The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2 1940-1949

196 Pages·1988·132.04 MB·English

by  John M. Elliott

The OFFICIAL MONOGRAM
US NAVY &MARINE CORPS
AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE
Vol 2 1940·1949
..
Thefull titleoftheunittowhich an aircraftwasassigned was
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The OFFICIAL MONOGRAM
US NAVY &MARINE CORPS
AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE
Vol 2 1940·1949
John M. Elliott Maj USMC (Ret)
, ------/
. Monogram Aviation Publications, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Copyright© 1989 by
Monogram Aviation Publications
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number
86-62376
ISBN 0-914144-32-4
Printed in Hong Kong
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or means electronic.
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without
prior permission of Monogram Aviation Publications. Brieftext
questionsforbookreviewpurposesareexempted.
Published by Monogram Aviation Publications
P.O. Box 223, Sturbridge, Massachusetts 01566
.. CONTENTS
'
FOREWORD 7
INTRODUCTION 8
SECTION 1-AIRCRAFT COLORING AND
PROTECTIVE COATING 14
CHAPTER 11940-1949 14
SECTION 2 -NATIONALAIRCRAFT INSIGNIA 58
CHAPTER 2 1940-1949 58
SECTION 3-IDENTIFICATION AND
RECOGNITION MARKINGS 82
CHAPTER 3 1940-1949 82
SECTION 4-MAINTENANCE AND
SAFETY MARKINGS 162
CHAPTER 4 1940-1949 162
SECTION 5 -MERITORIOUS MARKINGS 176
CHAPTER 5 1940-1949 176
APPENDIX A-RESEARCH AIRCRAFT 181
APPENDIX B-MISSILES 182
APPENDIX C-BLUE ANGELS 183
APPENDIX D-AIRCRAFT DESIGNATIONS 184
APPENDIX E-CAPTURED AIRCRAFT 187
APPENDIX F-OVERHAULACTIVITIES 188
APPENDIX G-COLORS 190
INDEX & PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS 192
LACQUER PAINT CHIPS 193
AflightofGoodyearFG-1DCorsairswith thedistinctiveNaval
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FOREWORD
Throughout the history of Navy and Marine Corps aviation,
the systems used to mark and paint aircraft have been ex
tremely confusing. The lack of a complete history of the
subject has resulted largely from the scattered condition of
the reference collections. It has taken Jack Elliott a
quarter-century to compile his multi-volume history of this
subject. No one familiar with the subject matter and its
documentation can be surprised that the project took so
long. Volume I covers the years 1911 through 1939.
Volume II covers the important ten years from 1940 to
1949 during which expansion and change were rules and
not exceptions in the Navy and Marine Corps. The decade
witnessed drastic changes in the systems the Navy and
Marine Corps had used since the 1920's to mark and paint
aircraft. The changes came so fast and were so numerous
that their implementation was often left to the discretion of
commanding officers and the availability of resources.
This second volume of the Elliott history documents these
changes and offers explanations for them. The Official
Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide,
Vol. 2, 1940 to 1949, fills an important gap in this area of
Navy and Marine Corps aviation history.
William J. Armstrong
Historian
Naval Air Systems Command
Theopinionexpressedaboveistheauthor'spersonal
expressionandnotnecessarilythatoftheUSNavy,
DepartmentofDefenseortheFederalGovernmenl
7
INTRODUCTION The Second Marine Aircraft Wing produced the following:
2nd wing 1stgroup 1st squadron
2nd MAW
The war in Europe brought many changes to US Naval MAG-21
aviation. Among these was the change from the familiar
VMF-211
brightly painted aircraft to drab wartime camouflage
concurrent with a great expansion in number and typesof
Groups within a Wing were to be numbered consecutively
aircraft. Volume II covers these changes in painting and
and organized as follows:
markings applied to US Naval aircraft during World War II
and the gradual transition back to more colorful markings,
First Group VMF
though nonregulation, just prior to the Korean conflict.
Second Group VMF
With the expansion of Marine Corps aviation just before
Third Group VMSB
World War II the old single-digit system of designating
Fourth Group VMB
squadrons became inadequate. On March 18, 1941, the
Major General Commandant recommended a new number Fifth Group VMCJ
ing system for use by the Marine Corps. This was approved
This transition covered two months during which time
by the Chief of Naval Operations on March 26, 1941.
separate directives were issued for each command level.
Effective July 1, 1941, a new three-digit system was intro
The First Marine Aircraft Wing was organized on July 7,
duced that would take care of all future expansion. This
1941; and the Second Marine Aircraft Wing followed on
system showed the Wing, Group, and Squadron in the unit
July 10, 1941. Pursuant to Major General Commandant
designator. The first digit denoted the Wing (1st, 2nd, etc.).
letters 2385.2-4 AD-31-rs and 2385.2-5 AD-31-rs, dated
~ere
Groups numbered in numerical sequence using two
June 28, 1941, the squadrons of Aircraft One and Aircraft
digits, the first being the Wing number to which the Group
Two were redesignated as follows:
belonged. Under this system the first Group in the First
Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) would be Marine Aircraft AIRCRAFTONE -to -MAG-11 AIRCRAFT T..WO -to -MAG-21
Group (MAG) 11. From this it can be seen that there was
VMF-1 to VMF-111 VMF-2 to VMF-211
space in the system for 9 MAGs (11 through 19) in the
VMS-1 to VMSB-131 VMS-2 to VMSB-231
Wing, although such expansion was never visualized, nor
did it ever take place. Each Group could also consist of 9 VMB-1 to VMSB-132 VMB-2 to VMSB-232
squadrons. Squadrons were designated in numerical se VMO-1 to VMO-151 VMO-2 to VMJ-252
quence using all three digits. The first two digits desig
VMJ-1 to VMJ-152
nated the Wing/Group, while the third represented the
specific Squadron within the Group. Thus, the first squadron
number in MAG 11 would carry the designator 111. However, it was not until July 28, 1941, that the Major Gen
eral Commandant by message 281440 designated Aircraft
1stwing 1stgroup 1st squadron
One to become MAG-11 and Aircraft Two to become MAG
1stMAW 21. Both changes became effective August 1, 1941.
MAG-11
The theory was good but the application failed almost from
VMF-111 the beginning. There were never more than five wings
First, Second, Third, and Fourth being tactical units. The
The system covered the 1st Wing and 2nd Wing, while the
Ninth was a training wing at Marine Corps Air Station,
number 3 at that time was for the four Marine Defense Air
Cherry roint, North Carolina. However, group numbers
Groups that comprised the remainder of Marine Corps
with their assigned squadrons belonging to the nonexistent
aviation in the Fleet Marine Force.
wings were utilized for special needs such as MAG-51,
8
consisting of the night fighters; MAG-61, the medium expansion of new squadron functions forced the creation of
bomber force of Marine aviation flying PBJs, and MAG-71, new units such as Observation Fighting (VOF), Night
the short-lived glider program. The deployment of Fighting (VF(N)), and Escort Fighting (VGF) for Escort
individual units due to combat requirements soon broke up Carrier operations. The Transport Squadron (VR) was also
this wing/group/ squadron numerical organization. The a wartime development.
demobilization during 1945-1946 eliminated many units
On March 1, 1943, all assignment letters were dropped,
and destroyed the last remnants of the original system.
except for Marine Corps squadrons. The squadron designa
While four wings were retained (1st, 2nd, 3rd operational,
tion system was simplified by deleting some of the earlier
and the 4th reserve) few group/squadron relations
wartime innovations. Inshore Patrol Squadrons which had
remained. These, too, were broken up in the years to come
carried a Naval District number became Scouting Squad
due to operational commitments.
rons (VS); Escort Fighting Squadrons (VGF) became Fight
Single digit designations were still used for units such as ing Squadrons (VF); Escort Scouting Squadrons (VGS)
Observation Squadrons (VMO-6) and Carrier Air Service became Composite Squadrons (VC); and Patrol Squadrons
Detachments (CASD-5). These numbers were assigned in (VP) operating land-based aircraft became Bombing
numerical sequence for each type squadron as they were Squadrons (VB). Carrier Scouting Squadrons (VS) were
commissioned without regard to the wing or group changed to VB and VC squadrons. Therefore, it is neces
assignment. sary to know the date of a squadron designation in order to
determine exactly what the designation means in the case
In discussing Marine Corps aviation units the wings are
of VB, VC, or VS squadrons.
always called First, Second, or Third, rather than One,
Two, or Three. On the other hand the groups are referred The numerical designation of Carrier Air Groups began
to as Twelve, Sixteen, or Thirty-Three, etc, rather than with the commissioning of Carrier Air Group Nine (CAG-9)
Twelfth, Sixteenth, Thirty-third, etc. Squadrons are spoken on March 9, 1942. Existing air groups retained their carrier
of as though the three digits were in two groups. The first names until they were either reformed or disbanded.
digit is spoken by itself, followed by the next two digits as a
On June 29, 1944, a new letter designation was
unit. For example, 231 would be pronounced two thirty
established for the CAGs so that they were brought in line
one. Thus, a wing is spoken of as First Marine Aircraft
with standardized complements of different carrier types.
Wing (1st MAW); a group as Marine Aircraft Group Thirty
These designations, some of which had been in use for
One (MAG-31); and a squadron as Marine Fighting
over a year, showed the carrier type to which the air group
Squadron Two-Fourteen (VMF-214). Navy squadrons are
was assigned as follows:
referred to as Patrol Squadron Forty (VP-40) or Fighting
Squadron Six (VF-6).
CVBG Large AircraftCarrierAir Group
Early in World War II it became obvious with the
CVG AircraftCarrierAirGroup
deployment of Navy patrol squadrons that the permanent
CVLG Light AircraftCarrierAir Group
assignment of squadrons to patrol wings was not possible.
The squadron number ceased to have any significance CVN EscortAircraft CarrierAirGroup
other than as a numerical designation. Patrol Wings were
redesignated Fleet Air Wings on November 1, 1943, to Composite squadrons assigned to CVEs were also listed
allow them to be organized on the Task Force principle as Air Groups. All these VC units had been
which would allow the assignment of any and all types of decommissioned by November 15, 1945.
aircraft necessary to perform amission.
On October 1, 1944, all patrol squadrons (VP) and multi
Reserve squadrons, as such, played no part in the conflict engine land-based bombing squadrons (VB) were redesig
as they were called to active duty or deactivated. However, nated as Patrol Bombing (VPB) squadrons. This was not a
a number of Naval District squadrons were formed and change in the system, but rather a consolidation of mis
continued to carry the district assignment letter. The sions. With the end of the war and the discussion on merg-
9