SSHQ Database - 1:18 Scale

Collector’s Series #2 – US Navy F6F Hellcat from the USS Lexington (CV-16 – The Blue Ghost). The details of this paint scheme are still being researched in Institutional & National Archives. Originally this series was to recognize Lt. Cmdr. Paul Buie – Commanding Officer of VF-16 nick-named “Buie’s Bandits” but officially called the Pistol Packin’ Airdales. Buie ended the war with 9 confirmed kills, but he more famous for coining the well known phrase “The Mariana’s Turkey Shoot”, as well as being Alex Vraciu’s CO. For now, this Series remains unassigned to a pilot until discrepancies can be confirmed regarding his plane number.

6 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2008

Collector’s Series #3 – US Navy F6F Hellcat from the USS Tulagi. The USS Tulagi was an escort carrier that was assigned to a Royal Navy battle group for “Operation Dragoon" which was part of the D-Day Invasion of France. It is often over looked in the Hellcat’s history that it too fought and claimed victories over German aircraft. During “Operation Dragoon", Ensign A.R. Wood was one of several US Navy pilots to down German planes, however, his actual number of confirmed kills is uncertain. Working with the current historian for the USS Tulagi, there are conflicting records if Ens. Wood shot down 1 or 4 German planes. With all known resources exhausted, it was decided to give Ens. Wood the benefit of the doubt and have this series show a total of 4 kills.

6 files, last one added on Jul 02, 2008