VC-70 FM-2

[Greebo]

This aircraft was part of VC-70, a composite squadron of FM-2s and TBMs operating from the escort carrier USS Salamaua. This carrier had been badly damaged in a Kamikaze attack off the Philippines in January 1945. Following extensive repairs she was ready for operations with VC-70 in May in time to support the invasion of Okinawa. VC-70 continued to fly from the Salamaua mainly on convoy escort duty until the end of the war.

[Vraciu]

Excellent, per par.   

[oboe]

Fantastic!  It looks perfect.  Really nice screenshot too, of it coming in over the wires with tail hook extended.

I didn't realize this late in the War that the Navy was still using the the blue circle around the star.  I thought they had gone to just a stencil of the white star and bar only.

[Greebo]

The photo I used as reference does not show a visible blue circle and bar around the white. However on other better quality FM-2 photos the blue surround is only barely visible so this isn't really proof of absence. Thinking about it though I kind of like the idea of removing the insignia blue surrounds and it shouldn't take too long to do as they are on a separate layer.

[oboe]

I think it looks better with the blue surrounds; I just hadn't seen them before on late Navy birds after they had gone to the all-over dark blue.   You've got photographic evidence of them on other a/c but your photo of this aircraft is too poor quality for them to be visible, that's a good case for them I think.  They look really great.

[Greebo]

Most photos of all-dark blue FM-2s do show the surrounds. After you mentioned it I did an image search and found one or two FM-2 photos that seem to lack the surrounds so I reckon they may have stopped using them at some point in 1945.

[Devil 505]

I believe that the elimination of the Insignia Blue surround on Gloss Sea Blue painted areas was made at the manufacturer level. I know that Grumman was the first to do this at their primary plant with F6F-5 production. Since the FM-2 and TBM were license built by other companies, they were more likely to follow the painting regulation instead of Grumman's cost saving measure.

Also note that all war-time Corsairs used the Insignia Blue surround as well.


BTW, the skin looks great, Greebo.

[lyric1]

Very nice. 
The few images I have seen of this squadron show a squadron patch on the nose on both sides.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/240776-fm-2-wildcat-access-panel-scorpions-insignia-vc-70-composite-squadron/

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/f4f-wildcat/fm-2-wildcat-of-vc-70-attempting-to-trap-on-the-flight-deck-of-the-escort-carrier-uss-salamaua-cve-96-7-september-7-1945/

[Greebo]

Thanks Lyric1, I think I will add the nose art as there does seem to be a whitish blob on the photo at that point on the upper nose.

[Nefarious]

Excellent work!

[Greebo]

After examining various dated photos of FM-2s it seems that Eastern Aircraft Division stopped using Insignia Blue on FM-2 markings around the beginning of 1945. As VC-70 was activated in May 45 and the photo I used was taken in September I think it is more likely than not that this aircraft lacked Insignia Blue markings. So I have deleted the marking borders from the skin and have added the VC-70 squadron badges that Lyric1 found.

[Puma44]

Nicely done detail work. 👍