Small Scale Military Headquarters

KAGNEW wrote:that model in 21st pix looks to me as a 1/48 Hasegawa f-86
not a 1/18 mockup

Here we would like to explain a few things to our readers familiar with the history of UN aircraft units in Korea. Black-and-white stripes on fuselages of combat aircraft were identification marks of the 4th FW, which operated F-86As. Wide yellow stripes with a thin black border were used on aircraft from the 51st FW. However, this fighter wing performed its first combat flight on an F-86 only in December 1, 1951, and before that date the only F-86s, to operate over Korea, belonged to the 4th FW. So why did Sheberstov talk about seeing yellow stripes on an F-86 in October?

It is known that in September of 1951 the 51st FW, which operated F-80s, transferred its aircraft to fighter-bomber units and departed for Japan to train on "Sabres." Just for this FW some 75 new F-86Es were delivered from the continental US. Competitive spirit prompted the pilots of the 51st FW to abandon the black-and-white stripes and replace them with yellow stripes. However, at that time the 51st FW included only two fighter squadrons, while the 75 aircraft it received were enough for three squadrons. The extra 25 aircraft were gradually transferred to the 4th FW to replace the aircraft lost in combat. The first lost F-86Es were reported by the 4th FW as early as in September of 1951 (including one such aircraft lost on October 4, 1951). In our opinion, this explains why yellow-striped "Sabres" were seen in Korea well before the return of the 51st FW. Evidently, when aircraft were delivered to the 4th FW from the 51st FW, they retained their yellow stripes. By the summer of 1952 yellow stripes were found to be more useful for quick identification of aircraft and were applied to all "Sabres" of all versions and units operating in Korea. Aircraft of various fighter wings differed only by the color of their tails.