Selfridge Air Field Aircraft 1939

Steve, The insignia you posted matches the one shown in my references.  As a note: The unit insignia appears to face forward on both sides of the fuselage.

The fuselage band used on 27th PS P-35's was a 45 deg. diagonal band, starting just behind the canopy and ending just forward of the tail wheel. The band identified  the aircraft being flown by a Squadron Flight Leader. Each Squadron leader had a different color:white, yellow, or red. The cowl was also painted the same color as the band.  

Jim

Try calling or E-mailing the base "Public Affairs Officer", or his Non-com Assistant, and ask if the base has a history file and possibly photos they might share with you. Selfridge has had a plethora of interesting aircraft over the years and several are on display at Willow Run airport in near by Ypsilanti MI. Good luck with your project. I also like "Golden Age of Aviation" Aircraft.  

thank you for all the info, I found a couple decent pictures of the Eagle on P-35's but everything is black and white. I will look into the Dana Bell Books I have a few but no-one references the color of the band

Pick up a copy of Dana Bell's "Air Force Colors", volume 1, as it should have some color plates in it.  I will have to check my copy at home after work.

This has a few photos and you've probably seen them already but here it is.

27th Fighter Squadron

It's in B&W but your emblem seems to match the P35 shown in the article.

wikipedia article

I can only find one picture of the eagle, and it's a small one at best. Most of the ones I find are of the modern Fighter Squadron.

Here it is, but you probably already found this one.

Steve

Edit; I can't help on the bands.

Wish I could help.  As a Detroiter, Selfridge was my local air base.  But did not get there much till the fifties (spent ROTC summer camp at Selfridge).  I suggest a Google image search on those planes, plus a Google web search on Selfridge 1930s.  You might also check to see if there has ever been a book published on the base.  With computer networks these days your local library should be able to borrow just about any book published.