F4U-1A (BuNo 55995) Lt.(jg) Ira C. ‘Ike’ Kepford, VF-17, Piva Yoke airfield, Bougainville, Solomons, March 1944.

Kepford was officially credited with shooting down 16 Japanese aircraft during his 76 days of flying combat with VF-17 over two tours, which at the time of his combat service ending in April 1944 made him the Navy’s leading ace.

This was the second F4U-1A Kepford flew bearing the fuselage number ’29’. At this point the fuselage has been heavily repainted, but not the wings which remained extremely weathered and chipped. The propeller hub is noticeably ‘flat’ and of a darker tone than what natural metal hubs appeared as in the same photo on other aircraft, which would indicate it had been repainted ‘Intermediate Blue 608’ as seen on other aircraft of the period.

Click the gallery thumbnail below for a larger view.