This model depicts
the life of a Corsair, from it's earliest days in the Solomons, until a few
days before it's final flight on December 13, 1943 when it crash landed on
Bougainville.
Capt. Ed Olander
claimed a Zero on 17 October, 1943, on a fighter sweep over Kahili flying this
aircraft.
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Major Bob Owens,
July 1943;
"When we went
into Munda, it was the first time (since Gaudalcanal) that there was a group of
sqadrons flying similar machines. Each aeroplane had a number from 1 to16.
Having been assigned to fly a mission in "No 5", I'd get out there on
the line and there would be five "No 5s"- five squadrons each with a
"No 5"! So we repainted the aircraft with numbers that weren't
like those of other units, most squadrons tending to use the last three digits
of the BuNo."
Capt. James N. Cupp,
August 1943;
"When operating
from Munda our beautifully marked planes were put into a pool and assigned to
different pilots from different squadrons every morning. That alone was
enough to break our hearts, but when the SEEBEEs (who had been pressed into
service as mechanics) asked us where to inject the gas and oil we were almost
tempted to draw our pay and go home. There were a few bona-fide mechanics on the strip,
but they had always worked on Grummans, so our sleek little planes went without
much maintenance. They rapidly became dirty and undependable. They always kept
going, but little things were always cropping up to annoy you."
Quotes are from the
excellent book Corsair Aces of World War 2 by Mark Styling.
This model was finished with
Model Master Paint, kit decals, and homemade stencils.
One kit was used for this
article.
Colors used on this model;
- ANA 602 Light Gray
- ANA 603 Sea Gray
- ANA 607 N.S. Sea Blue
- ANA 611 Interior Green
David Rapasi
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