F4U Corsair KD431 Scheme

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

F4U Folks:

Good day!

Among the many schemes of this elusive bird is the one enclosed. UK c. 1945-46 or so. Does anyone know the story of it/whereabouts of it. Tks in advance.

Snake45 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:49 pm **Posts:** 864

Yes. In fact, there's a whole book about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-KD431-Tim ... 075094305X

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:32 pm

Sorry, I'm confused. This Corsair is in (as it has been for decades) the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset, UK, on public display. It's details, and the details of the schemes are listed on the FAAM website, and have been discussed on WIX before.

http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/cors ... -4-18.aspx

http://www.fleetairarm.com/aviation-mus ... jects.aspx

viewtopic.php?p=284649

Your photo posted looks to have been taken at the FAAM pre-1999, and probably in the 1980-90s.

DEFINITELY not 1945-6.

Data to hand as I've just been writing about it. As Snake45 said, too.

It's never had 'many' schemes, either. It seems to have had it's original factory scheme, RN FAA additions in service, then a couple of repaints in preservation replicating that scheme, before the return to the real, original/FAA scheme.

Regards,

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

JDK:

Hi! Tks for the info/data. The pic was taken at a place called Eastheaven, UK c. 45 0r so. (according to the caption). Did the plane have those red circles before?? Tks

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:43 pm

If this is where I believe you got the photo from, you're attributing the wrong caption to the photo - note that the photo you re-posted, the correctly attributed caption says it was taken in 2001, while the B&W photo next to it is the one said to have been taken in 1945 at Easthaven, of the same aircraft then. http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Corsair.htm

As the previous posters have mentioned, it is one of the most well known/documented Corsairs out there. Doing a Google search for "Corsair KD431" will bring up a trove of photographs and past forum discussions on the aircraft.

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

John:

Rg! Tks for the info/data on the dates. But where do the red circles come from?? Tks

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:19 pm

The 'red circles' are the red centres of standard Royal Navy (British) roundels. You can see the white surround and (just) the blue outer as well.

Here's another interesting image of KD431, taken I'm assuming partway though the paintwork investigation of 2000-2005.

http://www.airphotographicinternational ... royal-navy

Regards,

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:29 pm

Late-war RN FAA Corsair markings are an interesting topic in themselves.

At the risk of stating the obvious, this aircraft was destined for the Pacific war, but never got there. Hence the standard non-Pacific red-white-blue roundels in six positions, over wing and under wing of different types.

On their way to the Pacific, the roundels were normally adapted with the red painted out to avoid the infamous confusion with the Japanese Hinomaru.

Further, when operating with the US Fleets, bars were added and wing roundels were cut back to one wing upper and one wing lower to achieve some commonality with the US style, as also did the RNZAF on their Corsairs (and other types) although with a different roundel style.

So the red dots are unusual for Pacific-used RN Corsairs, but that's how they started out - factory scheme. (And any marks in those positions on military aircraft are usually going to be national markings - where your research will start.) Hope that helps,

Regards,

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

JDK:

Good day! Makes sense! Tks for the info/data on this interesting sample of the UK!!

p.s Do you have any pics of the XF4U-1 in color or the July 1940 accident near Bridgeport CT?? Tks in advance

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2014 5:17 am

Glad to help.

No, I don't, but there are several posters here who are likely to be able to help.

Maybe a new thread for that, with an appropriate title!

Best,

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

KD431 Folks:

Good day!

Do the current sample has a Vought/Goodyear cabin id plate in place? If it does will you plz post. Tks in advance.

avenger2504 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:59 pm

Although the RNZAF tended to paint their roundels and bars on both wings (upper and lower) on their Corsairs and most other types. However some photos I've seen on the Dauntless show the US style of one up one down. My first Auster was found to have rotten fabric on the wings. This was about 1984 so being curious I got some thinners and rubbed through the silver dope and found the RAF camouflage and roundels!! She was built in 1944 so 40 year old fabric! Gulp and I'd been flying in it the year before!!

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

JDK:

Good day!

Did the wings id plates reveal/show diff Bunos?? How about the flaps?? I know of a couple of Mod plates on a Vought a/c that may me applicable to KD431. I'll be glad to show specific location points if someone would like to further enquire the Buno of this bird.

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:26 pm

See my reply on the Key Forum.

Regards,

zorro9 · **Joined:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 pm **Posts:** 671

JDK:

Rg! Tks

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F4U Corsair KD431 Scheme

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