Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (Propeller Powered) HA1108 - Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, Lt. William C Moseley USN VF-1, USS Yorktown, June 1944, “White 9”
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*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
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THESE ARE ONLY PRE-PRODUCTION
PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT