Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1108
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, Lt. William C Moseley
USN VF-1, USS Yorktown, June 1944, “White 9”

*Authentic 1/72 scale
*Pre-assembled and
professionally painted
*All markings are pad applied
to insure the best results
*Optional weapons are
provided
*Optional canopies, open or
closed
*Stand provided for optional
display method
*Free spinning propeller
*Maximum metal content with
minimum plastic content
*Highly collectible

The main purpose for the production of the Grumman F6F Hellcat was to win air
superiority back from the Japanese. The Zero was smaller and more agile but the
firepower and greater speed of the F6F more than made up for this.

Like all carrier aircraft the F6F flying from USS Yorktown (CV-10) had their distinctive
identification markings. The tail had a diagonal white stripe as well as a green propeller
hub. These fighters belonged to Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) who had its baptism
under fire in 1943 when they first met the enemy at Tarawa. There they had great
success protecting the ground troops as they bombed and strafed enemy positions for 4
straight days without a loss of one plane.
After Tarawa the “High Hatters” as VF-1 were called spent the next few months on Oahu
before joining USS Yorktown. From May 29th to August 2nd while flying off Yorktown VF-
1 acquired a record of 101 enemy planes destroyed with 19 more probables and all were
airborne. They also accumulated 61 aircraft on the ground, 8 ships damaged and 16
sunk as well as destroying 26 AA batteries and 7 ammunition dumps and/or fuel depots
blown up.
Just on June 15 1944 alone Fighting Squadron One (VF-1) downed 20 Zeros and on
June 19 1944 the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea they downed 37 Japanese
aircraft with 2 definite and one probable going to Lt. William C. Moseley. Moseley was
flying 41438 on the 19th and it was so badly damaged that when he managed to land on
the carrier it was pushed over the side.
The replacement aircraft was BuNo. 41090 with its distinctive 090 hastily spray-painted
on the side of the engine cowling. Being a replacement aircraft there wasn’t time to paint
the “High Hatters” emblem on the sides. Sadly Lt. William C. Moseley was shot down on
Independence Day July 4, 1944 while flying over the Bonin Islands and was listed as MIA
and later changed to KIA. On October 25 1945 Fighting Squadron One “High Hatters”
was decommissioned.

F6F-3 Specifications

Total production:
F6F-3 (4,403)

Power-plant:
1 x 2000hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double
Wasp
18-cylinder air cooled radial engine

Wingspan:
42 ft. 10 in. (13.1 m)
Length:
33 ft., 7 in. (10.2 m)
Height:
13 ft., 1 in. (4.0 m)
Weight:
9,238 lb. empty

Maximum speed:
380 mph at 23,400 ft.
Ceiling:
37,300 ft.
Climb rate:
to 14,000 ft. 6 minutes 42 seconds
Range: 945 miles

Armament:
Six .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns,
2,000 lb. bomb-load, or six 5-inch rockets

THESE ARE ONLY PRE-PRODUCTION
PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT

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