The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Hollywood's Army - (1942-1945) - May 29th, 2003

http://www.militarymuseum.org/1stmpu.html ^ | Master Sergeant George J. Siegel

[SAMWolf]

LOL! I have 6 more years till I hit my next zero year.

[Valin]

"To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am."
Bernard M. Baruch

[Johnny Gage]

In honor of Ronald Reagan, I bring you the obvious choice for today:

Air Power
Grumman F6F "Hellcat"

After early US Navy experience in the Pacific in the early months of WWII, and after consultation with Allied air forces in the European theater, Grumman began to develop a successor to their Wildcat fighter, to be called the Hellcat. Major design changes from the Wildcat included a low-mounted wing, wider landing gear which retracted into the wings, more powerful engine, improved cockpit armor plating, and increased ammunition capacity.

The Navy ordered four prototypes of the new airplane, each with a different engine for test and evaluation purposes. Less than a year later, on 26 June 1942, the first prototype (the XF6F-1, with a Wright R-2600 Cyclone engine) flew for the first time. Before much meaningful evaluation of the various engines could be made, however, the Navy decided to press the Hellcat into production by fitting the XF6F-1 prototype with the most powerful engine available, the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp. (This turned it into an XF6F-3. The XF6F-2 and XF6F-4 were never evaluated.)

The first production model, the F6F-3, first flew in October 1942, and deliveries began four months later with squadron VF-9 on the USS Essex in the Pacific. Extremely robust, powerful and maneuverable, the Hellcat was a potent force against the Japanese, and was credited with over three-quarters of the US Navy's air-to-air kills in the war.

The UK's Fleet Air Arm received 252 F6F-3s (designated Gannet Mk I) beginning in 1943. Meanwhile, in the US, over 200 Hellcats were modified as radar-equipped night fighters. During the F6F-3 production run, which lasted until April 1944, Grumman had developed an improved Hellcat, the F6F-5, which utilized a redesigned engine cowl, new ailerons, a strengthened tail, and a water-injection system for the engine, which added 10% to the takeoff performance and increased its armament-carrying capabilities. The F6F-5 was first flown on 4 April 1944, and production continued through November 1945. Over 900 more "Dash-5" Hellcats were delivered to the UK under the Lend-Lease program under the designation Hellcat Mk II

By the end of World War II, the Hellcat had achieved a kill ratio of 19:1

Specifications:
Primary Function: Naval Fighter
Contractor: Grumman
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A
Powerplant: One Pratt-Whitney R-2800-10W Air Cooled Radial 2,000 hp (1,492 Kw)

Dimensions:
Length: 33 ft 10 in (10.31 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.05 m)
Height: 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
Weights: - Empty: 9,060 lbs (4,110 kg) - Maximum Takeoff: 15,413 lbs (6,991 kg)

Performance:
Speed: 380 mph (612 km/hr) at 23,400 ft
Ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,369 m)
Range: 1,530 mi (2,462 km) -- maximum

Armaments:
Six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M-2 machine guns with 2,400 rounds mounted in the wings.
Later models could substitute two 20 mm guns for the two inboard .50 calibers.

All photos Copyright of VectorSite F6F Hellcat page Ken's Aviation Dave James' Combat Aircraft page

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
Welcome Home, Marines

Staff Sergeant Phillip Harrison Jr., a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is greated by his wife, son as he holds 6-month-old baby Jordan in his arms at Riseley Pier on Onslow Beach aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 26, 2003. The marines returned after deployment in the war against Iraq . REUTERS/Randy Davey


Sgt. David Dial of Newnan, Ga., a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds his 3-week-old son Logan for the first time as his wife Sandi, right, looks on, Monday, May 26, 2003, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.


Staff Sgt. Phillip Harrison II of Chicago, a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, smiles as he holds his 5-month-old son Jordan, for the first time, Monday, May 26, 2003, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.


From left to right, Katie Wegmueller, Erin Wilson and Rachel Bartelt, who are the wives of members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, cheer as helicopters full of Marines fly over New River Air Station before landing. Members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived back at Camp Lejeune on May 26 after nine months of deployment. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier


Cpl. Marco Workman, who is a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds his son Austin, age 3 months, for the first time after arriving at New River Air Station, May 26, 2003.


