V3282RNZAF F4U-1D & FG-1D Corsairs,No.23 “The Ghost Squadron” & No.14 Sqn in Japan

1/32ndscale

www.venturapublications.comwww.venturapublications.comVentura Publications, Wellington, New Zealand. info@venturapublications.com

F4U-1D NZ5485 “Kohimarama IX”

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This side only Other side

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Flying Officer Alex Daly sits on NZ5485 “Kohimarama IX”, most likely on Los Negros, August 1945. Overall colour scheme is Glossy Sea Blue. Propeller blades are black with yellow-orange tips plus a white spinner. (Stephanie Brooks)

F4U-1D Corsair NZ5485, Los Negros, August 1945. This aircraft is named ‘Kohimarama IX’ (after a suburb of Auckland). Beneath the name is a green maori tiki. This aircraft was operated by No.23 Squadron “The Ghosts”. Residents near their Ardmore training base said they could not actually see the pilots in their big Corsairs – they appeared to be flown by ghosts. This photo was taken with orthochromatic film causing the yellow ring of the fuselage roundel to appear dark. (John Regan)

Four No.23 Squadron pilots with a Corsair named Marie. Note the lack

of contrast between the roundels and bars in this photo taken

with panchromatic film which results in more accurate

grey-shades than or thochromat ic

f i l m . ( J o h n Regan)

FG-1D Corsair NZ5617 with No.14 Squadron, RNZAF, Japan, 1946. NZ5617 is in the US Navy all-over Glossy Sea Blue scheme with 48 inch roundels on the wings and 36 inch on the fuselage sides. This decal sheet does not include these roundels. Propeller blades are black with yellow-orange tips. Spinner is also yellow-orange.

FG-1D Corsair NZ561 “Verna”

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Blue bars colour note;We have added an extra decal sheet with blue bars in the “as new” shade for US Navy bars. For greater roundel-to-bar contrast modellers may add the decals included on sheet V3282a.

Under wing

NB: Package contains two decal sheets, V3282 and V3282a.Ventura Decals are printed thinly. Cut out each item and dip in water for a few seconds, then leave to stand on a non absorbent surface. At first the decal will curl up and then flatten out. This indicates it has loosened. Apply carefully to a gloss painted surface and position with a minimum of moving about. We suggest “Micro Set” and “Micro Sol” to aid setting down these decals. WARNING. Test them on a decal from this sheet that is not needed for your subject.

RNZAF Corsairs in JapanAs part of New Zealand’s contribution to the British Com-monwealth Occupation Forces in Japan (known in NZ as J Force), No.14 (Fighter) Squadron was reformed at Ardmore, south of Auckland, in December, 1945 and travelled to Japan on the aircraft carrier HMS Glory in March 1946.

The commanding officer was Squadron Leader J.J. De Wil-

Ground crew member Len Mos-song sitting on the wing of ‘His’ aircraft, NZ5617. Note the taped over and painted gun ports. ‘Verna’ was the name of his then fiancée, later to become his wife. (Peter Mossong)

On 9 May 1947 NZ5617 “Verna” belly landed at Iwakuni. The pilot, Flying Officer P.K. Frame took off on an Army co-operation exercise but found that the undercarriage would not fully retract. He then tried to lower the wheels by various means; attempting to raise and lower the undercarriage, rocking the wings, making high “G” turns and flying at low speed, but all attempts failed. (Peter Mossong)

Colour schemesBoth NZ5485 and NZ5617 were painted in the US Navy all-over Glossy Sea Blue scheme.Robert E. Montgomery writes; Corsairs received by the RNZAF were in either the ‘Basic (Non Specular) Camouflage Scheme’ (SR-2c, 5 January 1943) or later, the all-over Glossy Sea Blue scheme (SR-2d Amend-ment 1, dated 13 March 1944, effective 22 March 1944). Note that Glossy Sea Blue did not appear as an ANA standard until the issue of ANA Bulletin No.157b, dated 20 August 1946. This writers opinion is that the early examples of a gloss finish were produced by the simple application of clear gloss lacquer over existing Sea Blue paints. Glossy Sea Blue was included in the list of Standard Aircraft Glossy Colours as ANA 523, with the issue of Bulletin No.166d dated 11 March 1959. It is represented by FS 15042 in Fed Std 595b.

Upper wing roundel position for the all-over Glossy Sea Blue NZ5617.

The aircraft had 48 inch roundels above and below both wings with fuselage roundels being 36 inches in diameter. The decal sheet does not include these roundels.

Goodyear built FG-1D Corsair NZ5617, on the left, with No.14 Squadron, Japan, 1946. NZ5617 is in the US Navy all-over Glossy Sea Blue scheme. Note the FG-1Ds do not appear to have the non-specular Sea Blue anti-glare panel forward of the cockpit as applied to the Vought built F4U-1D’s.

References and Acknowledgements:Stephanie Brooks, daughter of Alex daly, John Regan, David Frowen andPeter Mossong’s web site, http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com.

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limoff, DFC, who had served with distinction in the Pacific, and commanded No.23 Squadron from it’s for-mation in August 1944 to 1945. The Squadron’s ground training was put in the capable hands of Squadron Leader J.E.Duncan, known to all and sundry as “The Bull” due to his voice!

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