Fall 1950, US Marine Squadrons were deployed to US carrier task force operating off South Korea and in the Pusan Perimeter defense. As general regulation, US Navy only permitted its pilots to inscribe small nicknames to their planes. But greater latitude was granted to US Marine pilots and they retained their large nose art.

US Marine Squadron VMF-323 is nicknamed Death Rattlers. Story has it when the squadron was at its North Carolina training base in early 1940s, 3 Marine pilots took a stroll at the base perimeter and encountered a rattled snake. Hearing the sound of its Death Rattler, the squadron assumed this nickname (the snaked ended up adoring the squadron's ready room).

Rattle Snake decal came from 1.48th Monogram F4U kit , along with national - squadron - unit - propeller insignia. Red dot on extra fuel tank indicates its lid, made from using a hole-puncher through solid red decal.

Rollover : Top view showing engine mount area, white band on engine cowling is squadron unit marking for aerial and ground recognition. Dark streaks on plane surface made from brushing black chalk along panel lines then rubbing the marks with a cotton cloth (in this instance, an old sock of mine).