KITS 04/2022

F-6K-15, 75th FS, 23rd FG, 14th AF, Luliang Airfield, China, 1945

After disbandment of the American Volunteer Group,

the famous “Flying Tigers” fighting with their P-40s

over the Chinese territory, most of its pilots joined

75th FS ranks. Same as its sister 118th TRS, also

under 23rd FG command, 75th FS, equipped with P-51Ds engaged in close air support, attacks on the

traffic centers, warehouses, troops gathering points,

airports, and other targets. To verify the results of

such combat missions 23rd FG squadrons were equipped with l a few reconnaissance F-6. Reconnaissance F-6K christened Pack’s Hack had the rear part of

the fuselage including the tail surfaces painted black

like all the aircraft of the 75th FS. The simplified single-color black unit marking was sprayed on both

sides of the fuselage under the canopy on the metal

surface.

F-6K-10, 44-12223, 118th TRS, 23rd FG, 14th AF, Chengkung, China, 1945

118th Squadron was activated in March 1941 at

Jacksonville airbase, Florida from where it flew anti-submarine sorties. In August 1942, it was relieved

from these duties and started the preparations for

overseas service. It was redesignated 118th TRS and

assigned to China-Burma-India theatre for which

specifics it prepared the following year. At the be-

ginning of the 1944 the unit was transferred from

the USA to India. Between May and June 1944 this

unit supported the ground units, attacked the traffic

centers, warehouses, troops gathering points, airports, and other ground targets. Initially the unit was

equipped with P-40s, later it received P-51Ds including several reconnaissance F-6. 118th TRS aircraft

recognition marking was a black lightning outlined

in yellow, which was painted on both sides of the

P-51 fuselage. Downsized, these markings were also

applied on the wing tips, vertical and horizontal tail

surfaces. The aircraft christened SNOOPER carried

the lightnings on the fuselage sides only, the rest of

the marking was not applied.

F-6D-15, 44-15417, Lt. Edwin H. Pearle, 2nd FS, 2nd ACG, Cox´s Bazar, India, Spring 1945

2nd Air Commando Group, equipped with P-51, C-47

and L-5 aircraft moved from the United States to India during the fall 1944. The main task of the group

was support of the ground units operating on the

territory of China and Burma, including resupplying

these units with armament, equipment, and troops.

Two fighter squadrons, 1st FS and 2nd FS, were also

part of the group. Each one was equipped with 22 P-

78

INFO Eduard

-51D fighters and three reconnaissance F-6s. Both

2nd ACG fighter squadrons were mainly used for

close air support tasks, but in the spring 1945 their

pilots organized several extremely long distance

attacks against the Japanese air bases. They claimed

60 enemy aircraft destroyed and 40 probably destroyed or damaged during these raids. Lt. Pearle contributed with one damaged bomber to this score. The

main recognition marking of 2nd FS was black propeller spinner with natural metal tip. The Rebel Gal

carried, like several other airplanes from this unit,

its marking on the fuselage nose in form of an eagle

grasping machine gun in his claws. The fuselage and

wing sported lightnings, the marking of 2nd ACG.

April 2022