terminology

Hi

Here is a few web sites to help you out with that.

Japanese Plane system..
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/gustin_military/japdes.html

This one covers some Numbers and the diff builds of each craft for most WWII aircraft. This one has pappys paint for his plane
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/main.html

And this last one keeps it all simple
http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/12018/css/12018_280.htm

Hope that help you.


Skip

Can't help you with Boyington's Corsair' paint scheme but, the term VMF-214 goes
as follows: V stands for fixed wing. M stands for USMC, and F stands for fighter so,
we have "fixed wing Marine fighter squadron 214. That terminology is still in use
with the Navy and Marine Corps.
Ray

Probably more appropriate to the time frame you're referring to, before helos and when airships were still in service, the 'V' in 'VF' or 'VMF' stood for "heavier than air aircraft". The popular meanings, however, have 'VF' as simply "Navy Fighter Squadron" and 'VMF' as "Marine Fighter Squadron".

As to the scheme, every photo I've seen of VMF-214 Corsairs shows the tricolor scheme, which is consistent with the time period. That's not to say that I've seen every photo of a VMF-214 Corsair, though!

Tom Tullis did a great profile of what is thought to be 'Boyington's Corsair' (although, like any other pilot, he most likely flew whatever aircraft was available when needed) and it shows the aircraft in a tricolor scheme.

However, being an artist myself, I can say that you shouldn't always place total faith in artists' interpretations. Artists make mistakes too and just because they're well known doesn't mean they're perfect!


Fade to Black...

Another problem is that I have references that show Boyington in three different Corsairs from the same squadron (VMF-214), with 2 different paint schemes(all said to be used in the same month).....so it's always a good idea to get as many good references as possible, and compare. When I was in the Marines, it was always the pilot flew what Maintenance Control put them in, no matter who's name is on the side!!