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and a Hi-Res picture at
http://www.navair.navy.mil/press_releas ... 11_22G.jpg
http://www.navair.navy.mil/press_releas ... ew&id=4486
The latest “modern” aircraft to receive a vintage paint scheme is a P-3 Orion, a Navy patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
FRCSE painters applied a unique paint scheme used on large patrol aircraft from about 1957 to 1963.
Dann said this scheme “was commonly seen on the P5M Marlin and the P2V Neptune, and in some cases the PBM Mariner aircraft.”
“It was used on the P-3A for a very short time before the adoption of Light Gull Gray in place of Seaplane Gray,” he said.
“The scheme consisted of a Seaplane Gray bottom and an Insignia White top.”
Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 attached to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, chose to honor the VP-6 "Blue Sharks" by using the defunct squadron’s insignia on the P-3C Orion.
The Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons (Vol. 2) indicates the unit stood up as Bombing Squadron (VB) 146 in July 1943.
In September 1948, it became the third squadron to earn the VP-6 designation, which it retained until its disestablishment in 1993.
In early March when the Heritage Paint Project is completed, 27 aircraft (16 from the Fleet and 11 from training commands) will sport the heritage colors.
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviators will fly these unique aircraft at hundreds of air shows, flyovers, festivals, displays, tributes and other events during the yearlong celebration.
On Jan. 28, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast in Jacksonville, Fla., completes a heritage paint scheme on a P-3C Orion for Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 attached to Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The squadron chose to honor the VP-6 “Blue Sharks” by using the defunct squadron’s insignia on the modern aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Vic Pitts/Released)
