Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 19

Views of the Revi C/12D reflecting gunsight, which was standard equipment on models through the G-4, and on a few early G-6s. The illustration below shows an installation of the Revi C/12 D gunsight on the G-6 (1/32 scale). Compared to the Revi 16, this gunsight was much larger overall, had the light source within a tube, had a sliding glare filter with a covered storage area, and included a protective cushion for the pilot's head. Note the differences in color between the main gunsight and the pad.
The auxiliary gunsight was mounted on the right side. (private collection)

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 177

One of the best design points of the Revi 16 gunsight was its ability to be moved into a stored position during landing or other periods of non-use.
If one pulled the Revi 16 forward and then twisted it to the right, it could be pushed into the stored position shown in photo 17.
Because of this feature, the head cushion for the pilot, which was a standard feature on gunsights previous to this. was eliminated. The diagram below shows the Revi 16B as used in the G-6/G-14 (1/32 scale).

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 16

A view of the front reflecting giass with a forward glare filter lowered.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-6

A view from overhead with the night filter in place.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 14

The reticle which appears in the gunsight. Unfortunately, it is not properly lined up.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 10

Compared to previous models of reflecting gunsights manufactured by Germany, the Revi 16 was smaller and easier to mass-produce, and quickly became the standard for German gunsights for the second half of World War Two. Photo 10 shows the left side, while photo 11 is from straight ahead. Photo 12 is taken looking down on the gunsight, while photo 13 is of the right side. The small lever visible at the rear of the top of the gunsight is to adjust the brightness of the light. Photo 13 shows the gunsight with a forward glare filter lowered.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 9

A fine view of the Revi 16B gunsight that was installed in the Bf 109 G-6/G-14. A few G-6s which were produced early mounted that the Revi C/12 reflecting gunsight which had been standard equipment through the G-4. However. nearly all early production G-6s which were delivered to actual units mounted that the Revi 16B. The reflecting glass. glare filter, precision-ground lens. and overall compact design of this unit testify to Germany's superb engineering and technological skills at the time. The small protruding piece of metal towards the right rear of the top of the gunsight is the rear sight portion of the aircraft's auxiliary gunsight. The front sight of the auxiliary gunsight is mounted on the frame of the reflecting glass at the right edge. It ís visible here as a small, upward- pointing piece of metal.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 8

A close-up of the upper left of the instrument panel. From the top is the signal light, the magneto selector switch, the NW50 master switch, and the engine starter switch.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 7

The plate at the top of the photo covers the engine starter switch. Below that, to the left is the position indicating lamp for the landing gear. Two red lights in the top row, and two green lights in the bottom row indicate the position of both the left and right main gear.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 6

A close-up of the right side of the instrument panel. This area primarily contains instruments related to the aircraft's fuel and engines. In the upper row, from the left is the engine boost gauge. the AFN2 radio homing gauge, and the FuG16Z talk/dtrection finding selector switch. The center row is the tachometer, propeller pitch gauge (fuel warning light to its lower right), and the temperature gauge for coolant and engine oil to the right of the propeller pitch gauge. Of the two instruments below that, the upper one is the fuel gauge, and the lower one is the fuel and engine oil pressure gauge. The large red handle the load of fuel warning iight is an emergency release for the main gear lock.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 5

The central portion of the control panel contains the usual flight instruments.
From the upper left to the lower right are Ihe repeater compass, artificiai horizon, turn and bank indicator, altimeter, and air speed indicator.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ ४

A view of the top of the instrument panel with the Revi gunsight removed. Weapons controls are primarily located in this area. From the left. the control lamp for the MG 151/20 gondolas, master armament switches, ammunition counters for the MG 151/20 and the MG 131 nose armament, an aviation clock with stopwatch button, and the control lamp for MG 151/20 gun gondolas. See p. 53 for details regarding the MG 151/20 gondolas.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ २

A close-up of the ZSK244A armament controller, and rocket launch control {to the right) at the bottom of the instrument panel.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ २

A view of the rear of the instrument panel.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 1

The main instrument panel of the Bf109 G-6. The gunsight is a Revi 16B. all of the instrument seen here are originals.
The actual panel is a replica. but its shape and color were carefully researched. The gunsight is shown in its normal location for the purposes of the photo. Normally, it is rotated 110 degrees to the right and then pushed into its storage position. At the bottom of the panel is located a ZSK244A armament controller, and the rocket launching control is located to the right of that. This reconstruction is an extremely valuable reference work. (private collection)

FLEET AIR GUNNERY UNIT & PACIFIC (FAGU)

The Fleet Air Gunnery Unit, Pacific, provided aerial gunnery training for Navy and Marine pilots from NAAS El Centro, California, and from MCAAS Yuma after mid 1959. A small number of F8U-ls, FJ-4Bs, A4D-2s, and F4D-ls were used by FAGU. The FAGU F8U-1 pictured below carried a red and white checkerboard stripe on the tail.

