F4U-1 Corsair. Bu. No 02576. "Marines Dream"
VMF-222. Pilot varied day to day. Bougainville on December
11th,1943.
Edwin Lawrence Olander claimed a zero kill in this aircraft on
17 October 1943. Total score 5 kills, 4 probables. Overturned in
a ditch, Torokina field on Bougainville on December 11th,1943.
Written off 2 days later andtripped for parts. Our
interpretation of this controversial scheme: Painted in Blue
Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440) with much patching and
repainting. Wings patched in field mixed dark blue or Non Spec.
Sea Blue, which may have also been applied to tailplanes to
cover heavily sand blasted leading edges. Note pinup girl
appears to be a dark skinned island girl, although a fair
skinned alternate is supplied. Aircraft is heavily weathered and
fuel stained. Mismatched tires. Spinner dark, possibly black?
F4U-1 Corsair. Bu no. unknown. “Tojo Eats Shit!”
VMF-222. Pilot unknown. Munda Airfield, New Georgia. Solomon
Islands.
Painted in Blue Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440).
Extremely heavily stained, faded, worn and patched. Leading
edges of wings and fuel tank areas on upperwings in field mixed
dark blue or Non Specular Sea Blue. White circular patches over
gun ports. Prop appears new with silver hub and black blades
with yellow tips. Mismatched plain/block tread tires. No
external stores or racks fitted. No fuel tank sealing tape is
apparent.
F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair. Bu no. 02310. “VIVA!”
VMF-124. Flown by 2nd Lt Kenneth Ambrose Walsh. Henderson
Field, Guadalcanal 28 May 1943
Walsh became the first Corsair ace on 13 May 1943 when he shot
down 3 Zekes and damaged a 4th. White 13 was painted in Blue
Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440). Viva displayed heavy
dirt and fuel streaks, and moderate paint chipping on the
forward portion of the wing roots. Silver prop hub.
F4U-1 Corsair. Bu no. 03821 "White 485"
OTU VF-4. Flown by pilots in their final phase of training
before joining the Fleet. NAS Jacksonville, Florida February
1945 Returned from service in the South Pacific after later
versions of the Corsair reached the war zone. Refurbished and
repainted in Glossy Dark Sea Blue (FS15042), these Corsairswere
then assigned to stateside Operational Training Units. Exact Bu
No of this Corsair is unknown, but 03821 did serve with OTU VF-4
at NAS Jacksonville at the time photos were taken. Wheel hubs,
gearbays GSB, mismatched tires (plain, ribbed). Silver prop hub.
Note short fwd mast and second mast on rear spine. Tall
tailwheel.
F4U-1 Corsair. Bu No. "Dangerous Dan - EightBall"
VMF-213. Pilot varied day to day. Guadalcanal. Solomon Islands.
June,1943.
Painted in Blue Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440), with
moderate dirt, wear and staining and wing root chipping. Wheel
hubs of other aircraft in the squadron are Blue Gray. Silver
prop hub.
F4U-1 Corsair. Bu No.02386. "Ramblin Wreck"
VMF-121. Espiritu Santo on May 8th, 1944.
In the one known photo. 02386 was a War-Weary Corsair, slated to
be returned to the US for refurbishment and re-assignment to the
Training Command. Painted in a field modified 3 tone scheme of
Non-Spec Sea Blue (FS 35042), Intermediate Blue (35164),over
existing Light Grey (or possibly new painted white)
undersurfaces. Note cowl panel with noseart salvaged from
Marine's Dream. Silver prop hub.