I’m currently finishing up Special Hobby’s 1/72 F-86H. According to the instructions, the version I am building (413th FDW) does not have the “USAF” on the wings. This just doesn’t seem right to me for a natural metal 1950’s Air Force aircraft. Can anyone provide photograph evidence (or 100% certain non-photo evidence!) that there were F-86’s without the USAF on the wings??? It just doesn’t look right…
It is possible. During the time of the H it was a period of transition into more advanced aircraft and the font used for the lettering was undergoing a change. Best course of action, seek out some photo documentation.
Incredibly, I have several photos of the F-86H, including the aircraft I’m building, but they are all side shots. I can’t find ANY photos showing the top or underside of the wings…[bnghead]
According to my ref (Wings of Fame, Volume 10) Hog Sabres had the Buzz Numbers on the wings rather than the “USAF”… “FU-XXX” for Air Force Hogs, and “ANG-XXX” (XXX= last three digits of S/N) starting in 1957 through the end of the 60’s… ANG squadrons had their Hogs painted in T.O. 1-1-4 SE Asia tactical camouflage in 1966…
Sorry about they quality, I don’t have a scanner so I had to take a picture of a picture…
Here is one from the China Lake taget range. As you can see the fuselage markings are present, but nothing on the upper right wing
