US Navy and USMC Between The Wars in 1/100

[Don Boose]

Les -

Thanks for that question. It's a bit of a puzzle to me, too. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I can answer authoritatively.

The markings were applied by Grumman at the Bethpage factory. Not only did the VF-41 aircraft have chevrons on the lower wing surfaces, they also had the neutrality star between the cowling and the cockpit, rather than on the cowling like other F4F-3s delivered later. Doll et al suggest that, "This is probably due to the fact that the 19 March 1940 directive did not list star location details for the F4F-3 airplane." Doll et al, Navy Air Colors, p. 39. Doll is silent on the underwing chevrons.

Freeman (Wings of the Fleet) includes a painting of 72-F-16 (BuNo Unknown) with chevrons under the wings, but photographs of VF-72 F4F-3s do not APPEAR to have underwing chevrons.

To complicate things, Elliott (The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 2, 1940-1949, p. 85) says, "On March 6, 1940, the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics authorized VF-3 to paint an additional chevron on the under surface of their Brewster F2A-1 aircraft as requested. This is the only known authorized use of a chevron on the under surface of the wing." (??!!??)

If I were writing a book or a dissertation, I would do my best to track these issues down from the surviving primary sources, but I am doing these write ups in spare time, using the secondary resources I have on my shelf, or available at the USAHEC/USAWC Library, or on line. I do my best to be accurate within the limits of time and available resources, and in several cases I have corresponded with subject matter experts and purchased books specifically to fill in gaps in the write ups, but I can't always pin these kinds of details down.

And there are sometimes inconsistencies among the sources. For example, some sources say that the second squadron to receive the F4F-3s was VF-71, some say it was VF-72, some say it was VF-7.

As time goes by and I learn new information, I will note corrections in this thread if I think the new/corrected information is significant. In that regard, while I have you on the line, let me point out that in my first write up for the PBY-5 I confused "Sulawesi," the current name for Celebes with "Kalimantan," the current name for Borneo. I know better. It was just an inexplicable typo.

Since Wyvern brought to my attention Dwight Messimer's book, In the Hands of Fate: The Story of Patrol Wing Ten, 8 December 1941 - 11 May 1942, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2012), I bought and read the book. It is a fascinating read and provides more detail about the fate of PBY-5 BuNo 2291, but I don't think the additional detail is significant enough to burden Garry's thread with another post. It's a judgment call in each case.

Cheers, and many thanks for commenting on my post. I welcome comments, correction, or any other feedback.

Don

[birder]

Garry cute little Grumman, and happy pilot

[Rata]

Thanks again for the positive feedback folks.

And Glen wouldn't you be happy sitting in the cockpit of a colourful Wildcat??!!

[umtutsut]

Most excellent info, Don. Mucho thanx!

Les (The Voices of Authority)

[Vinalssergio155]

Very well done Garry! the yellow wings and the valuable information returned. Great work of both.

[Butelczynski]

I would love to make model of this F4F.For some reason photo recon aircraft versions and colors aren't made all that often in neither paper or plastic with exception for few makes like Spits,Dinah,Mosquito and P-38 .Even then the same lieries are repeated ad nauseam.



btw-where did that pilot came from?That's a neat idea.thx.

[Rata]

Originally Posted by Butelczynski

...where did that pilot came from?That's a neat idea.thx.

Bruno did an 8th AF pilot in 1/100 and 1/50 as a free download in his One Model per Working Day thread. If you look in the list of attachments (which are in loose alphabetical order) I'm pretty sure from memory you'll find it in 'p' for pilot.
I gave my little bloke a slight variation to 'look' more navy-like.

[Rata]

I really like the lines of this plane. Sort of reminds me of the Schneider Trophy types which is why I displayed it with the 'spinning prop' and head tucked down pilot. Indeed this particular Curtiss did have a racing career as Don Boose will tell us about next.

[Don Boose]

Garry’s model is of U.S. Navy Curtiss F6C-3 floatplane Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) A-7144 as it appeared in 1928 when assigned to Battle Fleet Bombing Squadron 1 (VB-1B) aboard USS Lexington (CV-2).

The F6C-3 (Curtiss Model 34E Hawk) was an improved version of the F6C-2 with a Curtiss D-12C engine, a slightly lengthened fuselage, provision for an under-fuselage bomb rack, and an armament of two forward-firing .30 caliber Browning machine guns or one .50 caliber and one .30 caliber. The Army adopted these features for the P-1A (Curtiss Model 34G). Later, the undercarriage was modified with a flexing axle supported by a central vee-strut and an improved tail skid, both of which were installed on the F6C-4 (see Garry’s F6C-4 model at http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/aviation/41534-us-navy-usmc-between-wars-1-100-a.html#post635591 ). As was the case with previous Navy Hawks, the F6C-3s had interchangeable wheeled and float undercarriages.

The Navy purchased 35 F6C-3s, the first set of which were delivered to the newly-established Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-5S Red Rippers) aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) in 1927, then assigned to the Scouting Fleet (hence the “S” after the squadron number). In July 1928, Lexington was assigned to the Battle Fleet and VF-5S was re-designated as a dive bombing squadron, VB-1B. It was a time of experimentation, and for a few months, the aircraft of VB-1B, including BuNo A-7144, were converted to float planes. This is the configuration of Garry’s model.

