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F6F-3 in overall glossy sea blue?

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  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Raleigh, NC
F6F-3 in overall glossy sea blue?
Posted by GatorMech on Friday, June 16, 2017 9:21 PM

Hey everyone! New to FSM. I'be been trying to figure out if any Navy F6F-3s were ever painted in overall glossy sea blue. I've searched the Internet, checked books and even asked the Nat'l Naval Aviation Museum. No luck. Can anyone here help? 

With Stupid

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Monday, June 19, 2017 1:55 PM

The F6F-5 was introduced about the same time that the US Navy switched from the tri-tone scheme to overall glossy sea blue per Bert Kinzey's F6F Hellcat in Detail and Scale.  It is certainly possible that squadrons currently outfitted with F6F-3s may have painted their birds overall glossy sea blue but I would lean toward that not being the case.  

For instance, in the book I mention (pg. 45, upper left), there is a photo of a very early -5 that still had the small window behind the cockpit that was a feature of the -3 with paint that appears to be overall glossy sea blue (hard to say for certain given it is a black-and-white photo, but I see no demarcation lines anywhere in the picture). 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Monday, June 19, 2017 9:17 PM
I think it would be possible for a stateside training unit, though I haven't seen it. The reason I say that is because I saw a birdcage Corsair in an "In Action " in that scheme.
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