Here’s a tricky one:
Why there’s some aircrafts that have the tail codes AF, while onboard the USS Enterprise (The F-8 Crusaders and the F-4 Phantoms…), when the airwing tailcode is AE???
I’ve got one photo of Big E’s Crusaders (VF-33) with tail code AF
And also from some decal sheets:
-Superscale decal #72331 (VF-33, tail code AF) F-8 Crusader
-CAM decal #72019 (VF-102, tail code AF) F-4 Phantom
What’s wrong around here???
Can i rely on the decals???
I was thinking of getting them, but i was wondering if the Superscale one is really from USS Enterprise…
Ricardo,
In 1958, all the Carrier Air Groups received new two-letter codes to replace the old one-letter codes. The code for CVG-6 was ‘AF’.
In 1971, the codes were changed again, with Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6, formerly CVG-6) now being recoded “AE”.
Fade to Black…
Ouch, that’s a tricky one…
Why don’t they left the codes the way they are???
Just another question:
-So, for aircrafts aboard USS Enterprise, the Tailcodes would be AF for CVW-6 until 1971, right???
But i’ve got some listing retrieved from the net (i don’t know where, sorry) that has the CVW-6 with tail codes AE… well, i might asume it is wrong, no???
Since CVW-6 was on the Big E from 62 to 64, i guess it would be tailcoded AF, right???
Also, all the photos i have point that way…
By the way, can trust in using the Superscale Decal ##72331 (VF-33, tail code AF) for F-8 Crusader ???
Although it has the correct tailcodes, it hasn’t any ship name (or can i put the USS Enterprise above the VF-33 markings???)
The problem is that i only have one (yes, one) photo of that aircraft, and it’s black and white!!!
Can anyone help me with more VF-33 photos???