Some very odd markings!

[OldGeezer]

USS Liscome Bay, CVE-56, with some very interesting markings on some of the aircraft. The info on the photo says it's in San Francisco Bay, 20 December 1943. Transitioning to new-style markings I understand, but the dark stars...

 

[fubar57]

Interesting. What I like as well is the aircraft in the front row on the right

The Only Mission of USS Liscome Bay - Pearl Harbor

USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) was an escort carrier in the US Navy. While on her first combat mission, she was attacked and sunk by a single Japanese torpedo.

pearlharbor.org

 

[fubar57]

This site has a different photo caption... All Guts, No Glory for the Escort Carriers

"USS Liscome Bay ferrying aircraft to San Diego on September 20, 1943. (US Navy)"

 

[fubar57]

 

[OldGeezer]

Two months later it was sunk by a submarine. Terrible thing.

 

[fubar57]

USS Liscome Bay CVE56 War Damage Report No. 45

CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. Liscome Bay (CVE56) Loss In Action Gilbert Islands, Central Pacific 24 November, 1943 The Chief of Naval Operations directs that this report be shown only to those persons to whom the report would be of value in the performance of their duties. Steps shall be taken...

www.history.navy.mil

 

[Capt. Vick]

Could the dark star have been a spray paint template covered in blue paint, applied over the white circle, waiting to get sprayed again?

 

[special ed]

Maybe so. Or the masking for the white star had not yet been peeled off.

 

[cvairwerks]

Wouldn't that have been about the time period that the star on top of both wings changed to only on one?

 

[GrauGeist]

From my PoV (crappy cellphone), those dark stars look post-edited.

In the photo (post #2), the fourth ship back on the port side, the dark star is larger than the fuselage and it's crude.

 

[fubar57]

...and more going on further back Dave....

​

No wings....

 

[special ed]

An R-4 helicopter insulated from ocean spray?

 

[Wurger]

A shot of a little bit better quality ...

the source: 80-G-82901: USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), September 20, 1943

 

[Crimea_River]

Great find. I like the theory of paint masks for the new star and bar insignia. The one Avenger by the sail has the new markings and other aircraft have a single or two star-in-circle types on the wings. Others have the right insignia sprayed out.

 

[nuuumannn]

Looking closely at the second and third enlargement Wojtek posted, I think the aircraft with the darkened Star and Bars is a F6F. It's not an Avenger because it's not as big and it's not an F4F because the undercarriage is in the wing stub and the hori stab is too big. Dunno why the stars were a dark shade on the other aircraft tho.

 

[SaparotRob]

You have better eyes than I have. I think you're right. Where the vertical stab meets the fuselage there is a slight curve. It would be more angular, methinks, if it were a TBF.
I can't tell but is the engine missing or is it lost in shadow?

 

[Crimea_River]

In my post, I was talking about this one, which is DEFINITELY and Avenger. Look at the canopy.

 

[nuuumannn]

I can't tell but is the engine missing or is it lost in shadow?

I think the engine is missing, Rob. It's pretty close to the SBD's rudder in front of it.

In my post, I was talking about this one, which is DEFINITELY and Avenger. Look at the canopy.

I wasn't specifically referring to your post, Andy, but it struck me the more I looked at that aircraft I was referring to that it was different to the others.

 

[GrauGeist]

Now look at the group of three on the fantail.

One aircraft has two goofy stars, the next has one.
The kicker, is the one at the very edge (which has two of those weird stars), looks out of place.

It looks a great deal like a North American BT-14 - and the one in front of it (due left in photo) looks odd as well.

 

[SaparotRob]

I haven't figured' out how zoom the picture. Can you close in on the stern?