Fighting Units in Colour
2 total works
This book was published as part of the 'war' against what is probably the most permanent myth of the US Navy aviation units: the myth of red outlines on US national markings of VF-17 aircraft during the first (October - November 1943) and second (January - February 1944) tours of operations. The problem is that not a single colour photograph of the unit's aircraft from the period has surfaced so far, although it seems that the US Navy propaganda unit, which had colour film, has visited it at least twice. But it is possible to dispel the myth just by analysing black and white photos of the unit's Corsairs, especially at the time of Panama Canal passage, when many photographs were taken of VF-17 machines carried as 'deck cargo'. We hope that this book will serve as a catalyst to start proper research on the subject.
This book is the ultimate visual reference guide to the 506th Fighter Group, describing the history of the Group and its squadrons, as well as the distinctive camouflages of their aircraft. Numerous colour plates and photos documenting their markings and insignia are included, most of them obtained from private collectors and previously undocumented.
The 506th Fighter Group was established on 5 October 1944 and activated on 21 October 1944, at Lakeland Army Air Field/Drane Field, Florida. The group consisted of three squadrons: 457th, 458th and the 459th Fighter Squadrons. From its activation, the planned missions of the 506th were very long range (VLR) escort missions of B-29 Superfortress bombers in the Pacific Theatre. They flew air combat missions at Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, attacking airfields, anit-aircraft emplacements, barracks, radio and radar stations, as well as escorting B-29 bombers in raids against Japan.
With 90 photographs, a mixture of colour and black and white, as well as 33 colour profiles, decals, and line drawings, this book is a must for any aviation modeller or historian, interested in finding out more about this elite, awe-inspiring squadron, its pilots and their machines as they fought their crucial campaign against the Japanese in the Pacific War.
The 506th Fighter Group was established on 5 October 1944 and activated on 21 October 1944, at Lakeland Army Air Field/Drane Field, Florida. The group consisted of three squadrons: 457th, 458th and the 459th Fighter Squadrons. From its activation, the planned missions of the 506th were very long range (VLR) escort missions of B-29 Superfortress bombers in the Pacific Theatre. They flew air combat missions at Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, attacking airfields, anit-aircraft emplacements, barracks, radio and radar stations, as well as escorting B-29 bombers in raids against Japan.
With 90 photographs, a mixture of colour and black and white, as well as 33 colour profiles, decals, and line drawings, this book is a must for any aviation modeller or historian, interested in finding out more about this elite, awe-inspiring squadron, its pilots and their machines as they fought their crucial campaign against the Japanese in the Pacific War.