Cpt. Greg Pawson (R), who is a CH-46 helicopter pilot with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, kisses his wife Kristen after arriving at New River Air Station May 26, 2003.


Cpl. Hans Wegmueller (L), who is a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, embraces his wife Katie after arriving at New River Air Station, May 26, 2003.


Cpt. Greg Pawson (R), who is a CH-46 helicopter pilot with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, kisses his wife Kristen as he holds his son Tyler (R), age eighteen months, after arriving at New River Air Station, May 26, 2003


Navy Chief Petty Officer Michael T. Boner hugs his son Jacob, 3, while wife Lynn (C) looks on, after returning to New River Air Station near Jacksonville, North Carolina, May 26, 2003 after a nine month deployment. Boner is a part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit that served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. REUTERS/Randy Davey


Corporal Hans Wegmueller hugs his wife Katie after returning to New River Air Station near Jacksonville, North Carolina, May 26, 2003.


Lacy McRae cries as she greets her husband, Lance Cpl. Jonathan McRae, after he arrived with a group of Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Monday, May 26, 2003.


Hanna Roberts, 4, hugs her father, Lance Cpl. Travis Roberts, as he arrives with Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Monday, May 26, 2003.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan "Hellcats of the Navy" publicity shot 1957

[snippy_about_it]

DUDE! Don't tell me that now, I just got a DELL and don't expect anything to go wrong! LOL.

[E.G.C.]

(LOL):-D

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the memories,

for the laughter and the tears

you've brought us through the years,

for all the time upon the road

and all those TV shows ...

we thank you,

so much!

Happy Birthday, Bob!

[snippy_about_it]

Happy Birthday barker!

[snippy_about_it]

Such sweet pictures, can't pick a favorite! The last one is awful sweet though. Thanks.

[snippy_about_it]

Bob Hope, what a gem!

[beachn4fun]

Hey snippy....don't worry, I have just bought a new dell within the past year and it is doing fine. One thing I really like about it is that the support is good and that I paid a little extra for the service packet where if something goes wrong the techie comes to my house. And, they did!!!!


8-D

[beachn4fun]

Howdy Sam.... man these photos always get to me... laugh and cry.....whew!

BTW.... something I found very interesting in this months Reader's Digest I thought I'd pass along.....send a check for $10 to RD, they will send a donation subscription to overseas military forces. "All copies the troops receive include an appreciation message and the customers' names on a gift announcement cards."

Anyone interested can send a check to RD to the following address:

Armed Services Gift Subscription, Reader's Digest, Box 8288, Red Oak, Iowa 51591-1288.

and, Sam.... you and snippy keep up the good work.

[HiJinx]

Now Showing at the Zenoplex in RealVideo

Classic World War II Aircraft Training Films

Playing for Free Over the Internet

Some of the original WWII Aviation Training Films are available at the above link, including:

  "The Hog" "The Ensign Eliminator" "Ba Ba Black Sheep" Pappy's bird The Vought F4U "Corsair" (1944,B&W)

  "The Jug" How to Fly the Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt" (1943, B&W)

[snippy_about_it]

Well done SAM, this was really interesting. I fear we'll never see that level of cooperation again, but it was there in it's time and that's a good thing.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks. Good to hear.

[snippy_about_it]

Hope you don't mind me cuttin' in.

HiJinx you read my mind. I can't take a look at them till I get home but thanks. I was wondering how I could see any of these. :)

Now you two can go ahead.

[SCDogPapa]

Hi Snippy! Thanks for the ping. This is strange, I just watched a special the other night about the First Motion Picture Unit. They did a great job.

[SCDogPapa]

Hi Snippy! Thanks for the ping. This is strange, I just watched a special the other night about the First Motion Picture Unit. They did a great job.

[SCDogPapa]

Hi Snippy! Thanks for the ping. This is strange, I just watched a special the other night about the First Motion Picture Unit. They did a great job.