightning bolts all over the plane. I have a model kit with these markings, like below.

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Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:51 pm

The 79th FG had the P-47's with yellow lightning bolts on a blue tail. Can't find a good pic though...

Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:07 pm

How did I know that Waltz would be here? :?:

Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:04 pm

Waltz 41

Not only the 79th FG, but the 27th FG had a lightning bolt tail. My reference shows the 27th with a single white, or more likely, yellow bolt on possibly a black band. The 79th had a blue tail with three yellow bolts. The 27th also served in the Mediterranean area.

Scott

Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:11 pm

Thanks!

I think the 2nd is close to what I was remembering although I remembered it a little bit differently. :lol: I was thinking the bolt came out of the general exhaust stack area to just behind the cockpit.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:06 am

MNANG baby!!
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Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:13 pm

Cool pics!

I was at Micheal's Crafts last night and they had a model of an A-10 with the same stripe as the Empire of the Sun Mustang. Anyone ever seen this before? Any shots of the real thing?
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