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VBF-13, thanks for your respond.This squadron is likely out of NAS Miami, or right out of that area. There were a number of different fields, there....This is their training in their combat aircraft, after their SNJs.
VBF-13, you really have all you need for the identification of your dad's plane!This is fantastic! So the 19 is unique to the aircraft? I ask that because I have a date on the picture and correlating it with the log book I get the BuNo on the aircraft (36875) and that he was taking C (Training - Qualified Pilots) and G (Bombing) on that date.
I have no proof whatsoever, that the older alphanumeric codes were connected in any way with the names of Naval Air Stations resp. ATUs/OTUs. As I mentioned in my previous posts, the single letters given to training units (earlier than the coding system I described for the East Coast based units) probably do not reflect the name of the Station. In the case with the 2 "Avengers" I even think that they belonged to a training unit with earlier designation A* in yellow (AFAIK operational units didn't use this color) and than were transferred to an operational unit (or the training unit became operational) coded S* in white.Getting back to your TBF-1s, those are out of Sanford, then?
Unfortunately I can't use this list, because I don't know any of the BuNos of the 2 "Avengers".
CATCH, take a look at this. It's from the first link, the TBFs. We'll agree that insignia looks like the red-outlined type, which ran from late June to the middle of September. This, from that link, is all TBF-1s, and all from within that window:In the case with the 2 "Avengers" I even think that they belonged to a training unit with earlier designation A* in yellow (AFAIK operational units didn't use this color) and than were transferred to an operational unit (or the training unit became operational) coded S* in white.
VBF-13, the overpainted insignia (one top right wing and one bottom left, which we can not see) are IMHO from the period of the older style national insignia in 6 positions. Since February 1943 the number of the NI was changed from 6 to 4 - 2 on fuselage, 1 top left and 1 bottom right wing. Later on (June/July 1943) the 4 roundels received the white bars with the red border. It's typical for a/cs with modified older insignia that the bars go over older markings (see fuselage) or have no border (as on the wings). The 2 "Avengers" are some of the oldest TBF's manufactured, with the wavy demarcation line between the upper and the lower camo colours and they obviously received several modifications of their initial markings. I even guess they had the 13 red and white lines on their rudders.I'm thinking it's plausible the shadowed circle on the right wing (you've three aircraft showing those) could be the other Royal Navy marking ...
VBF-13, I'm happy to help!I'm way under-researched on this issue compared to you. At any rate, interesting discussion, CATCH. Sure filled in some holes for me, at least. Stick around. I think you'll like it. We talk about more things than just markings, here, lol.
I actually caught your 2006 join date just after my last reply. Oh well. Best regards to you, too, CATCH. And good luck!VBF-13, I'm happy to help!
It always amuses me how one question can develop into another and if the initial one is not answered (yet), some other problems might be resolved or clarified. I still hope that someone who's reading/visiting here maybe have any information about the A-markings.
BTW if you check my join date you'll see that I'm not very new to the forum. I'm reading it with a great interest since years and often some of the threads here are helping me to find the desired information.
Best Regards!
VBF-13, I'm happy to help!
It always amuses me how one question can develop into another and if the initial one is not answered (yet), some other problems might be resolved or clarified. I still hope that someone who's reading/visiting here maybe have any information about the A-markings.
BTW if you check my join date you'll see that I'm not very new to the forum. I'm reading it with a great interest since years and often some of the threads here are helping me to find the desired information.
Best Regards!