Guys, I am currently researching detail for my latest and probably last IL2 movie of the June 26th Mission by Robert S. Johnson when his '47 was wrecked by an FW-190 over the channel, but he still made it home. All the information I have requested is in the link below, and I'd appreciate any help that you could give regarding plane detail, bomber group support, i'e were they covering B-17's on way back or on the way to a raid?

Thanks in advance of eny advice you can give, cheers, Neil.

http://forums.ubi.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=400102&f=23110283&m=7971026752

I'd be interested in skinning that beast if you get any info on it.

Hi goodwood. If you follow the above link it will take you to the thread in UBI's GD forum. Near the bottom in one of my posts is a very long link to click on. It's a painting of the evnt by Jim Laurier which was signed by The "Ace" himself. This leads me to believe that it is the actual skin that he was using, so I'm inclined to go with it (it's brown, but I expected green!).
On the fron engine cover appears to be a stick of corn or a banana (it's low res) holding a 'half-pint' of beer. Check the link out and see what you think, I can only offer a credit at the end of the movie for any help, but I appreciate the offer.

You mean you're making another P-47 film? this is almost too much to handle!

I've still got 3 files of yours on my hard drive, MP2k3!

47Heaven trailer.avi
47Heaven pt1.avi
47Heaven pt2.avi

(and also Howtogetoutofspins.avi )

S!

Don't make Johnsons' P-47 brown, like in the painting. A lot of artists, a few years a go, were using old color photos for some of their research. These pictures had faded with age, or had not been processed correctly, and the olive drab paint showed up as brown. Better photos have been made available (by the hundreds) by Jeff Ethell. He's published these photographs in books filled with them , from cover to cover. They're terrific. Roger A. Freeman also added to his "Mighty Eighth" series with a book called, "The Mighty Eighth, The Color Record." From all of these photos, there's no doubt about it, American combat planes were green.

Yes Squog I have a special place in my heart for the '47 so prepare for another download.

Joe, that's awesome information, thanks. My latest problem is that the P-47 Pilots association sent me this info;

"Here is a photo of a P-47 from Johnson's Squadron.....the tail marking is red for the 61st FS. All of the 56th FG planes had the red marking on the nose also. As far as the nose art.....well it was not uncommon for pilots to share planes."

So now I have to find out if it was a white nose-cone and tail or a red one!!! Gah!

Anyway, still on research, and a project this size could take 4-6 months to complete. Thanks for all your help guys, Neil.

Mysticpuma. I believe the cowl colour should be white: 'The white nose and wing bands were type recognition markings to help Allied pilots identify the Thunderbolt as friendly. These were thought necessary at the time of its operational debut as the only other radial engined fighter in the theatre was the enemy Fw190.' (pg89 The Mighty Eighth: The Colour Record by R Freeman).

The cowl was painted red in 1944: 'Group Markings: A 24inch red cowl band from March 1944. In Feb 1944 56th FG became first 8th AF Gp to use nose colours as identification markings. At that date 61st FS painted white portion of cowl red, 62FS yellow and 63 FS a pale blue. With introduction of VIII FC group nose colour scheme, 61FS painted rudders red and 62FS painted rudders yellow. At same date tail bands removed - this practice continued.' (Pg 291 The Mighty Eighth by R Freeman)

Hope thats of use to you.

Good Luck,

WB.

"all 56th FG planes had red markings on the nose" seems a bit strange to me, if I look at these pics:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1855327295/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-4126058-1171366#reader-link


it looks more white than red...

red markings seem to have been painted with the bubble canopy planes, not with the "C" razorback models as the one Johnson had when he was shot up

just remembered this site:

http://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/aircraft/p-47/1.html

and on the fifth page you have johnson's story and some pics, and the last one is Johnson and his crew chief:


http://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/aircraft/p-47/5.html

so, you can make it white... be sure

and even an artist view of the scene: