Original color footage of a Grumman F6F Hellcat undercarriage collapse while landing on Tarawa in late 1943

[hw97karbine]

 

[Gnomey]

Nice one!

 

[Casor]

Crappy friggen landing

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Crappy friggen landing

Pilot got out under his own power -- not half-bad for a landing on a crummy field that has seen some combat.

 

[EwenS]

On 7 Nov 1943 the USS Nassau embarked some of the F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-1 for delivery to Tarawa. The atoll was invaded on 20 Nov and VF-1 flew 106 sorties from the Nassau as CAP and in support of the Marines ashore over the next 4 days.

Tarawa already had a Japanese built airfield. Once it was captured the Seabees moved in immediately to repair and expand its facilities, even though some fighting was still going on on the atoll. Within 24 hours of repairs starting 2 Hellcats were able to land.

Nassau left her load of VF-1 Hellcats (records show 22 on 30 Nov) and returned to PH. By 7 Dec the squadron was established on Tarawa with a recorded 44 Hellcats.

HQ 41st BG moved in on 17 Dec followed by the first 2 squadrons with B-25 on Christmas Eve 1943. They were followed by the B-24 of 11th BG in Jan 1944 moving up from Funafuti.

 

[Barrett]

Pilot flared for a three-point landing, alit on the main mounts slightly before the tail wheel. An OK landing; he was not responsible for material failure.