P-51 Paint Question

[SIK1]

Any  P-51 guru’s that can answer a paint question for me?

I have a couple of questions about the red right angle painted at the root of the flaps on P-51’s.
 

Was it painted on every American P-51, and was it painted on both sides?

I’m painting Lt. Col. Tommy Hayes’ P-51 D #413318 “Frenesi” and I can’t find any evidence that it was painted on his plane. The pics I’ve looked at are not all that great so I thought I would ask here.

[AWwrgwy]

Go to the book store NOW!!

In the periodical section, there is a special Mustang issue of one of the WW2 aircraft magazines with an article about Frenesi, the restored a/c and the original.

Anyway, that's where I think I read it last week.


wrongway

[Bodhi]

It is a step caution.  It is in the Processes manual that it will be painted on the aircraft as it left the factory.

[Guppy35]

I haven't seen it painted on both sides in a 51 photo.  Just the left and sometimes not there.  The only issue you might have was that the 357th Mustangs were painted in theater.  Photos of other RAF Dark Green and Gray 357th Mustangs do show it on the left side however.

Two views.  One on Don Blakslee's D-5 and one on Don Gentile's B model

[SIK1]

Thanks for the info guys.

Bodhi, I figured it was some sort of warning so people didn't get their toes amputated when the flaps returned to the up position.

Dan, I found a pic of "Frenesi" where the root of the left flap is visible but it is so dark and grainy that I can't tell if it is painted on there.

What are the chances that it is not painted on there?

[Guppy35]

It looks like, from the 357th History, that they did repaint it on many of the camo'd aircraft.  I'd do it if it were me making the model.

[SIK1]

Yeah, I'm going to. If nothing else the model can use the color.

Thanks for the help.