THUNDERBIRD AVIATION F-8K N19TB

The Crusader did make it into the 1990s as evidenced by this Thunderbird Aviation F-8K at Miramar in August 1990. Colors were overall grey with blue T-bird, nose number and "N" number. Wing pylon and tail stripe were gold and blue. (Ginter)

NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER (NADC) & NAS JOHNSVILLE & PA.

NADC was originally designated the Naval Air Development Station. Because of continued growth at the station, the Naval Air Development Center, NAS Johnsville, Pennsylvania, was established on 1 August 1949. The Development Center was given the primary mission of providing design and development of air¬craft electronics, aviation armament and pilotless aircraft. To accomplish its mis¬sion, NADC Johnsville flew a mixed bag of fleet aircraft including the Crusader.

NADC flew at least two F-8A Crusaders as shown below. In addition to the fighter variant of the Crusader, NADC Johnsville flew at least four Photo-Eights (see Naval Fighters Number Seventeen, Vought's F-8 Crusader Part Two, Navy and Marine RF-8 Photo-Recon Squadrons). Below, F-8A 145443 stands display duty with a Dou¬glas A-3 Skywarrior in May 1966. Sharkmouth is red with white teeth and black lips. (Besecker) F-8A 144435 in 1965 with the remnants of the base insignia on the tail. (R. Esposito via Clay Jansson)

NAVAL AIR TEST FACILITY (SI) NAS LAKEHURST _ N. J.

The Naval Air Test Center (ships installations) was established at NAS Lakehurst, N. J., on 1 Octo¬ber 1957. Utilizing 11 test sites, the test facilitys primary mission was to develop catapult and arresting sys¬tems for both land and sea.

NATF F-8s wore a red-orange tail triangle bordered by thin white and black stripes. F-8L 145419 below sports an added red tail.

NATF F-8A 143720 launches from a ground-based catapult developed for the Marines. (USN) Ex VC-7 F-8A 145412 was used for barricade tests in 1966. (Esposito) F-8L 145419. (Besecker) F-8D 147046 in 1967; tail is da-glo red. (Esposito via Jansson)

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE / NAVAL MISSILE CENTER & NMC / PACIFIC MISSILE TEST CENTER & PMTC

F8U-1D 141345 on 4-22-61. (Bill Swisher) DF-8F 144431 on 10-18-64. (Clay Jansson) DF-8F 143703 on 5-15-65. (Bill Swisher) Aircraft 141345 and 144431 were painted with da-glo red outer wings and tail. The F8U-1 D was used as drone director air-craft and the DF-8Fs were target tugs.

NAS Point Mugu, California, is home for the aircraft assigned to PMTC. The basic mission of the test center is to take new and existing missile systems and to develop and refine their usage so they can be integrated into the fleet.

DF-8A 143771 on 10-21-62 with the da-glo tail and outer wings and with the last 3 digits of the BuNo repeated on the nose.
DF-8As were employed as drone control aircraft for the Regulus II missile program. (William Swisher)

DF-8F 144449 on 5-20-67. (William Swisher) DF-8F 143691 in 11-69_ (Harry Gann) Both aircraft have the red tail and outer wings

DF-8F 143693 in 11-69 in drone director colors as described on page 26 and as shown in the color section. (Harry Gann)

F-8.1 150920 (#107) with the Naval Missile Center insignia on the tail. The triangle was white with the lower quadrant red, upper
left navy blue and upper right powder blue. Behind the triangle were two stylized boomerangs with the upper one red and the
lower one navy blue. NMC was painted in red. (Stan Wyckoff)

DF-8F 143699 at Point Mugu on 10-17-70. This target tug was
previously used at China Lake. (via Burger)

DF-8L 145450 at Mugu on 7-6-72. These were drone control
aircraft for QF-86Fs and Hs. (Clay Jansson)

DF-8L 145498 during The Space Fair at NAS Point Mugu on 10-23-72. (William Swisher)

On 26 April 1975 the Test Center adopt¬ed a new insignia as worn on the tail of these Crusaders. The triangle was dark blue with a gold eagle and an¬chor. The stars and the ocean line were white.

PMTC DF-8L with external power plugged in prior to Mugu's 10-76 Air Show. (B. Miller)
DF-8L 145450 in 10-76; tail stripe was medium blue. (Ginter)

DF-8J 150302 being towed at the NAS Point Mugu Air Show in October 1977. The gun ports were black as well as the intake lips and the stripe be¬hind the radome. (via Burger)

DF-8J 150297 at Scott AFB on 9-24-77. Sensors have been added to either side of the intakes and a blade antennae has been added to the ra¬dome. (L. Reynolds via Fred Roos)