Kim's F4U Corsair gift

Earlier this month Kim sent me a "parts" Corsair missing the engine pod which I found on ebay but without the top of the fuel tank.




I was interested in Kim's Corsair because it had tail markings unique to the WW2 era carrier Bunker Hill. All aircraft at this time had tail markings assigned to a particular Carrier which made identification and assembly in the air easier, especially when aircraft from different carriers were attacking the same target.

I always found the "UP Arrow" marking to be very interesting shown here on Bunker Hills Avengers and Helldivers too.





Got to find an Arrow decal for my Helldiver.





For anyone interested.

Standard markings at the beginning of the war, 12.07.1941:
Identification marking consisting of squadron number, letter of mission (i.e. fighter), individual aircraft number; lettering in 12 inches; individual numer repeated on trailing edge of the wing near the fuselage, optional on motor cowling and/or leading edge of the wing near the fuselage; all lettering in "block style" (edges canted 45°).
National insignia on the fuselage between trailing edge of the wing and leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, size 24 inches.
Branch (NAVY oder MARINES) centered over serial number on the fin, model designation (i.e. F4F-3) centered on the rudder in the same height as the serial; lettering 1 inch (2,54 cm). This part of the markings remained constant throughout the war.
Inscriptions in "Block Style", i.e. vertical and horizontal lines with 45° beveled corners. System unchanged until end of war.
04/29/1942: Squadron number (i.e. 6) deleted. As the national insignia had to be as large as possible (see left) sometimes applied after the national insignia. On squadron level: Number on the rear of the wings is omitted.
At about the same time also a change from black to white.
Autumn 1942: Numbering determined by the squadron, white numbers, size variable. Sometimes with an additional letter (e.g. VT-25 on CVL-25 Cowpens) meaning only known to the squadron.
The previously specified location in front of the national emblem is no longer considered mandatory.
Aug. 31, 1943: First unofficial geometric marking on the vertical stabilizer of carrier aircraft. Solely on squadron level (at left Hellcat of VF-5). Whether one followed the trend or not was entirely up to the commander's decision.
Jan. 26,1945: Geometric signs on the tailplane now official, assigned by the BuAer to each aircraft carrier. All aircraft of the carrier carry the same marking (at left CV-17 Bunker Hill with Air Group 84).