3 USMC F4U-1's, VMF-213, VMF-121, VMF-222

[whiteman]

These have been sitting around for awhile half done and finally decided to get them done.

First one is VMF-213 "Hell Hawks" Gus's Gopher flown by 1st Lt Wilbur J "Gus" Thomas, Guadalcanal, July 1943. Like most VMF-213 corsairs it has the plane name on one side and the other has some sort of art. June 30, 1943 was the big first engagement for the squad while covering the New Georgia landings, 20 kills that day 4 of which belonged to Gus. In September he would be come the squads "topgun" with two triple kill days. He would finish as the squads leading ace as a Captain with 18.5 kills.

gg4 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr GG3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

GG1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

GG2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

[whiteman]

Next is VMF-121 Ramblin Wreck, Guadalcanal 1943. No pilot was attributed to this aircraft as it was most likely shared. It has an interesting field applied 3 color camo with the NS Sea Blue over Intermediate Blue and believed to be the original light gray. It also has "Marine Dreams" nose cowling that was salvaged after it's wreck. In the photo it was being prepped to send back state side to be refurbished for training purposes.

WR3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

wr2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

wr1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

[whiteman]

Finally is VMF-222 "Flying Duces" Tojo Eats S@#*!, Solomon Islands 1943. No pilot was attributed to this aircraft. This was a very heavily worn and beat up aircraft and is an example of how national insignias were just done how ever the crews on the islands in the early part of the war did what ever they felt like. White bars where added behind the star and blue circle with no outer blue or red to surround it. They also left it on both sides of the wings rather than the standard upper left and underside of the right. The wing tanks leaked so bad they were completely removed and the leading edges painted with what was believed to be a field mixed dark blue or NS Sea Blue. It was photoed as it was being prepped to send back state side.

If Dana Bell and Jim Sullivan didn't have their names attached to the info I probably wouldn't have believed the illustrations done.

TJES by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

TJES 1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

TJES 2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

[Devil 505]

Great stuff!

[Arlo]

Excellent, sir.

[oboe]

Grimy, gritty, wonderful beasts.   I want to fly them.

[lyric1]

 

[FTJR]

Very nice 

[Greebo]

Really nice work, beautifully weathered.

[whiteman]

Thanks guys! Seems like covid not only physically limited me but mentally made feel like a potato lol. Concentration feels like it's coming back.

[Volron]

All of them rock, but I'm really diggin the White Tail. 

[whiteman]

All of them rock, but I'm really diggin the White Tail. 

I came across a picture of VMF-222 F4U's, really had to be the most random assortment of worn out Corsairs in the war.

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Corsair/VMF222/pages/Vought-F4U-1-Corsairs-VMF-222-Russell-Islands-7th-Sep-1943-01.html

Arkansas Traveler is another of theirs i want to do.

[Vraciu]

Great job on the weathering.

[JOACH1M]

Looks damn good! 

[TequilaChaser]

Most excellent skinning job on all 3, Tex!

The vertical stabilizer & rudder on the Flying Duces is weathered worn bare metal instead of white, right? Is how it looks to me anyway...

3 New birdcage hog skins...awesome

TC