This Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat was photographed as it was stopped by the USS Lexington’s crash barrier on 25 February 1945. The aircraft was substantially damaged, the photo showing the right wingtip being torn off while cables tear through the left wing and rear fuselage. I was not able to find much more information regarding this…Continue reading A hammered Hellcat
Carrier Air Group 83 (CVG-83) was assigned to the USS Essex in early 1945 and was composed of several squadrons: VF-83 (F6F-5, F6F-5N, F6F-5P), VBF-83 (F4U-1D, FG-1D), VB-83 (SB2C-4E) and VT-83 (TBM-3E). The Air Group saw action in the Pacific theatre from 10 March to 15 September 1945, participating in raids on Kyushu, supporting the…Continue reading Corsairs of VBF-83
Known as the “Blayd Zero”, this A6M2 Model 21 was built by the Blayd Corporation in the 1990s by reproducing original A6M parts purchased by Robert Diemert. The aircraft also used some original Zero parts in the landing gear, thereby earning it the status of restored rather than a replica or restoration. This of course…Continue reading The “Blayd” Zero
These profiles are part of a set created for the book Squadrons ! No.31: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk V – The New Zealanders by Phil H. Listemann.
The work on the Bristol Brigand is on halt for the time being, and I’ve moved on to another project: the classic and elegant Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing. Although profile views do not pay proper tribute to this superb aircraft, it was still a very interesting project to work on ! The Staggerwing made its…Continue reading Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing
I’m currently working on an aircraft that is more impressive than it looks : the Bristol Brigand. Designed as a replacement for the Beaufighter, some 174 were built as anti-shipping, ground attack or dive bomber aircraft and served from 1946 to 1955. Despite its size and maximum take-off weight of 39,000 lbs, it could reach…Continue reading Work in Progress – Bristol Brigand
I recently had the privilege and pleasure to work on the various decorations sported by the Gee Bee QED (or R-6H) during the course of its largely unsuccessful racing career. Here is a timeline of these decorations, showing their evolution :
I haven’t been posting much recently as I’ve been very busy with work. The latest work in progress is the Socata TB-30 Epsilon, a French light military trainer that first flew on 22 December 1979 and entered service in the French air force in 1983. It also served with the Portuguese, Togolese and Senegalese air…Continue reading Work in progress : TB-30 Epsilon
After watching some Imperial War Museum footage showing the Free French pilots of No 340 Squadron, I noticed a mistake in one of my earlier profiles, and decided to correct it. This is the original profile, depicting Spitfire Mk Vb BM324, which was flown by Wg Cdr Bernard Dupérier at the time of Operation Rutter…Continue reading Spitfire stripes – a few words on Operation Rutter and the Dieppe landings
For over a decade, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dimitris Vassilopoulos of Greeks in Foreign Cockpits, a Greek “amateur” historian whose research into the lives and careers of Greek airmen, and airmen of Greek origins, in foreign air arms has yielded more than professional results. Dimitris has been able to uncover stories, photos…Continue reading “Hell’s Belle” – and a new partnership