This is the fourth part of a nine part series on the markings of the VLR Mustang squadrons. Six of the nine squadrons changed their markings during their time on Iwo Jima after the 7th Fighter Command ordered the VLR Fighter Groups to adopt more simplified markings. The 46th Fighter Squadron was not one of those squadrons.

The fuselage numbers for the 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs were 200 through 249. The standard squadron markings for 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs was an all blue spinner with an adjacent narrow black band on the nose, a blue band outlined in black on the vertical tail surface, and blue wing and horizontal tail tips outlined in black as shown on Eduard’s excellent profile of Lt. Robert J. Louwers and Lt. John E. Montgomery III’s 227 Mary Alice/My Miss Moe.

These were pretty simple markings that did not change while the 46th Fighter Squadron was on Iwo Jima. Below is a nice color photograph of 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs during their brief stay on Saipan prior to their arrival on Iwo Jima.

One interesting note is that it appears that a lot of 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs had black anti-glare paint on the top of the nose instead of the standard olive drab color. Most 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs were Block 20s, and it is not known if the black anti-glare paint was factory applied or field applied. However, as the photo below shows, it was not uniform on all 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs.

The photo above shows several 46th Fighter Squadron Mustangs on a Central Field hard stand shortly after their arrival on Iwo Jima. I love this photograph as you can see South Field and Mount Suribachi in the background. 231 Tiny “Gay Baba” appears to have the standard olive drab anti-glare paint, and it appears to have been applied on the windshield framing as well which was not customary. The plane next to it, 209 Three of a Kind, appears to have black anti-glare paint. So, it is always important to check your references prior to starting a build.