Interesting. So the UN-F designation came after UN-W, since the upper half invasion stripes were removed beginning in mid-summer 1944, and UN-F doesn't carry them, but UN-W did. I think aircraft only carried the full set of D-Day stripes for a bit over a month and a half, or so.
Here's what Joe Baugher's serial number site has to say about 42-26057:
26057 (MSN 1634) 63rd FS [UN-F; UN-W], 56th FG, 8th AF, Boxted, Station 150; Damaged by flak and crashed in mud flats at Bridgewick, 4 miles E of Southminster, Essex September 18, 1944; Pilot MIA. MACR 8997.
I found this info about the a/c on the "Wings of Glory" game site (it includes the same B&W picture you first posted:
P-47D 42-26057 piloted by Lt. Elwood D Raymond
Elwood D. Raymond, from New Jersey, was a 2nd Lieutenant of 63rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 56th Fighter Group, known as “the Wolfpack.” The 63rd FS was the first to be equipped with the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, in late May, 1942, and the 56th Fighter Group the only one to fly the P-47 continually throughout its service in Europe during WW2. It was also the Fighter Group that destroyed more enemy aircraft in air combat than any other – 674 enemy aircraft on air, 332 on ground claimed, with 678 tons of bombs dropped.
The 2nd Lt. Raymond was killed in action during the worst day of the 56th Fighter Group, September 18th, 1944. During a mission in support of the operation Market Garden, in Arnhem, Netherlands, sixteen pilots failed to return; one of them was Raymond, who died after his P-47 crashed into North Sea. For this mission, the 56th Fighter Group was awarded its second Distinguished Unit Citation. Raymond was awarded with the American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Purple Heart.
What's your interest in this skin? And do you prefer UN-W with full stripes, or UN-F with lower only? Dang strange about lack of black tail ID bands...
