FM-2 Wildcat access panel SCORPIONS Insignia VC-70 Composite Squadron

[rushworthy]

I purchased this insignia from a reputable military auction house. I posted it in REAL OR WHAT? http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/239944-airplane-panel-vc-70-composite-squadron-scorpions-insignia/ and the consensus among members was a real WWII period insignia. However members were divided on whether it was from an aircraft.

 

 

 

[rushworthy]

There is a photo of the VC70 commander from the Composite Squadron 70 cruise book. It clearly shows his aircraft with a SCORPIONS insignia on the aircraft. Another photo sent to me shows the access panel this insignia would have been applied to. It was then suggested by some members my piece of aluminum is too thick to be aircraft skin. I measured as best I could with it being mounted on timber, and came up with 1.6mm thick.

 

[rushworthy]

I have to thank Mac for clearing up the mystery. He sent me a blueprint of the Front Fuselage Access panel. It states thickness of .064" thick, or 1.6256 mm thick. That is a pretty good match for my 1.6mm measurement. As suggested by Mac, someone like the plane captain could have souvenired the access panel with insignia and then modified it in one of the machine shops aboard the carrier. A lot of the time the mechanics and plane captains were able to use the machine shops to do projects during their down time. I can't argue with the man who has FM-2 blueprints.

 

So I now have it confirmed this insignia on aluminum is an even nicer piece of WWII history, being part of an FM-2 Front Fuselage Access panel.

 

[swmdo]

I'd buy it in a heart beat....

[rushworthy]

Time for this rare item to go to someone who will appreciate it. It is currently for sale.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252171358030

[northcoastaero]

According to wikipedia.org and a quick internet search, VC-70 flew the Grumman FM-2 Wildcat from the USS Salamaua (CVE-96) during 1944-45 around the Philippine Islands and Okinawa.