Solomons-based Corsairs - open cockpit flying?

[chicoartist]

Several places in my Corsair-specific refs mention that they generally used "medical tape", and that it was pretty much changed daily, so any combination of "white striping", or lack thereof, is possible.

Same for the wing tanks -- I used to think those were some kind of "dive stripes", but like the fuselage tank it's a poor-man's sealant for the 60 some-odd gallon integral wing tanks unique to the -1 and so-called -1A.

Jack's color shot above looks, to me, like they've had MAJOR leakage all over the bottom of that closest wing. I've flown light aircraft that have had minor fuel leaks - closest I've come yet to "puking" - the smell will get to you if you're anywhere near the source.

I don't know if the Corsair jocks could smell the fumes, but if they could, I know it wasn't a pleasant experience!

BTW, anybody out there seen any reason why the fuel cells leaked so badly in the -1s? Seems like they would have figured out by then how to not have that problem ...

Wade