Saldi MV-22B Osprey Decals

1/48 MV-22B Osprey Part 1
1. MV-22 Osprey 168657 / YP-00 for VMM-163 at MCAS Miramar. Oct. 31, 2018 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
The VMM-163 special Osprey (00-8657) features artwork on the external sides of the vertical tails: the right one has a Grim Reaper with an Evil Eyes patch whereas the left one has a Grim Reaper with the Ridge Runners patch.
Indeed, formed as HMR(L)-163 in 1951 then HMM-163, the squadron got the nickname Ridge Runners as a result of typhoon rescue and relief operations in the mountainous terrain surrounding Hagman, Japan. Still, it is also known as the Evil Eyes, a unit symbol that dates back to December 1965. In December 1965, LtCol Charles A. House took the reigns of the squadron,
newly relocated at MCAS Futema, Okinawa. With only one month separating HMM-163 from its return deployment to Viet Nam, LtCol House and his veteran pilots determined that a unit symbol was needed to build morale and espirit dcorps,
especially for the newly assigned replacement personnel.
Capt Al Barbe, the Squadron Intelligence Officer and husband to a Thai bride, offered a suggestion. Because of Asian culture and beliefs, he proposed that eyes painted on the unit aircraft might have an unsettling affect upon the enemy, thus the concept of The Eyes on the front of HMM-163 aircraft was born.
On 1 January 1966, HMM-163 flew via C-130 to Phu Bai, Vietnam, relieved HMM-161, and took over their H-34 helicopters. Painting of what were then called Genie Eyes (after the I Dream of Jeannie TV show) began immediately.
By March 1966, HMM-163s Genie Eyes were being called Evil Eyes by the ground units the squadron supported.
Il Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey (falco pescatore) è un convertiplano medio ad uso militare prodotto dalla Bell, per le forze armate statunitensi.
Questo velivolo è il risultato del programma JVX (Joint Vertical-lift Experimental) avviato nel dicembre 1981, varato dall’allora Segretario alla Difesa degli Stati Uniti, Frank Carlucci. La commessa venne assegnata congiuntamente alla Bell Helicopter Textron e alla Boeing Vertol. La necessità di un velivolo di tali caratteristiche fu formulata dalla US Navy e dal US Army, che chiedevano la trasportabilità di 24 soldati equipaggiati a 370 km di distanza.
Il primo prototipo del velivolo V-22 Osprey fu presentato ufficialmente ad Arlington, Texas, il 23 maggio 1988. Il 1º dicembre 1989 il Segretario alla Difesa Dick Cheney decretò la sospensione dell’intero programma, a causa del notevole aumento dei costi di produzione. Il programma è stato in seguito riattivato e il 2 maggio 2008 si è avuta la prima missione di combattimento in Iraq dopo un semestre di impiego operativo prevalentemente nel ruolo di trasporto.