View Single Post
  #15  
Old 26th May 2018, 16:55
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 737
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: Request for help

Hi Dimitris. There was no directive for the range of numbers in a VC, as the TBM in the photo is no. 81 the fighter component would most likely have used low numbers ( but there were only 16 FM-2s in VC68 , plus 12 TBMs). The numbers ( and tail markings ) were at the discretion of the tactical commander ie. Commander Air Group; the markings were regularised in Spec. SR2e 21 June 1944 to be effective 7 October.

The side numbers should have been moved to the tails by Spec. SR2d 22 Dec. 1943 effective 6 March 1944 when overall Glossy Sea Blue was adopted, but as usual there were some VCs which kept the side numbers plus a letter eg. Sargent Bay ( D+number ) Petrof Bay B+number. Also there were many Eastern FMs still in the 3-colour scheme on escort carriers. The FM-2 in this photo has this, with side number V30 off Leyte in October if the caption is correct; this is the only photo I've seen of a VC68 FM-2 at this date, and the "V" code is unknown (?). Note that you can't see if the diamond is on the rudder.
The other attachment is a short history of Fanshaw Bay.



http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/145/


http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/galler...aw-bay/cat/503



Regards
Nick
Reply With Quote