My idea is a Double Nuts Campaign, USN CAG birds from 1937 to date. It was in 1937 that the US Navy started combining fighter, scout, and bomber squadrons into discreet air groups that (generally) operated together from one carrier. At first they were given the hull number of the carrier they were assigned to, but during WWII it became impossible to follow this practice as ships stayed in the combat zone while air groups rotated in and out; and air groups became independent of, but attached to, whatever ship they flew off of.
At first the Air Group Commander had one aircraft assigned to him, normally a scout type due to range and radio set up, that allowed him to lead and coordinate strike missions. As the '50s became the '60s and Air Groups became Air Wings, each squadron designated one aircraft as the CAG (Commander Air Group) aircraft. Each squadron was assigned a unit aircraft number and each aircraft had a unique ID number, resulting in each aircraft having a three digit ID number, with the first digit indicating which squadron it was in. The CAG aircraft in each squadron was given the individual number 00, thus Double Nuts.
Throughout the history of the US Carrier Air Group or Wing, the CAG's airplane(s) frequently carried special markings, and as low-viz markings became the norm in the '80s, the CAG aircraft were often the only ones with color. This has led to some very colorful schemes over time.
This campaign offers the chance for a wide variety of aircraft in some interesting and colorful markings. I think it would be fun. Anyone else interested?
Michael
