Subject: Re: birdcage corsair
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "DAVID RAPASI" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 19:52:52 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: DAVID RAPASI 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Cc: David Rapasi 
  Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 11:54 AM
  Subject: birdcage corsair

  Gallery Article Template

  "WHAT COLOR WERE THOSE BIRDCAGE CORSAIRS?" 

  by "David Rapasi"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  All of the F4U-1 Corsairs in these four photos are the early version that have the full cowl flaps and flat top front canopy glass.

  The color photos have two color chips added, QMS #12 Blue Gray and ANA 603 Sea Gray, for comparison with the color of the aircraft.

  The B&W photos have four color chips added, QMS #12 Blue Gray and ANA 603 Sea Gray. Two of the chips are at their full color saturation and two are at zero color saturation.

  The zero saturation color chips have all of the color hue removed to make it easier to compare the brightness of the color chips with the black and white photos.

  I believe these comparisons demonstrate that the F4U-1 Corsairs were painted ANA 603 Sea Gray from the factories.

  Eventually the ANA 603 Sea Gray faded to a close match to the lighter colors of QMS #12 Blue Gray and in some cases US M-485 Blue Gray.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Quote from Air Force Colors Vol.2 By Dana Bell

  "In May of 1942 the Joint Aircraft Committee's Subcommittee on Standardization agreed to eliminate redundant paints needed for camouflaging AAF, US Navy, and British aircraft produced in the US.

  Under this plan, AAF Neutral Gray, and Navy Blue Gray were supersede by RAF Extra Dark Sea Gray, which became known simply as Sea Gray."

  "Sea Gray No. 603."

  Quote from Navy Air Colors Vol.1, 1911-1945, By Doll/Jackson/Riley.

  "Sea Gray * Non-specular 603,

  *Also known as Non-specular Blue Gray."

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  I can't find any information, either BuNo or date, about when the factories producing the F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair changed from the Sea Gray/Light Gray to the Tri-color paint scheme.

  From the photos I have, it seems the change in paint scheme was somewhere around the change to the F4U-1A, from the 759th aircraft onward.

  I have never seen a photo of a F4U-1A in a factory applied two tone gray paint scheme.

  Some photos of VF 17's F4U-1 Corsairs have the Tri-color paint scheme, but I read that VF 17's aircraft were repainted before deployment on the USS Bunker Hill for carrier qualifications in July/August of 1943.

  All of VF 17's F4U-1 aircraft have the old style insignias, and some of their aircraft have non-standard Tri-color schemes with the lower outer wing panels painted white.

  Any information on when the color change took place would be appreciated.

  "Dave"