1/48 F4F-3 - Pacific Theatre of Operations II

[N4521U]

Username: N4521U
First name: Bill (will answer to most anything, just ask Paul)
Category: Advanced
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Hobby-Boss
Extras: Decals for VMF-211 and some other stuff. ***Adding an Eduard cockpit PE set.

Another from my Davidson list. Lieutenant Carl Davidson, USMC of VMF-211 Wake Island. Flew the last F4F lost during the Japanese invasion of the island on 22 December, 1941. VMF-211, marked "211-F-9", BuNo 3988, engine no. 14179. Shot down by Petty Officer Third Class Tahara Isao of the Hiryu and crashed at sea, killing the pilot. Carl Davidson was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions in the defense of Wake Island:

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Excellent Bill, nice to see your keeping it in the family.

 

[N4521U]

Carl Davidson was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions in the defence of Wake Island:​

For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-211), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Wake Island, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, 8 to 23 December 1941. Skilled as an airman, gallant as an officer and determined and aggressive in whatever he was assigned or voluntarily undertook to do throughout the bitter days of combat with a vastly superior enemy force, Second Lieutenant Davidson assumed a major role in maintaining morale among the officers and men imperiled with him, sustaining their spirits by his own unwavering high courage and inspiring them to greater effort by his heroic work in rescuing wounded from burning airplanes and camp areas and in reorganizing the unit following the first devastating enemy raid. Carrying out his daily tasks and his part in combat operations with initiative and fortitude during this prolonged period of siege, Second Lieutenant Davidson went up to fight two full squadrons of Japanese aircraft on 22 December, and, with only one other Marine plane for assistance, pressed home a vigorous attack against the large hostile force, diverting many enemy planes from the raid on Wake before he was shot down at sea following a fearless engagement with six Japanese fighter craft. His brilliant leadership and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death constantly inspired the stouthearted defenders of this tiny island, and his valiant conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Davidson and the United States Naval Service.

I've also found the history of the aircraft from delivery to San Diego, shipped to Hawaii, aboard the Enterprise, service on Wake and an engine change before it and Carl were lost.

 

[Catch22]

Excellent! Terry should also be pleased.

 

[N4521U]

Excellent! Terry should also be pleased.

Oh?

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Excellent! Terry should also be pleased.

I think he will be most excited!

 

[N4521U]

Now I get it..................... Wildcat! Doh.

 

[woody]

Nice one Bill.

 

[destrozas]

i like bill.
this plane have asked me to do for Christmas to give it to a child for what ue I will follow closely to see that this is the mold

 

[ozhawk40]

Another great Davidson project, good-o!

 

[Wayne Little]

Nice one Bill!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Lucky13]

Can see Terry add this one to his Favourites....

Nice one Bill!

 

[parsifal]

a subject just jam packed with history. This will be a great build as usual.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice one Bill.

 

[fubar57]

OK Bill, Bring on the magic.

Geo

 

[T Bolt]

Nice one Bill. It'll be interesting to see how the Hobby Boss Wildcat compares to the Tamiya I have in my stash.

 

[dneid]

I am looking forward to this build, Bill! Very nice choice!

 

[Crimea_River]

Terry disappeared about the same time you posted this build. Hmmmmmm......

 

[mikewint]

Bill, Now that I'm part of all this, I'm really looking forward to your build. Great aircraft. I've got one of these in the case, that I made at some point in the past. I see that you have put down "advanced". What does that signify?