Hello.
I would like to get some documentation for a Hellcat project,
In WW 2 a hellcat shot down 4 German planes near southern France, Can Anyone can suggest where to find good documentation for this Hellcat. Thanks…Mike
Your best bet is to type your question into the Google search window…bet ya find it there.
Not the Atlantic but the Mediterranean, Operation Anvil/Dragoon, the allied invasion of the South of France. Have a look at page 4 & 5 of this.
Steve.
BTW Naval Aviation News, especially the archived WWII issues are great reads, Thanks for the link,Steve!
Not everyday you see Hakenkreuz kill-markings on a Hellcat…
US Naval Aviation’s (as well as the Royal Navy’s Air Arm’s) contributions in the Atlantic are definitely under appreciated today.
One could spend a lifetime reading all the books about the exploits of the USAAC’s air forces in Europe. However books about Naval Avation’s part in the invasions of France, Operation Torch in North Africa, or the Escort Carrier’s role in the Battle of the Atlantic are few and far between.
Don’t forget Operation Leader, the USS Ranger attack on Bodo in Norway with Dauntlesses, Avengers & F4fs. Something I only learned of recently. As you say, the USNs ops in the Noth Atlantic & ETO are woefully underreported but most interesting nonetheless. Naval aviation has long been a favourite of mine & these ops give another & welcome dimension to it. More planes to model.[:D] The activities of VOF-1 haven’t been totally ignored as seen here I can feel a VOF-1 Hellcat coming on, now where to get those markings? [*-)]
Steve.
Just poking around, I found that Superscale actually did the markings for VOF-1’s #8 aircraft (the one with the 4 Nazi kills) flown by Ensign’s Wood and Olszewski:
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/decals/super/48th/ss481034.htm
In stock at Hannants!
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SS481034
Here are some illustrations of the aircraft:
http://www.markstyling.com/F6F.02.htm
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?topic=290433.0
Here’s a quick overview of some of the Navy operations:
http://navalaviationnews.navylive.dodlive.mil/2011/04/27/navy-wings/
In the book, “Great American Fighter Pilots of WW2” the beginning actually deals with Wildcats fighting Vichy French D-520s and American-built P-36s (Hawk 75s) with first kills being American aircraft on American aircraft…
I love that book! One of my favorites. The stories are embellished a bit, but a very fun and entertaining read.
That book inspired me to build Windy Shield’s Operation Torch Wildcat and a Vichy Hawk.
A great book on that subject is “Wildcats over Casablanca”. Here at Amazon
That’s the exact part I was referring to, Shield’s fight!!
“This is Windy! Windy over Cages! Attacked by four P-36s! Can’t continue!!”
I haven’t read it in many years, but in the 60s, when I was in elementary school, I bet I read it over 100 times… I did a book report on it for both 5th & 6th grades, lol…
“Batter up”… “Play Ball!”
I had it as a kid too. Spent many a night reading about the exploits of fighter pilots after building models of their aircraft during the day. A few years ago, I found a copy on Ebay.
The sections on the Flying Tigers and the 4th and 57th Fighter Groups were great too.
Thanks for those links Dave. I had seen the super scale decals but seeing as I only model in the one true scale (1/72 [;)] ) they weren’t too much use other than as a reference so it looks as though I’ll be looking to make up marking from the spares box/generics. Anyone know of any 45 degree white US codes in 1/72? I could do with some for this as well as the Welch P-40B from Pearl Harbour.
Steve
Sorry about that. I only do 1/48 scale, so I know how frustrating it can be to find exactly what you need, but in the wrong scale.
Colorado decals apparently makes a few 45 degree letter & number sheets in 1/72 and both black and white.
Do an Advance search at Hannants: http://www.hannants.co.uk/advancedsearch/
Choose 1/72 scale and use the keyword: degree
Found them, thanks Dave. I never thought of using degree as a key world & haven’t been able to find these before. I’ll have to get some when they’re in again.
Steve.
RE:Hellcats in the Atlantic…
I think that you are looking for Hellcat Squadron VOF-1 aboard the USS Tulagi. An escort carrier. It was Op Anvil / Dragoon operating from the Med near San Tropez, and attacking Nazi targets in the South of France around the time of the Normandy Invasion. See Ens. Wood and o/ Olszewski. Also see the squadron commander named William Bringle. Bringle went on to become an admiral. My father was a Hellcat pilot with VOF-1.
Superscale 48-1034: F6F-5 Hellcat Aces, reviewed by Scott Van Aken