VF-3 F4F?

[lyric1]

I have an aversion to creating a skin based on just a profile, as if there are no photos of the aircraft available (particularly if its a well-known ace) the artist just makes an educated guess. Usable photos of a Midway VF-3 F4F seem to be in short supply, there are none in any books I have, just one or two close-ups showing the canopy and kill markings. F-23 in the VF-8 photo in this thread would make a good subject as would the number 9 or 13 aircraft in Mister Fork's photo assuming these are actually VF-3 Midway aircraft. What is the source of the photo and is there a caption to go with it?

There is colour film but your only seeing the same things as the still shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApRITIbMLwk

[Greebo]

Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.

[Mister Fork]

I have an aversion to creating a skin based on just a profile, as if there are no photos of the aircraft available (particularly if its a well-known ace) the artist just makes an educated guess. Usable photos of a Midway VF-3 F4F seem to be in short supply, there are none in any books I have, just one or two close-ups showing the canopy and kill markings. F-23 in the VF-8 photo in this thread would make a good subject as would the number 9 or 13 aircraft in Mister Fork's photo assuming these are actually VF-3 Midway aircraft. What is the source of the photo and is there a caption to go with it?

US Navy military photo archive. I'll try to find the URL for you.

[Mister Fork]

Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.

They were all VF-3 pilots - saw O'Hare and Thach for sure.

[lyric1]

Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.

I have who this is in the film.

Lieutenant William N. Leonard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_N._Leonard

http://www.uss-ranger.org/Captains/05Leonard.html



His son posts in the forum below.

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/done-f4f-4-wildcat-13-vf-3-w-n-leonard-uss-yorktown-battle-of-midway-gb.18091/



White 13 taking off.




Has some dice nose art as well.



The film was a documentary done by John Ford number of the scenes were filmed while the fighting was going on. There is a full view of white 8 F4F taking off.





Another VF-3 Wildcat.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW8tQ_6dqS8

[Greebo]

Great stuff Lyric1, I'll skin either number 5 or 13.

[lyric1]

Great stuff Lyric1, I'll skin either number 5 or 13.

Ty.
One more for you off of the Yorktown #88.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZzRHQX-VZQ

Looking at the squadron patch on the nose i think we can add as a possible #15.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmb_XfmWXjc

[oboe]

#15 is Butch O'Hare's aircraft isn't it?  The O'Hare exhibit at O'Hare Airport in Chicago has a restored F4F
exhibit; it's Butch's good ol' #15.

[lyric1]

#15 is Butch O'Hare's aircraft isn't it?  The O'Hare exhibit at O'Hare Airport in Chicago has a restored F4F
exhibit; it's Butch's good ol' #15.

Earlier scheme F-15 and striped tail.

https://www.google.com/search?q=f4f+butch+o%27hare+at+airport&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj33pX5mc7ZAhWBo1kKHSNRDtAQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=782

Might still be the same plane though?

[oboe]

Hmm no I don't think so.  I read up on Butch O'Hare, he flew off the Lexington, not the Enterprise.  And he won the Medal of Honor in early '42, and wasn't flying combat for the Battles of Coral Sea or Midway.  Heckuva guy though.  Killed in a Hellcat in November '43 during a night engagement...

[Greebo]

Greebo, are you able to duplicate the red on the body of the pitot tube it being so small?

Yes I can, thanks for pointing it out. I have painted the pitot mount red on the VF-3 skin.

[Vraciu]

Hmm no I don't think so.  I read up on Butch O'Hare, he flew off the Lexington, not the Enterprise.  And he won the Medal of Honor in early '42, and wasn't flying combat for the Battles of Coral Sea or Midway.  Heckuva guy though.  Killed in a Hellcat in November '43 during a night engagement...

And was my namesake's mentor.   He never got over his death.  Had a personal vendetta against Bettys as result.  Was always practicing high side runs against friendlies when stateside so he could flame more of them when he rotated back to the action.