OS2U Kingfisher

I went through my SS book on the Kingfisher and didn't see any "Atlantic" paint schemes. The very first ones were painted light gray, then later, intermediate blue and light gray, then the tri tones. I'll check some of my old Air Power and Wings later.

I remember seeing a photo of a Kingfisher in that scheme, but it was the fixed-gear variant, not the float version. I'll try to find the pic and download it to the forum. - Ed

This is the scheme you're talking about? (I know it's a Wildcat...)




Fade to Black...

I've got the book WWII U.S. Navy Air Combat and it shows a color photo of an OS2U-3 from VCS-10 being launched in the Atlantic from USS Quincy(CA-71) catapult c. 1944 and it is 2-tone blue over white. Also these from U.S. Navy site re: CA-71.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/k01000/k01948.jpg
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/k01000/k01950.jpg
(this is the one in my book)

I have several books dealing with U.S. Navy aircraft colors during WWII. None of these mention or show a picture of an OS2U in the gray/white ASW color scheme I or II.

In addition, my cousin flew the OS2U on anti-submarine patrol over both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic during WWII. I remember seeing several pictures of him standing in front his plane (just like every other pilot did), and in all cases, the plane was painted in the standard Navy blue/white tri-tone scheme.

Although there might have been one or two OS2Us painted in the Atlantic ASW scheme somewhere, I think that if you did your OS2U in this scheme, that you would be pushing it a little. I have to admit though, The Atlantic ASW scheme is really attractive. I plan to do an F4F or an FM-2 in this scheme
someday, but not that No. 4 that everyone else does.

Pete

Gentlemen;
Just returned from vacation to find several helpful replies to my recent inquiry. thankyou to all who replied. I will post pics of my completed Kingfisher when I can.