Hellcat Crash And A Very Brave Man...

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:49 pm

F6F-5 landing accicdent involving 2 Hellcats of VF-21 on the USS Belleau Wood CVL-24 in Nov 1944.
Note the "Hot Pappa" dragging the pilot to safety

I don't know the fate of the other pilot and probably don't want to know

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3332

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=10563

TonyM · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:04 pm

That series of photographs appear in Cory Graff's new book

CLEAR THE DECK
Aircraft Carrier Accidents of World War II

Graff says that the accident occurred on 11 Feb 1945.

The pilot of the forward F6F-5 is H.J. Wescott; he was killed in the accident.

TonyM.

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:25 pm

wasn't the 1st president bush on that carrier??

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:40 pm

[quote]

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:43 pm

He was on the San Jacinto

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:44 pm

Quote:

Graff says that the accident occurred on 11 Feb 1945.

VF-21's combat cruise was over by then and the squadron disestablished.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:44 pm

I don't know about the title of the thread. THis was exactly what I thought I was going to see.

TonyM · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:59 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

Quote:

Graff says that the accident occurred on 11 Feb 1945.

VF-21's combat cruise was over by then and the squadron disestablished.

Jack,

Not saying who is wrong or right, just letting all know what Graff's book says in the caption with the photo.
Would not be the first time that a photo editor got it wrong.
Thanks for the information and clearing it up for us.

Tony M.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:01 pm

Roger that

BTW did you ever get the real low down on Harmon's P-38 "exploits"?

TonyM · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:22 pm

Jack,

I have tried to get to the bottom of it a couple of times; I ended up putting the project down so I could work on my new book(s). I did get the MACR for the airplane he was flying (P-38G # 42-13415 -- MACR # 1054) during the October 1943 shoot down and some other stuff, but nothing that would tie up all of the loose ends. Apparently all four P-38s in his flight were shot down; two guys were killed and Harmon and another guy walked out seperately.

As for the B-25 wreck in South America in April 1943--there are three different versions of the events as told by Harmon. One version in the accident report, one version in his book PILOTS ALSO PRAY, and a version that he told a sports writer some years later. Very frustrating.

I handed all of my info off to another researcher who wants to write a book about Harmon and his AAF career. He is getting the after action report about the incident and walk out. I'll let you know when he sends it to me. I found a lot of opinions, but I could never get anybody to go on the record about the guy.

TonyM.

steve dickey · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:27 pm

Mike wrote:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10563

I didn't think for one minute that this was wrongly titled. Stop and think before clicking and then getting all in a tizzy. If its a post by Jack Cook it more than likely is not gonna be anything current.
Stop and think :!:

before you "click"

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:29 pm

Quote:

If its a post by Jack Cook it more than likely is not gonna be anything current.

I new some new material :shock:

steve dickey · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:37 pm

And just to add one more thing, I'll bet that surviving pilot felt a lot of shame and grief for what he did and probably didn't fly again. Just my .02 worth.

TonyM · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:40 pm

Perhaps the accident might be the LSO's fault.

TonyM.

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