Anybody have any sites where I can get details on this topic. I’d like to get exact color call outs for the camo patterns and a few op’s pics, too. The FAA (Fleet Air Arm) had about 1200 hellcats and I can find precious little on them.
I have 2 book on the F6F Hellcat, but now for the Royal Navy. There all US I think.
Let me know if you would want them
Bud
Well, thanks for the consideration! I appreciate it.
According to my research, there is a wealth of info on the Hellcat in US Naval service, and an apparent dearth of same on their use by the Royal Navy’s FAA. According to the numbers, there were about 1200 F6F’s total “lent-leased” to the English during WWII. Most saw use in the Pacific, although no small number were put to use in European anti-submarine, patrol and night-fighter roles.
I know the Brit camo schemes were pretty straightforward:
Grey-on-Grey or
Green(“dun”) -on-grey
Sea Blue (Possibly Satin black for the NF’s)
But, I don’t really know what colors are actually what and what goes where (although I did turn up a Polly Scale color chart in pdf, keyed to what looks like FS numbers). Too, I’d like to turn up some interesting applications of squadron mascots, individual marks, etc. for the F6F, while in service to the Queen. If anyone can help, it would be very nice.
Now, Dubau, what did you have in mind concerning your books? [;)]
I don’t want anything for the books.
I am more them happy to help out where and when I can.
Have a GREAT day
Bud
Hello there!
I’m hoping this may help. I have an Airfix FAA Hellcat in my stash and the camo scheme was Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey for upper surfaces and Beige Green for the lower surfaces. Humbrol enamels for RN/RAF colours are pretty spot on, the paint nos. are H123/H224/H90.
Good luck!
BTW, my kit has two different profile diagrams for painting, I could scan them for you if you like.
Found this link, might come in handy.
This is good too.
Just found this. Any good?
The colours for the FAA Hellcats was standard RN Extra Dk Sea Grey and Slate Grey uppers and Sky undersurfaces,here are some pics i have of 809 Sqn Hellcats on HMS Ameer in the Far east 1945.
I can’t find any color callouts for the camo, but that is the general layout
hope it helps!
This stuff is excellent! Thanks to all of you for the help. The Hellcat didnt excel at anything in particular, but did a good job of everything. It was a forgiving plane and if it had one great virtue, it made a fine pilot out of most everyone who flew it. Something like 12,000+ were built and it remains rather unsung, for all it’s virtue.
This really is super and if any of you find more, please share it.
Thanks so much,
David
You’re welcome! [tup]
Not to be picky but the Hellcats 19 to 1 kill ratio (the highest kill ratio of any fighter in WWII) is kind of an indicator that it did do at least one thing pretty well. Those kills weren’t all against green pilots either.
Over all it was a pretty good plane that achieved great things. That kill ratio also speaks of pilot training and tactics.
I think the best color scheme I’ve seen for the Hellcat is the RN D-day scheme -the previously mentioned camo pattern with the black and white invasion stripes. I think there’s a 1/72 kit marketed with that scheme.
I found this text from a forum (theminiaturespage.com) discussing the Hellcat:
"Let’s not forget that the F6F served with distinction in Europe as well. USN Hellcats flew missions over France in support of the Allied landings. During the invasion of southern France (operation Anvil-Dragon), Hellcats flying from the escort carriers Kasaan Bay and Tulagi (VF-71 and VFO-1) performed deep penetration attacks up to 100 miles inside France and flew CAP over the invasion fleet. Five Hellcats were lost to anti-aircraft fire. These same two squadrons also accounted for three Heinkel 111’s and three JU-52 transports, shot down over France. They were denied an opportunity to engage German fighters, who fled at their approach. All 6 German aircraft were downed on August 19, 1944, D-Day +4.
The British used the F6F in significant numbers. The majority of these saw their only combat in the Pacific. However, Fleet Air Arm Hellcat I fighters achieved success against the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. Royal Navy Hellcat I’s (F6F-3) were involved in escorting attacks on Tirpitz from April through August 1944. One of these missions, on May 8, 1944, the Luftwaffe came up to protect the battleship. Some #800 squadron Hellcats from HMS Emperor took on the German fighters and shot down 1 Fw-190 and two Bf-109G fighters. The Hellcats suffered one loss to the Luftwaffe and another to anti-aircraft fire. RN Sub/Lt. B. Richie got the Focke-Wulf and went on to total 6 kills, becoming one of only a few Royal Navy Hellcat aces. "
Here’s an image of a Frankin Mint 800 Squadron Hellcat:
Yes, Ive read those accounts of the Hellcat. It was EVOLVED from experience and it turned out to be an excellent all-around answer to the wartime problems at hand. And my comments in no way should be taken as a slight against the Grumman bird nor the men who flew it.
I cant help but suspect, though, that by the time the F6F became a fixture in service, the tides had simply turned against it’s opponents. The Allies fielded 2.5X more fighter aircraft alone, when compared to the entire Japanese, Italian and German war machines combined:
Fighter aircraft
Allies - -
United States = 99,950
Soviet Union = 63,087
United Kingdom = 49,422
total: 212,459
Axis - -
Germany = 55,727
Japan = 30,447
Italy = 4,510
total: 90,694
Fighters, which were manned by pilots not neccessarily better trained, but trained in isolation, far from the battle lines. This is not to mention the bombers, ships and whatever else you want to measure, although the equipment tallies are similar. In no way meant to belittle the men and women who fought - and died - on both sides of the battle lines, I’ve called WWII the “Great Rout,” - ultimate victory through overwhelming numbers.
I can only wonder the outcome had there been numeric parity…