f 82 f tail# FQ 435 ????

This might be the wrong place to ask. Not too many of us have records of every plane that existed in a series, much less a photograph.

Might I ask why you are seeking this information? Making a model of one? This the only set of numbers left in your letter set?

I have amateur radio license N4LN. I had the same plate number on my car. I was building a homebuilt biplane in my garage and considered, since airplane registrations start with an N, and this being a small plane could qualify for the small number, seeing if the number was available for the airplane. I just thought that would be neat--a matching set.

So, curious I am, why this specific number?

Leonard Neumann

Capt Bill,
According to the book: North American P-51 Mustang, by Bill Gunston (ISBN 0-8317-1402-6) The production numbers ran as follows for the different variants of the F-82's.

XP- 82: 44-83886 to 44-83887

XP-82A: 44-83888

P-82B: 44-65160 to 44-65179

P-82C: 4465169

P-82D: 44-65170

P-82E: 46-225 to 46-354

P-82F: 46-405 to 46-504 *******************

P-82G: 46-335 to 46-404

P-82H: 46-496 to 46-504 and 46-384 to 46-388

The F-82F served with the 325th FG at both Hamilton Feild California, and McChord AFB, Washington on the west coast, and with the 52nd FG at Mitchel AFB and McGuire AFB, New Jersey on the east coast. Five F-82F were winterized for service with the 449th All-Weather Sqn. at Ladd AFB, Alaska. This left 91 "F" models, which were fitted with the APG-28 tracking radar and pod, in standard operating trim. The aircraft were painted all black, letters and tail codes in red. I do not have a picture of the tail code in question. But there is a resource you may wish to tap, by asking the same question. Go to www.hyperscale.com their a great bunch of plastic mashers that will be able to dig up the inf. if it is in fact "out there". You will need to go to the discussion group/forum once you get to Hyperscale. The other route may be to punch in the Sqd. numbers as mentioned above in a favorite seach engine, and see what comes up. Many of these Sqd. groups have set up web sites so as to keep the memories alive. Worth a shot I'd think. Hope this helps.

As BigIron states, ..the *** above indicated the build group your airframe falls into.

Capt. Bill. Back when the P-82 was built, they were designated as P, for Pursuit. The Airforce later redesignated the Pursuit "P" designation to F for Fighter. Thus P-51s became F-51s, and the P-82s became F-82s . The number you cite FQ 435 Is indicative of the "BUZZ" numbers placed on most USAF and USAAC planes during the time period that the Army Air Corps was being changed to the USAF. These numbers were placed on the nose section of the planes so civilians could report planes that were "buzzing" fields. pastures, homes, and other places that startled farm animals and people. The F meant Fighter, The Q represented the 82, and the numbers 435 are the last three digits in the AC serial number,. Thus the number FQ435 stands for the F- 82 with the serial number that ends with 435. In the above post, the only plane that has those three digits is in the seventh line down and it just so happens to be an F-82 F.
So I would say with a great deal of certainty that there was a plane so designated. But those numbers would have been on both sides of the nose section of the plane, not on the tail.
Bigiron
PS The line gives P-82F SN 46-405 through 46-504
Sorry, I have no pictures
Big

The FQ-### was carried on the fuselage sides of the F-82F's described above, that sported the overall black paint scheme. The three digits as stated are the last three numbers of the aircraft bureau numbers, which is to say in effect the VIN number for the airframe. The whole five digit number, excluding the dash was carried on the vert stab/rudder area, and in some cases this i.d. was shortened to just four digits, ..the last four.

In keeping with WWII practices, the nose of the nightfighting F-82F's carried the aircraft "nose art" name, ..it too done in red paint as per nightfighter practice. If you wish to model the correct layout for the FQ-435 aircraft paint scheme, you are on the right track in trying to find a photo, or photo's of that airframe. I would venture a guess that it is possible to copy the scheme/layout from an aircraft that flew in the same Sqd./Fighter Group as your airframe. But to attempt do this same thing based on general knowledge of what "should have", "could have" been on the airframe, as used by another Sqd. or Fighter Group, may lead you to error. Time frame will also play a part in the equation as Bigiron related, ..the paint rules changed over time, and was more the case when units went into battle in Korea. The 82 is credited with the first kills of that conflict shooting down three Russian aircraft on June 27, 1950. The P-82/F-82 went into development toward the end of WWII when the first contract was awarded for prototype airframes, four XP-82's, Jan. 1944. The maiden flight of the P-82B took place in April of 1945 The change from P to F happened in 1948. Looking at your "handle" Capt, I'd say that you are perhaps well aware of most of this, ..good luck in your quest. Your not building the c/l stunter once showcased in Model Airplane News back in the 70's are you? Think it ran two Fox 35's, and was modeled after "Betty Jo", ...the P-82E that set a record of sorts for the furthest non-stop flight for a piston engine fighter, Hawaii to New York, 5051 miles, in 15 hours , average speed of 342mph. Regards.

Tony