Two questions:
On the A-24, were the dive flaps painted red in their entirety? Or, like many of the Dauntlesses, were the flaps red with the central “hub” white?
Were the bottom flaps able to be deployed to work as standard flaps while the top dive flaps stayed put like on the SB2C? Or, was it all or nuthin’?
Thanks in advance!
As you doubtless know, the A-24 Banshee was an SBD-3, and the A-24A was an SBD-4, and the A-24B was the -5. The only real differences between A-24’s and SBD’s being nothing more than a fat pneumatic rear tire (USN/USMC SBD’s had a solid tire, unless shore-based) and no hook. I don’t know what color the AAF painted the flap interiors if they painted them at all, but it could have been any number of different things, according to the squadron or even different among planes throughout any one squadron, since they were largely relegated to training, target towing or other utility work.
As for the “hub,” by which I’m guessing you mean the flap tube on which the flaps pivoted, it’s usually NM, though the flap actuators were usually white on operational planes. I based this on photos from the period (remember, they got grease on them as well as being subjected to friction). I’ve seen restored SBD’s with the tube painted white, though. The rear of the wing structure where the flaps attach was also usually white. You can only see it when the flaps are open.
The flaps could be deployed full open for diving, or with the lower flaps down as for takeoff and landing. That’s how I’ve displayed the two AcMin SBD’s I’ve built, and will do with the -2 I’m about to build.
Hope this helps a little. Maybe someone else has a common color for AAF A-24’s.
Tom
You could send an e-mail to the staff at the USAF Museum staff at Wright-Patterson AFB as they have an A-24 on exhibit.
Thanks guys!
Tom, I think you’re right all the way around. What you outlined is pretty much what I had in mind. Thanks for the confirmation.