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greatgonzo

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About greatgonzo

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  • Birthday 04/05/1967

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  1. The red rims were overpainted blue and green in the area. It was agreed and officially stated by both Army and Navy. Locally, as discussion with higher command lasted till this, short lived, insignia was replaced by new one with IB rims. It would be bold to say that none of thousands aircraft carried red rims in combat there. Yet the picture of such is to be found. I have seen a few with high probability of keeping original red, but as said no real proof.
  2. Yes, it is safe. Red tails were group markings. Well, safe enough ;). Yet, the answer to the question: did all the 362nd FG P-47's have the red tip and black stripe on the vertical stabilizer?? is no they didn't. It was impossible for the operating squadron to paint all the aircraft in complete group and squadron markings. When You think of all additional artwork with nosearts going on, and the skipper's bird with all this three colour checker board that had to be finished, You will easily see the point. More seriously, new aircraft entered, old aircraft got damaged or lost
  3. greatgonzo

    P-47D Questions

    The props were interchangeable for any B-series R-2800 Thunderbolts. Not only late D's. The constant speed governor was different for hydraulic and electric driven blades.
  4. Yes, I can see it. Yet having seen different USAAF radio equipment and considering the quality of the pic I wouldn't dare to say it is for sure SRC-522. But I agree it is more then possible if You put it that way :). I didn't know MN-26 receiver needed both antennas. The description of AN/ARN-11 I have doesn't mention the wire antenna being specific on loop antennas, connecting wires etc at the same time. I am no radio man, so had no idea here. Thank You for clarifying that.
  5. Yes, SCR-522 is possible. As I said it is explainable.How about those aircraft with loop and additional wire?
  6. I know it is an exception, and there may be many explanations for that. The patch covering the base for the loop antenna is visible. What makes me wonder is the presence of additional antenna wire on the planes with radio compass loop. I was thinking of MSN-26 being used as supporting communication radio and the Detrola idea comes to my mind too.
  7. Good input. The question is what was additional wire for on the frames with no loop antenna? Like 23rd FG Birds. Detrola?
  8. RAF converted to VHF in 1940. It is safe to say no fighter aircraft in the ETO had used wire antenna since. USAAF of course followed with SCR-522 VHF set. And so much for the safeness. Crates with aircraft heading for MTO had SCR-274 radio added even if the frames carried SCR-522. British IFF MkII should have been used until SCR-595 came available. Far East fighters used SCR-274 and this being HF radio required wire antenna. Merlin Mustangs included. The tail to mast wire is for HF communication set. Additional wire stretched between a tail and turtle neck could have been used by MSN-26 radi
  9. It was homing beacon antenna when it was. Communication radio on other cases. You will go nowhere looking for scheme fitting the subversions. Radio equipment answered the needs of the theatre, region and task of the aircraft. All that could have change upon the time. Sometimes there was more than one configuration ready to fill the task. I can list some ten radio systems that used to be carried by P-51 right out of the hand. Possibly there could have been more, when checked. And , of course, there is no way all would fit in one frame. And, of course, they did need dedicated antenna system. And
  10. greatgonzo

    F4U Question

    When the 'three tone' scheme appeared and 'two tone' Birdcages where still operational it was common to see BG boxes mounted on SB wing panels. 'Borrowed' from other squadrons in maintenance melee or just old delivery. Typical for Solomons and famous Blackburn's Big Hog is an example that comes first in mind. Pics of Bunker Hill VF-17 trials show that too nicely presenting walkaway lines on new craft too.
  11. greatgonzo

    F4U Question

    As said above the numbering of the boxes is not connected with guns at all. It shows the position of the box in the wing panel. In other words would it fit that specific hole ;).
  12. C'mon, apologising is far to far. I am still surprised Gabreski was not CO of 56th. Even after all these years of following different P-47 angles I had to check this Gabreski's commanding staff before posting. I was sure, but still had to check - it is that natural to see Gabby as 56th CO.
  13. It is just a result of studying pics of Gabby's P-47, other T-bolts of that moment in time in 56th, any written and said material available to me and putting myself in the shoes of the men obliged to mask and paint the frame in rather a short time. In the end it is no more then a guess, but educated enough to produce a reasonable explanation when needed. Still only a guess. The stabs where NMF all right. You can see the black ETO stripe on Gabreski's plane, and on others of the 56th T-bolts of that time. Gabreski was a 61st FS CO, by the way. He did not command the 56th FG. He used to lead
  14. I have went that way too :).It is interesting frame for the modeller, as she has been changing her appearance several times in her couple of months front line life. It is important to choose the version and then try to put it together. And there are all those little things, like moving the Invasion Stripes out on wings, decoration tapes straightening them on wings and fuselage, oversprays of paint in s/n and the D-Day markings, not to mention the structure of the camouflage itself. For my work I have prepared the pattern of known parts of the painting and then finished it following the 'idea
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