I’m hoping someone here can give me some insight on this. I’m trying to find the correct colors of an AIM-4D Falcon missle around 1956. This particular missle is being fitted to an F-89. BTW, at this time I believe it was known as the GAR-1 missle.
I’m seeing several different colors. All have a black seeker head and all seem to be predominatly red in color. However, I’m also seeing some red rears and fin sections with white forward sections. Although none of these missles are shown loaded to an F-89. The book I have shows an F-89H and F-89J loaded with Falcons and both are all red.
Is it possible that I may be confusing practice dummys with a live missle? The pictures don’t specify so I’m not sure how it works. Was there a time when the colors changed to include white? Would there be some reason why the missles loaded on F-89s would be all red while other aircraft would be red and white?
I agree with bstrump. The red/white was also used with the F-106 and F-102. Unsure with the F-89. None of my books show one. What book are you using??? I looked at my AIRTime books with no info.
AIM-4A missiles were all red with black fuses. The AIM-4B never made it pass the planing stages. AIM-4C/D/E/F/&G were red and white with white fuses.
The fuse area was on the leading edge of the fins requiring a direct hit in order to explode. Missiles used on the F-89 were the AIM-4A version. Later on they carried the AIM-4D.