Hi all.
First post on the forums.
Here are a couple of photos of the downed HV-A.
Whats interesting about these photos is that in Gabbys book he states that T'bolts from Don Smiths flight strafed HV-A and set it on fire.(Although Gabby was in the woods at this time running from the scene) Praeger Neyland also says in his book "One Small Cog" that Don Smiths flight set HV-A alight.
One explanation could be that when Gabbys plane was first seen to go in it was described as a cloud of dust travelling along the field. Smoke and dust are easily confused.
As for P-47s of the 56th with similar markings, Albert Knafelz's "Button Nose" of the 62nd FS definately carried the softer edge camo.
As regards the evening photo. The scheme is very similar and is very likely Gabbys P-47. The canopy frames seem dark, but the gunsight glass also appears solid in this photo. A silhouette.
Not exactly a firm starting point to discuss canopy frame colours I believe.
The two photos of Gabbys plane in the second post...
In the second one the upper wing invasion stripes have been removed and the paint chipping is evident. No paint chipping in the top photo where the invasion stripes are intact.
This chipping is very similar to the chipping visible in the "evening" photo.
Nige