pics of a helldiver from VB-82 post July of 1945

[Citabria86614]

Hello, I have a friend of mine who flew helldivers in World War II. He flew with VB-83. He made his first combat run in a Helldiver on April 26, 1945, over Okinawa to support ground troops after the April 1 invasion. I am looking for pics of VB-82 Helldivers after the Navy wide markings change in July of 1945.

[Jack Cook]

you mentioned both VB-82 and VB-83. My cousin flew in Air Group 82 (VMF-112) and they used an arrowed head insignia prior to the change.
VB-83 had the double diamond prior to going the the letter F (yuk!).
I had a friend who flew in VB-83 named Len Plog of hood river, OR. He later scored the first Navy kill of the Korean War in a F9F of VF-51.

[Citabria86614]

I am sorry for the error I meant VB-83. My friend (Ernest Hutto). Flew the helldiver. I was looking for pics of the VB-83 airplanes with the "F". I have only found one of airplane #318. I am trying to build a model of the way his Helldiver looked when he attacked the Nagato on July 18, 1945. He was the first one in on the fact he forgot to extend the dive breaks. Scored a hit on the the bridge which can be seen on photos of it at Bikini. Thanks and ill ask him about your friend.

[Tim Landers]

Here is a site that might help http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/usse ... vg83_5.htm and an article on him http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdail ... hero.shtml

[Citabria86614]

The article in the newspaper is about my friend Ernie Hutto. Decatur Daily is our local news paper. Thanks for the other link