It was a time of experimentation in markings as well. Garry’s model has the gray/aluminum fuselage and yellow wing upper surfaces of the inter-war naval aviation. In 1922, a 3-part code was instituted to identify the squadron number, mission, and aircraft number, so BuNo A-7144 had “1-B-10” painted on the fuselage (Squadron 1 – Bombing – 10th aircraft) and in large characters on the top wing. In the mid-1920s, carrier aviation units began experimenting with the use of colors to identify individual squadrons in flight. VB-1 had the tail surfaces of its aircraft painted yellow.

By 1927, the Commander, Aircraft, Battle Fleet reported that carrier squadrons had been divided into tactical sections identified by colored markings, including a colored band around the fuselage to identify the group leader. In 1928, the nose, top wing chevron, and leader stripe section colors had not yet been standardized, but the Navy was working toward the red-white-blue-black-green-yellow section colors that would be officially adopted in 1929. If this system had been in effect in 1928, 1-B-10, as the lead aircraft of Section 4, would have had a black spinner and black fuselage stripe. Although some aircraft of VB-1 (not necessarily section leader aircraft) had fuselage stripes of various colors, A-7144 did not, and the painting by Peter Freeman in Image 3, and Garry’s model, shows a red spinner.

Garry’s model displays the insignia of VB-1B: a boar’s head resting on sausage links above a blue shield with a red lightning bolt “bend sinister,” and a pair of red balls. This insignia is still used by Strike Fighter Squadron 11, the descendent of VB-1B and the longest continually-serving fighter squadron in the U.S. Navy. The model also displays the Navy “E” for excellence in bombing (presumably awarded before the floats were installed).

BuNo A-7144 had a busy and diverse, if short, career. Both the Army and the Navy actively competed in air races in the late 1920s and early 30s with stock and modified service aircraft as well as aircraft specifically built for racing. After brief service with VB-1B, A-7144 was sent to the Naval Aircraft Factory and modified for air racing by moving the radiator from under the nose to inside the fuselage behind the engine, with fuselage-length air scoops and louvres in the aluminum side panels to let exhaust gases escape. The rear fuselage was rounded out to further reduce drag, and the carrier landing gear was replaced with a rigid cross-axle type. Prior to the National Air Races of 1929, A-7144 was further modified and the wheels were enclosed in spats. In this configuration, A-7144 was re-designated “F6C-6” and placed fourth in the 1929 “free-for-all” race. Another F6C-3, BuNo A-7147 was converted to a streamlined high-wing monoplane and designated XF6C-6. Known as the “Page Racer,” this was the aircraft in which Marine Captain Arthur Page was killed in the 1930 Thompson Trophy Race.

After the 1929 races, A-7144 was re-converted to F6C-3 configuration, although it retained the rounded-out rear fuselage, and sent to Naval Air Station (NAS) Hampton Roads, where it ended its days as a station utility aircraft. It was stricken from the Navy list in 1931.

All the F6C-3s were withdrawn from squadron service by 1929, when the Navy made the decision that all carrier-based Navy aircraft would henceforth be equipped with radial engines, and VB-1B turned in its F6C-3s for Boeing F3B-1s. By 1930, the Red Rippers would be renumbered VF-5B. In 1937, now aboard Ranger, they would become VF-4 and then, in December 1940, become VF-41, flying Grumman F4F-3s. See Garry’s model of Red Ripper F4F-3 BuNo 1850 at http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/665887-post296.html .

Images:

1. Curtiss F6C-3 floatplane BuNo 7144, 1-B-10, of VB-1B assigned to USS Lexington (CV-2) in 1928. Source: Larkins p. 74.

2. Another view of Curtiss F6C-3 floatplane BuNo 7144, 1-B-10, in 1928. Source: Bowers, Curtiss Navy Hawks in Action, p. 13.

3. Peter Freeman color painting of Curtiss F6C-3 floatplane BuNo 7144, 1-B-10, in 1928. Note E for excellence in bombing and the “Red Rippers” squadron emblem forward of the cockpit. Source: Freeman, p. 22.

4. Curtiss F6C-3 BuNo 7144 modified for racing in 1928. Source: Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft, p. 272.

5. Another image of BuNo 7144 modified for racing in 1928. Source: Bowers, Curtiss Navy Hawks in Action, p. 15.

6. Curtiss BuNo 7144 modified to F6C-6 configuration in 1929 and the racing number “210” applied for the National Air Races, in which it ended fourth in the “free-for-all” race. Source: Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft, p. 272.

7. Curtiss F6C-3 BuNo 7144, HR 23, reconverted to F6C-3 configuration and assigned to NAS Hampton Roads in 1930 as a station-based utility plane. Source: Ray Wagner Photo Collection, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives, catalog file name: 16_003189, available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/17915581536/in/photostream/

Sources:

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, First Series (A6002 to A9999),” available at http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/firstseries2.html

Peter M. Bowers, The Curtiss Navy Hawks, Number 116, Leatherhead, UK: Profile Publications, 1966

Peter M. Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1979.

Peter M. Bowers, Curtiss Navy Hawks in Action, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1995, pp. 16-18.

Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley, Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 1911-1945, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 1983.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 1, 1911-1939, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1987.

Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd., 2010, p. 91.

William T. Larkins, U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, Concord, CA: Aviation History Publications, 1961.

Gordon Swanborough and Peter M Bowers, “Curtiss F6C Hawk,” United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1968, pp. 123-125.

U.S. Navy, STRKFITRON ELEVEN, The Red Rippers (VFA-11), Squadron History, available at https://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/vfa11/Pages/SquadronHistory.aspx

Ray Wagner, Ray Wagner Photo Collection, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives, available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157649888362472/

[Brent]

Excellent work as always Garry and thanks Don for the information.

Brent