Pre-Order Release January 2008
Hobby Master
F6F-5 'Hellcat'
VF-3 USS Essex
1945 '104'
USS Essex CV-9 was the 4th United States vessel to bear the name. It was launched 31 July 1942 and was
commissioned 31 December 1942. Together with AVG-83 she fought in or supported other groups. VF-83s
greatest task was the assault on Okinawa where they had 122 confirmed kills. VF-83 was regularly charged
with flying CAP mission for protection of the Fleet. USS Essex was deactivated in late September 1945.
This is a list of the actions USS Essex and VF-83 took part in: Marcus Island, Wake Island, Gilbert Islands,
Tarawa, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, Truk Island, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Marcus Island, Wake Island, Palau
Islands, Mindanao, Peleliu, Ryukyu, , Lingayen
Gulf, Iwo Jima, Japanese home islands.
In 1942-43 the F4U program was bogged down with delays and the USN needed a top notched
carrier-based fighter. The Grumman F6F-5 was exactly what they were looking for with the first
production model flying in October 1942 and 12,274 Hellcats built by the end of the war. In terms of size,
the Hellcat was the second largest single engine fighter of the war, being just slightly smaller than the
Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt".
The Hellcat was more than up to the task of taking on the Japanese planes, it could fly about an average
55 mph faster than the Zero. When in combat at 20,000 feet it was 70 MPH faster while between 10,000
and 20,000 feet, it had a comparable rate of climb. Like so many other American fighters the F6F was
heavier and more powerful than the Zero so if needed the pilot could nose over, apply max power and
out dive his opponent before he became a statistic. F6Fs were credited with over three-quarters of the
Navy's air-to-air victories. The F6F Hellcat had the highest Kill/Loss ratio of any American fighter plane
in Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force service during WWII. US Navy pilots affectionately referred to the
Hellcat as the "Aluminum Tank".
With six wing mounted .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns, 3 per wing and each with 400 rounds of
ammunition, they could lay down 6 deadly strings of metal that few Japanese pilots would survive as
their planes were ripped apart.
The Hellcat could carry two 1,000 pound bombs with its most destructive weapons being six 5-inch
HVAR's (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets). With its armament, power, range (250 gallons capacity in
internal tanks and a 150 gallon belly drop-tank) and assortment of weapons and equipment the Hellcat
was able to carry out a wide array of missions: air to air combat, strike plane escort, combat air patrol,
long range search, ground support, night fighting (F6F-5N), and photo recon (F6F-5P). When it was all
over the F6F was one of the most feared and successful planes in WWII.
pre assembled
professionally painted
authentic scale 1/72
open or close canopy
interchangble undercarriage
item ha1205
Our Price £17.99
