Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1108 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, Lt. William C Moseley USN VF-1, USS Yorktown, June 1944, “White 9”

*Authentic 1/72 scale *Pre-assembled and professionally painted *All markings are pad applied to insure the best results *Optional weapons are provided *Optional canopies, open or closed *Stand provided for optional display method *Free spinning propeller *Maximum metal content with minimum plastic content *Highly collectible

The main purpose for the production of the Grumman F6F Hellcat was to win air superiority back from the Japanese. The Zero was smaller and more agile but the firepower and greater speed of the F6F more than made up for this.

Like all carrier aircraft the F6F flying from USS Yorktown (CV-10) had their distinctive identification markings. The tail had a diagonal white stripe as well as a green propeller hub. These fighters belonged to Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) who had its baptism under fire in 1943 when they first met the enemy at Tarawa. There they had great success protecting the ground troops as they bombed and strafed enemy positions for 4 straight days without a loss of one plane. After Tarawa the “High Hatters” as VF-1 were called spent the next few months on Oahu before joining USS Yorktown. From May 29th to August 2nd while flying off Yorktown VF- 1 acquired a record of 101 enemy planes destroyed with 19 more probables and all were airborne. They also accumulated 61 aircraft on the ground, 8 ships damaged and 16 sunk as well as destroying 26 AA batteries and 7 ammunition dumps and/or fuel depots blown up. Just on June 15 1944 alone Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) downed 20 Zeros and on June 19 1944 the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea they downed 37 Japanese aircraft with 2 definite and one probable going to Lt. William C. Moseley. Moseley was flying 41438 on the 19th and it was so badly damaged that when he managed to land on the carrier it was pushed over the side. The replacement aircraft was BuNo. 41090 with its distinctive 090 hastily spray-painted on the side of the engine cowling. Being a replacement aircraft there wasn’t time to paint the “High Hatters” emblem on the sides. Sadly Lt. William C. Moseley was shot down on Independence Day July 4, 1944 while flying over the Bonin Islands and was listed as MIA and later changed to KIA. On October 25 1945 Fighting Squadron One “High Hatters” was decommissioned.

F6F-3 Specifications Total production: F6F-3 (4,403)

Power-plant: 1 x 2000hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp 18-cylinder air cooled radial engine Wingspan: 42 ft. 10 in. (13.1 m) Length: 33 ft., 7 in. (10.2 m) Height: 13 ft., 1 in. (4.0 m) Weight: 9,238 lb. empty Maximum speed: 380 mph at 23,400 ft. Ceiling: 37,300 ft. Climb rate: to 14,000 ft. 6 minutes 42 seconds Range: 945 miles Armament: Six .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns, 2,000 lb. bomb-load, or six 5-inch rockets

THESE ARE ONLY PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT