Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: whiteman on November 28, 2020, 10:13:50 PM

Title: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: whiteman 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.

(https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Hellcat/VF51/images/Grumman-F6F-5-Hellcat-VF-51-White-3X-Little-Joe-from-CVL-30-USS-San-Jacinto-20th-July-1944-02.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50658369358_2387d186bb_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbvoim)f6f3x 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbvoim) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50659190522_d505a0df08_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbzApm)f6f3x 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbzApm) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50659102241_bcbd03bae3_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbz9ag)f6f3x 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbz9ag) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50659102221_c678a79abf_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kbz99V)f6f3x 4 (https://flic.kr/p/2kbz99V) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: Devil 505 on November 28, 2020, 10:35:40 PM
Excellent job.
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: Arlo on November 28, 2020, 10:57:02 PM
Great job, squaddie. :cheers: :salute


Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: oboe on November 28, 2020, 11:22:39 PM
Great looking Hellcat.  Pretty cool to add the rear window too!
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: lyric1 on November 28, 2020, 11:56:00 PM
 :aok
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: whiteman 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
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: Greebo 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.
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: whiteman 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.
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: Nefarious 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!
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: SIK1 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
Title: Re: F6F-3 VF-51 "Little Joe", CVL-30 USS San Jacinto
Post by: Shuffler on November 29, 2020, 12:10:11 PM
Great looking bird.