Author Topic: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto  (Read 1188 times)

Offline whiteman

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4228
F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« on: November 28, 2020, 10:13:50 PM »
VF-51 was first stationed on the San Jacinto also known as the "Flagship of the Texas Navy" March to November 1944. The squad was a believer in team work and sported most likely the highest ratio of shared kills, 27 of 51. The squads top score was from Lt. William R. Maxwell with 7. He was credited with their first 2 kills, a Betty and a Emily over the Marianas on 11 June 1944. They bagged 7 on 15 June and another 7 the first day of the Turkey Shoot 19 June. 15 October brought the squads single best day with 9 kills and followed it with 2 each on the 17th and 20th. Only 4 of the squads 51 kills came over land, showing the importance of the CAP role CVL FitRons flew.

"Little Joe" has the distinctive "X" which identified San Jacinto aircraft during that time period. I didn't put the nose art on both sides as I haven't seen proof and haven't seen anything other than squad art on both sides of USN Carrier aircraft. I did put the sea blue spray over on both sides since I believe it was covering older ID numbering.



f6f3x 2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

f6f3x 3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

f6f3x 1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

f6f3x 4 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

Online Devil 505

  • Aces High CM Staff
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9181
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2020, 10:35:40 PM »
Excellent job.
Kommando Nowotny

FlyKommando.com

Offline Arlo

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 24760
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2020, 10:57:02 PM »
Great job, squaddie. :cheers: :salute



Offline oboe

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9805
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2020, 11:22:39 PM »
Great looking Hellcat.  Pretty cool to add the rear window too!

Offline lyric1

  • Skinner Team
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10687
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2020, 11:56:00 PM »
 :aok

Offline whiteman

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4228
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2020, 12:09:23 AM »
Thanks guys!

Great looking Hellcat.  Pretty cool to add the rear window too!

Wish I could take credit but Greebo was first lol

Offline Greebo

  • Skinner Team
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 7075
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2020, 01:56:00 AM »
Great job on the skin Whiteman, the mid war tri-colour scheme looks so much better than the late war mono colour scheme.

Offline whiteman

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4228
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2020, 02:45:04 AM »
Great job on the skin Whiteman, the mid war tri-colour scheme looks so much better than the late war mono colour scheme.

Agree 100%, also more enjoyable to work with.

Offline Nefarious

  • Aces High CM Staff
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 15858
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2020, 08:13:35 AM »
"...Never once gave it away, Everybody had to pay and pay"  :D

Excellent work! I to love the tri-color F6Fs!
There must also be a flyable computer available for Nefarious to do FSO. So he doesn't keep talking about it for eight and a half hours on Friday night!

Offline SIK1

  • AH Training Corps
  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3761
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2020, 10:47:28 AM »
Great looking Cat. I too like the tri-color much more than the later solid blue scheme.

 :salute
Sik
444th Air Mafia since Air Warrior
Proudly flying with VF-17 The Jolly Rogers

"Masters of the Air" Scenario - JG54

Offline Shuffler

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 27321
Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2020, 12:10:11 PM »
Great looking bird.
80th FS "Headhunters"

S.A.P.P.- Secret Association Of P-38 Pilots (Lightning In A Bottle)