F-16C - 163th FS, 122th FW - Indiana ANG

Bonjour à tous

Une nouvelle décoration découverte par Ric Karbowski. Il s'agit d'un F-16C block 25, serial 84-1264 du 163th FS, 122th FW de l'Indiana ANG basé à Fort Wayne AFB.
Il porte une décoration spéciale pour commémorer le 358th Fighter Group de la deuxième guerre mondiale dont le 122th FS est le digne héritier. Le 358th était équipé de P-47s basé à Toul-Rosiéres et  sur le ETO - théatre des opération européen où il gagna beaucoup de citations et décorations. Les récompenses gagnées dans la bataille sont maintenant portées fièrement sur le fanion du 122th FS. Le 358th était connu sous la dénomination de "Orangetails" car leur P-47D avait la dérive peinte en orange. Toute la symbolique de ce squadron a été reprise sur le F-16 à partir du P-47D "Tarheel Hal" très coloré du groupe.
Le nez est peint d'un champ bleu comportant 19 étoiles et une raie rouge et blanche. Les surfaces de queue et la dérive sont peint en orange avec l'inscription "358th Fighter Group" sur le pied de dérive du côté gauche et "122nd Fighter Wing" du côté droit. Les bandes noires et blanches rappellent les bandes d'invasion peintes sur tous les appareils ayant participés au jour J du D-Day. Le sommet de dérive est peint d'une bande noire marque Indiana en or. Les insignes nationaux sont identiques à ceux portés pendant la WWII. L'entrée d'air reprends les couleurs du capot moteur du P-47. Le bord rouge est l'indicatif du 1st Tactical Air Force ouù était assigné le 358th en novembre 1944. Vient ensuite les 3 couleurs des escadrons du groupe. Rouge pour le 367th Fighter Sqn, blanc pour le 365th Fighter Sqn et jaune pour le 366th Fighter Sqn, terminé par un damier bleu et blanc commun à tout les capots moteurs du groupe.
Aircraft 84-1264 is adorning a heritage paint scheme honoring the 358th Fighter Group of WWII, the unit the 122nd FW traces its lineage to. The 358th FG flew P-47s and operated in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) earning many citations and decorations. The awards they earned in battle are now carried proudly on the 122nd Fighter Wing Flag.
The 358th was known as the 'Orangetails' as their P-47s were painted with orange tail surfaces. The Orangetails will be holding their last reunion here in the Fort in about a week and a half and it is for them that this aircraft was painted. The markings on the F-16 all have significance to the 358th. The 358th was known as the 'Orangetails' as their P-47s were painted with orange tail surfaces. The Orangetails will be holding their last reunion here in the Fort in about a week and a half and it is for them that this aircraft was painted. The markings on the F-16 all have significance to the 358th.
Starting at the nose, the blue field with stars and a red and white stripe were modeled after Tarheel Hal, a very colorful P-47 from the group. There is a P-47 still flying today carrying the markings of Tarheel Hal. Tying it to Indiana, we have placed 19 stars in the field of blue. The tail surfaces are orange for obvious reason. The base of the vertical stabilizer has the '358th Fighter Group' painted on the left side and '122nd Fighter Wing' on the right. FW and the blue and gold band with the Indiana
torch are basically standard to our aircraft. The black and white stripes
are called invasion stripes and were painted on all allied aircraft for the D-Day operations. The national insignia is WWII era. The intake details came from the P-47 engine cowl. The lip is painted red which was indicative of the 1st Tactical Air Force which the 358th was assigned in November of 1944. There are three color 'blocks ' aft of the red stripe which represent the 3 squadrons which formed the group. On top is red which was the color for the 367th Fighter Sq. Below that is white which was the 365th Fighter Sq, and on the bottom is yellow for the 366th Fighter Sq. Behind these colors is a blue and white checkerboard design which was one of the common markings on the cowl flaps for the group.

Vous trouverez ci-après quelques photos du F-16 et du P-47 en attendant la sortie d'une planche de decal.
You will find hereafter some photographs of F-16 and P-47 while waiting for the exit of a decal sheet.

Photos




Big Bear

Bonjour à tous

Cette décoration est disponible chez Afterburner Decals au 1/48°.
Vous trouverez ci-aprés la planche de decal illustrant cet aéronef.
This decoration is available to Afterburner Decals in 1/48 scale
You will find hereafter the board of decal illustrating this aircraft.

Decal Sheet


Big Bear