1844 Sq Hellcat January 1945

[Catch22]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for any photos of any 1844 FAA Squadron Hellcats during the raids on Palembang in January 1945, either on the 24th or 29th.

Thanks!

 

[fubar57]

I'll have a look when I get home on Wednesday Cory.


Geo

 

[Catch22]

Thanks Geo!

 

[Crimea_River]

Cory, this pic posted on azbiz is tagged showing 1844 Squadron on Indomitable in January 1945.

I also have this one but don't know the date.

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[fubar57]

I've got nothing in my Hellcat books Cory. I'll go through my FAA books later. Anything specific you're looking for?


Geo

 

[Wurger]

Here is what I found via the net...

 

[Crimea_River]

Right. So if that script is true, then the pictures of aircraft 145 is after the raid on Pelambang. BTW, Eduard has decals for 145 and they date it to April, 1945.

 

[Catch22]

Thanks Wojtek and Andy.

Yeah, it would look something like this I believe, but I don't have a serial number and I know for instance 1836 added a T to the front of their codes on their Corsairs, so I'm not sure if 1844 did the same. I actually have these decals in 1/32 but they're too early to be sure that this aircraft had this code.

Andy, I'm not sure for your first photo that the caption is correct? I don't think they had Pacific Fleet roundels on the aircraft yet.

 

[fubar57]

If you're looking for a serial number I have the worlds supply of FAA Hellcat serial numbers with short histories. Hellcat I or II?


Geo

EDIT: just re-read Wojteks caption....Mk.I, narrows it down to 3pgs

 

[Catch22]

Yeah I'm basically just looking for a serial and a side code.

 

[fubar57]

OK, off the get go, FN439 - (6K : R6K). Not sure why there are 2 codes, maybe R6K was a later date or maybe 6K was an abbreviation. JV131 - (6L). JV143 - no code....yet.


Geo

 

[Catch22]

Awesome, thanks Geo. Looks like I'll have to find some lettering. I assume it's similar to the Corsair I'm building, where it used to be 8H, and then became T8H.

 

[fubar57]

No problems. Here are the rest...FN436 (6X), FN430 (6R), FN422 (6H), FN396 (6J), FN383 (6F : R6F), FN378 (6P : R6P), FN359 (6W).
Not sure where the rest of the alphabet is. If you want, I can send you the pages and you can double check.


Geo

 

[Catch22]

Oh no, I trust you implicitly! I assume the ones with the longer codes are the ones that survived longer? I'll probably try and do FN439 since I'd only have to change one number on the serials.

 

[fubar57]

Geo

 

[Catch22]

That's perfect, likely means it was coded like that on the 24th. I've got my Hellcat!

 

[Crimea_River]

Excellent! Good work there Geo. That bird is shown here

Cory, that pic came from the asbiz site so good chance it's a dodgy description.

 

[Catch22]

Thanks for the page and profile Andy. Oddly enough that pilot shares the name of someone on my hockey team...