[stansdds]

Yeah, mixed up markings were certainly typical. Some with surrounds, others without. Some official bars, others likely slapped on, on top of the original star roundel.

If you look closely, you will see that the four Corsairs lined up in a row are all F4U-1's. The two closest are still in their original two-tone paint schemes and borderless, white bars have been added to their original insignia and the bars are whiter than the dirty and worn stars. The other two F4U-1's are wearing field applied three tone schemes, note the rudder and vertical stabilizer are lighter in color than the wings and upper fuselage. These two Corsairs have fresh insignias with red surrounding the bars and roundel. Generally speaking, the red surround was only found on aircraft that had been completely repainted or left the factory with the red surround insignia.

Some F4U-1A's left the factory with the red surround on the fuselage insignia, but often the insignia on the bottom of the starboard wing lacked the surround. Some even lacked the surround on the upper port wing. You may also see some early production F4U-1A's with a roundel under the port wing. One thing you won't see is a F4U-1A with a roundel or star and bar on the upper side of the starboard wing.

There is a ton of variation in the paint and markings of the F4U-1 and -1A, making them both a blessing and a nightmare for the skinner.