The first FJ-2 was completed in November 1952. Only seven were built before the end of the Korean War in the summer of 1953. The FJ-2 was equipped in many Marine squadrons, with three on the West Coast and three on the East Coast. The first unit on the East Coast was VMF-122 to get the FJ-2 in the beginning of 1954. VMF-235 was the first on the West Coast in the spring of 1954. The FJ-2 was started to be removed from front line squadron in 1955 and completed by 1957, as there were replaced by the FJ-3 and F-8 Crusader. They operated in the Reserves units to the end of the fifties.

There are markings for two different aircraft and stencils are included, but there is only one set of insignias and *Marines* included. The color scheme is the same for both aircraft: Natural metal with a black and white arresting hook.

The first decal markings are for VMF-312 *Checkerboards* 132110/WR7. The intake is black, with a black and white checkerboard band around the aircraft at the middle of the cockpit, also around the tail fin. There is also decals for the outside edge of the fins on the fuel tank. The *Checkerboards* received there furies in the fall of 1953 and where changing to the FJ-3M by late 1956. The *Checkerboards* are currently stationed at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.

The other decals are for VMF-235 *Death Angles* 131992/ WU15. There are decals for a red nose with white stars, a band of red with two rows of white stars that goes behind the cockpit and a band that wraps around the tail fin. Black letters for the modex, The *Death Angles* modex changed in 1957 to DB. Important if doing there FJ-3M, the only west coast squadron with the -3M*s. The *Death Angles* received there furies in the March of 1954 and were deployed to NAS Atsugi were tested the carrier operation of the Furies abord the USS Hancock. The squadron was deactivated on June 14, 1996. Check out the web page at www.vmf235.com.

I photocopied this sheet to test the fit of the decals on my Fury and found that the *Checkerboards* worked good, but the *Death Angles* will be a little tricky, I would paint the intake inside and 1/8" around the outside of the intake red as there is a gap when putting the two sheets together, but there is a over lap on the band across the aircraft that you could use to fix that.

This is a great sheet to spruce up your ESCI Fury kit.

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