Hellcats with German kill markings????

[Matt_in_NC]

I found this 1/18 Hellcat for sale while wasting time between classes, and it appears to represent an actual aircraft. I had no idea that any U.S. Navy Hellcats had ever engaged the Nazis. Anyone have a picture(s) of any of these birds? It sounds like an interesting tale. http://cgi.ebay.com/BBI-ULTIMATE-F6F-HELLCAT-USS-TULAGI-1-18-D-DAY-SOLDIER_W0QQitemZ220246215533QQihZ012QQcategoryZ45347QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[bdk]

Edited for eBay?????



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tulagi_(CVE-72)

On D-day, Tulagi steamed in formation 45 miles off the invasion beach; and, at 0546, she launched her first flight of Hellcats. In the next week, aircraft from Tulagi flew a total of 68 missions and 276 sorties, inflicting considerable damage on the enemy. Weather was generally good as carrier-based planes conducted spotting missions and made strikes at various targets ashore, including gun emplacements and railway facilities. On 21 August, Tulagi's last day in support of Operation "Dragoon," German forces were in retreat before the Allied thrust. Tulagi's fliers conducted a devastating attack along the line of March of a German convoy which snarled the roads for miles around Remoulins and crowned her achievements of the day by downing three German Junkers Ju 52s.

[Matt_in_NC]

Thanks for posting the picture. You can see the swastikas in the first picture of the model. Guess the seller wants to be at least half-way politically correct, I had never heard this story before and thought it interesting. BTW, how did you post that photo like that? Do you have to upload it to photobucket and then post it? Thanks

[Django]

Is that OD or is it just bad lighting?

[Matt_in_NC]

It's actually blue...just the lighting. The scheme looks good on the airplane. If you click on the link, there are a few more photos of the whole thing.

[bdk]

BTW, how did you post that photo like that? Do you have to upload it to photobucket and then post it? Thanks

No, I just right clicked "properties" and copied the URL, then posted the link here with an image tag. It was already on Photobucket.

[lestweforget]

Nice model (if a bit pricey!) Interesting story too. Anyone know if they ever had invasion stripes added?

[Second Air Force]

FutureCorsairOwner,

The censored kill markings are the doing of Ebay itself. They do not allow any swastikas to be shown on merchandise. I'm not sure if the seller has to edit the image or if the censors at ebay do it, but I do recall reading in their rules and regulations that the symbol is VERBOTEN!!!!!!

[Jack Cook]

For the F6F the only action over Europe transpired
during the invasion of southern France in August 1944. USS
Tulagi with VOF-1 (Lieut. Comdr. WF Bringle, USN) and USS Kasaan
Bay embarking VF-74 (Lieut. Comdr. HB Bass, USN), both squadrons,
operating F6F-5s, provided coverage for the landings. VF-74 also
operated a 7-plane F6F-3N night fighter detachment from Ajaccio
on the island of Corsica. On the day of the invasion, 15 August,
VF-74 flew 60 sorties, VOF-1, 40 sorties, all ground support
missions.

On the morning of 19 August, the first German aircraft, three He-
111's, were spotted by a four-plane division of VOF-1 pilots.
The Americans were too short on fuel and could not attack. Two
of the Americans were forced to land on HMS Emperor due to their
fuel state. Later that day, two He-111's were spotted by another
VOF-1 division and were promptly shot down, this occurring near
the village of Vienne. Lieut. Poucel and Ens. Wood teamed up to
bring down one and Ens. Robinson brought down the second. Soon
thereafter, in the same vicinity, a third He-111 was shot down by
Ens. Wood. That same morning, a division of VF-74 pilots led by
Lieut. Comdr. Bass brought down an Ju-88 and in the afternoon
another division attacked a Do-217 with split credits to going to
Lieut. (j.g.) Castanedo and Ens. Hullard.

On 21 August, pilots from VOF-1 shot down three Ju-52 transports
north of Marseille. Two were credited to Lieut. (j.g.)
Olszewski; one went to Ens. Yenter. Operating for two weeks in
support of the invasion, these two squadrons were credited with
destroying 825 trucks and vehicles, damaging 334 more and
destroying or otherwise immobilizing 84 locomotives. German
aircraft shot down: VOF-1: 6, VF-74: 2.

Although the two navy squadrons lost some 17 aircraft, combined,
all were to ground fire or operational accidents. None were shot
down by German aircraft. Among the 7 pilots lost (2 from
VOF-1 and 5 from VF-74) was the CO of VF-74, Lieut. Comdr. H.
Brinkley Bass, awarded 2 Navy Crosses from early actions in the
Pacific, killed by antiaircraft fire while strafing near Chamelet
on 20 August.

[bdk]

The censored kill markings are the doing of Ebay itself. They do not allow any swastikas to be shown on merchandise.

So, boobies good, swastikas bad! Glad we got that straightened out...

[Jack Cook]

The censored kill markings are the doing of Ebay itself

Actually that's the seller trying to keep ebay at bay
All my pictures I sell show all of them. I've never censored them (never will!) and never had a auction pulled.

[Mgawa]

[Matt_in_NC]

Thanks for posting the pictures...and all the clarifications regarding Ebay censorship. That is one good looking Hellcat. Now, if Mr. Allen wants a unique scheme for his at FHC...

[mazdaP5]

I've seen an F-105 with german kills on it, the pilot had just been around that long.

I suppose it is possible for a pilot to have switched theatres as well, I'd assume the kills would transfer also.
Cool story about the Hellcats...

[Jack Cook]

That F-105 was flown by Col Paul Douglas's who scored 8 aerial and 27 ground kills
with the 368th FG in 1944-45. In VN he commanded the 388th TFW.