VF-88 1945 tail markings?????

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N4521U

Plastic Pirate
14,434
7,294
Nov 1, 2009
Miranda, NSW
Okay, so I am doing an F6F-5 from VF-88, see his obit.
I know his ser no. and need someone to give me a hint as to where
the tiny little number at the side and very top of the vert stab comes from.
Is it in fact part of the serial number, as I do not see any Plane numbers on any F6F's from the Yorktown.
I do know the "RR" was the CV-10 designater, above and below wings along with white star and bar.

TIA Brain Trust!!!!
 
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GrauGeist said:
Bill, here is a good overview of "Mandy" Mandenberg.

It includes his F6F's BuNo and more detail:
Pacific Wrecks - F6F-5 Hellcat Bureau Number 77458
Click to expand...
Yes, seen and downloaded that. Have, and searched the BuNo and Nada! Don't let ICE read that!!!!!
Can find limited photos of F6F-5's from VF-88, none show side Sqn No.'s.
Some do show the Tiny numbers under the antennae on the Vert Stab.
A conundrum. No numbers on front gear doors.
 
I was aboard CVS-10, '62 Far East cruize. AXAN with HS-4.
I think there should be required reading about ships that served in the Pacific war.
I had no idea of her history until long after leaving the Navy in '64.
Also the history of HS-4 after I left is pretty significant.

So, after looking at these posts from a screen bigger than a phone,
I am still perplexed. F6F-5N, side numbers of no? Were they repainted Black?
Seems no other markings showing. Like on the Vert Stab, NAVY, plane type, BuNo.
All painted over, even the line showing foot holes behind the wing.

I have lots to ponder me thinks.
Thanks for all your input, yous all are great.
 
mjfur said:
The F6F-5N night fighters were painted the same as the other aircraft. They just lacked large fuselage numbers.

View attachment 847516


View attachment 847517

You can see the radar pods on the right wing.

View attachment 847518
Click to expand...
You arrrrr right. Was researching the color. Found the Tru-color was resprayed the dark sea blue, which explains No other markings. So I think I am all set to go on this one.

Except for the top tail number. Was that part of the BuNo or sqn no like the biggass side numbers? That search goes on
 
mjfur said:
The F6F-5N night fighters were painted the same as the other aircraft. They just lacked large fuselage numbers.

View attachment 847516


View attachment 847517

You can see the radar pods on the right wing.
Click to expand...
Now I am wundering if the "N" in that tail number designated Night 4??????? Kinda makes sense.
*Having said That, N4 in the picture still has the BuNo in view!!!!!! I am narrowing my search! Arrrrrrrrr matey!
 
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With your reference above to "Tru-color" I presume you mean Tri-color. If so, late war F6F-5's came from the factory in dark sea blue (or whatever that color is called). They were not tri-color respayed in the darker blue.

The word Navy, F6F-5 or -5N and the Bureau number were on ALL F6F's applied at the factory. The Bureau number (Serial number) has nothing to do with the numbers applied by the Squadron. They could number their aircraft any way they wanted too. e.g. 1-20 or 101-120 or 901-920, etc..

For Air Group 88 the small numbers on the vertical stabilizer, gear door and fuselage were added at the Squadron level. Air Group 88 decided to mark their F6F-5N's as N1 - N6.

It is my guess that the -5N's did not carry fuselage numbers based on seeing two or three -5N's without fuselage numbers applied. Perhaps the other -5N's did. I don't know.

All of the regular -5's that I have seen seem to carry the fuselage numbers but anything is possible.

 
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Got my Ed Profipack F6F-5 kit today.............. Sure is well worth the extra few clams!
So of course I have a side view of a 5N in flight. Scaled the markings, but uvvvv course
the star ans bars are not as used, so will have scaled stuff printed. To witt.......
This one will go into Strt 2 Fini
 
Good reply. I knew the VF88 CO, Malcolm Cagle, and met a couple of his guys. We did not discuss markings but I'm guessing that the numbers on the rudder were to help spotting aircraft on deck for launch. Made things easier for the "airedales" pushing big heavy objects without having to see the fuselage numbers.
 
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