F4F-4 version (as noted by its 6@50-caliber wing machine guns) prepares for launch on USS Ranger for air strikes against Vichy French targets in Morocco. Note faint yellow outline around US national insignia below both wings. Within 2 days, US airpower defeated Vichy French airforce by shooting down about 30 enemy aircrafts for a loss of 9 Wildcats. WWII November 1942 US National Insignia Part 4 Operation Torch - decals.kitreview.com/decals/ywd48049reviewrk_1.htm

Circling over carrier are two L-4 Cub light observation planes sent to recon beachhead, they carried no weapons and only crew protection was the light fabric wrapped around its airframe, nevertheless anxious fleet air defense crews did fire upon its own observation planes. Piper L-4 Cub - www.rgvwingcaf.com/airplanes/cub.html

Rollover : Wildcat in early-WW2 Pacific Theater, Trigger-Happy air defense crews among US fleet was persistent problem since they often fire against any air target before complete identification. To alleviate this dilemma, US national insignia was dramatically enlarged on fuselage and both wings (upper and lower), with tail rudder painted red-white stripes as shown on VF-9 Wildcat (fuselage code F-9) enroute Feb. 1942 to attack Wake Island in central Pacific. VF-9 "Cat o' Nines" "Hellcats" - www.web-birds.com/usn/vf9/Vf9.htm

Wake Island, defended by US Marine units against Imperial Japan forces from 8th to 23rd December 1941, is immortalized in American military lore as a dignified last-stand against overwhelming odds. Island remained in Japanese control until war's end 1945 since US did not deem it strategically important compared to its invasion cost. A MAGNIFICENT FIGHT: Marines in the Battle for Wake Island - www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003119-00/sec1.htm

Tarpin covered Wildcat's insignias and canopy to prevent enemy aerial recon recognition. This insignia scheme lasted through May 1942 Battle of Coral Sea, by June 1942 Battle of Midway US insignia returned to original size, tailfin stripes removed, red dot in insignia center removed (in heat of battle, some pilots/gunners mistaken it for Japan's Hinomaru <Sun of Circle> national insignia, or via American military slang called The Meatball). Japan National Flag and Anthem - web-japan.org/factsheet/flag/flag.html

Inset : Combat painting of VF-2 Wildcats in mid-1942 markings from USS Yorktown strafing Imperial Japan carrier Shokaku in May 1942 Battle of Coral Sea. First naval battle in history by which opposing fleets were never in visual range and deployed carrier borne aircrafts to fight battle circa 50 miles apart. Battle of the Coral Sea - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Coral_Sea

Despite lossing aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2), destroyer USS Sims (DD-409), and oil tanker USS Neosho (AO-23), US achieved tactical victory by sinking Japanese carrier Shoho, damaged flight deck of carrier Shokaku, wiped Zuikaku carrier air group from order of battle (she only had 40 out of 90 aircrafts left at battle's end), averted seaborne invasion of Port Moresby - New Guinea, thus thwart potential Australia invasion. More importantly, carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku unable to participate in June 1942 Battle of Midway, which resulted in US strategic victory. Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942 - www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm