Additional:
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The day the memorial was dedicated, they flew the flags of all 50 states, though there were but 48 when CA-44 was in service:
Lest we forget:
The men of that era knew what it meant to sacrifice for the nation and what our freedom was all about...and they did, and in the process put down the mightiest tyrannies of an era.
My latest 1/350 scale model...and the latest to my Doolittle Raid collection.
I have the Hornet, CV-8 which launched the B-25s, I have the Grayson, DD-435, one of the destroyers that helped escort them (there were eight destroyers), this heavy cruiser (there were four of them in the group), the USS Vincennes, CA-44, which tragically was launched six months later at the 1st battle of Savo Island, and I will next build the USS Enterprise, CV-6, which provided the air cover for the Hornet as they sailed across the Pacific to attack Japan.
That will leave me with both carriers and a destroyer and a cruiser escorts...two of the ones that were actually there.
It was one heck of a risk, and an all American tale of grit and courage.
Damn you Jeff Head! I’ve got a garage full of ship model kits and no time to get them built. Watch your injection molded styrene privledge
Nice work, Jeff.
Interesting read.
I was surprised how many Japanese planes it shot down considering it’s limited anti aircraft armament. When it was built it was probably considered to be a lot of AA guns.
Thanks for posting. A very dear friend of mine was a radioman aboard the Vincennes and spent a night in the drink at Savo Island. He went on to become an enlisted pilot and retired in the early 60’s. Hard to believe that Jack has been gone nearly 20 years...
Wonderful work, Jeff!
I built hundreds of models as a kid, but I was never as consummate a modeler as you.
My heart still skips a beat when I see models in hobby and craft stores.
In the interests of accuracy, you refer to the USS Iowa as BB-62. The Iowa was BB-61. The USS New Jersey was BB-62. The New Jersey is now a museum on the Delaware River in Camden NJ.
The Doolittle Raid is one of the most inspiring events in US history.
These 80 men knew it was a one way mission, as the fuel in their B-25s just might get them to the coast of China after the raid on Tokyo.
Only one man remains alive today from the raid of 75 years ago. He is Lt. Col. Richard Cole, who is 101 years old, but still spry and travels to tell the tale of the Raiders still. He was Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot, in the lead plane.
About three years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing him speak to a hangar full of people. Hundreds of people hung on every word as the then 98 year old recounted the details of the mission and the rescue from China.
Four months after Pearl Harbor, we bombed the capital of the Empire of Japan.
This bold and courageous action electrified the nation and helped it to steel itself for the long war ahead of it—as Roosevelt said—”to the inevitable victory, so help us God!”
Hope you are well Jeff, God bless you.
That is impressive Jeff
Good read. Thanks Jeff.
Jeff, really great article and even better model build!
I had just finished grad school and had some free time. I used to build them all the time as a kid.
Would cut grass to earn money to buy them. Would build them and then shoot them with my BB gun. Ah, childhood.
Great work, Jeff. Keep ‘em coming!
Awesome post.
Great work and great history, Jeff! Thanks for the ping!
That was great! Thanks for posting the model through development. That’s a ton of detail. I have an itch to get a Revell B-29... again. Where did all my old flying models go? I know I didn’t blow them all up.
The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).
However, let it be noted that according to her ship’s log, “On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men:
48,600 gallons of fresh water,
7,400 cannon shot,
11,600 pounds of black powder and
79,400 gallons of rum.”
Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping.”
Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November.. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England .
In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war ships, and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.
By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted.
Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland .. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.
The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799,
with:
- no cannon shot,
- no food,
- no powder,
- no rum,
- no wine,
- no whisky,
and 38,600 gallons of water.
GO NAVY
!
Jeff, a timely coincidence that I bought a book about the Hornet today, “A ship to Remember ,The Saga of the Hornet” by Alexander R. Griffith, copyright 1943, with a forward note by Capt. Frank Akers
I enjoy your input and wondered, if your’e my age, did you buy models of Pyro’s Tabletop Navy? Early 1960s...I was a young naval buff back then and used the miniatures in my re enactments of naval battles I had read of. My dad ,a combat Marine, had a friend who was a navy photographer, and let me borrow a navy published book that had incredible pictures in it. Again thanks for your incredible model building and historical tie ins with your specific build.
Gotta bookmark just in case I get off my ass and do a build. Great stuff Jeff, thank you.
I enjoy all your posts. Keep on building ‘em.
Additional:
The day the memorial was dedicated, they flew the flags of all 50 states, though there were but 48 when CA-44 was in service:
Lest we forget: