PaperModelers.com

Go Back   PaperModelers.com > Card Models > Model Builds > Aviation

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 12-24-2021, 09:49 AM
-Jim G's Avatar
-Jim G -Jim G is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 672
Total Downloaded: 113.01 MB
Watching this thread with great interest!

My wife's Uncle Rob was a U.S. Marine Corps flyer assigned to VMF-221 and stationed on Midway during the battle. There were more pilots than aircraft, and he did not fly during the battle. 11 of the squadron's 13 aircraft were destroyed in the first action.

I am hoping to see a model of an F2A Brewster Buffalo in the colors of VMF-221.

After Midway his squadron was re-staffed, and re-equipped with F-4F Wildcats and sent to Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force.
__________________
-Jim G
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-24-2021, 10:22 AM
Don Boose's Avatar
Don Boose Don Boose is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Posts: 20,702
Total Downloaded: 424.90 MB
Grumman TBF-1 BuNo 00380

Jim - I, too, hope the Brewster F2A will appear in Karol's project. It was interesting to hear of your family connection with that aircraft and the Battle of Midway.

Karol, I hope you will forgive me for posting this historical backgrounder based on a write up I did for Kacper (Pacific Wind) to accompany his model of U.S. Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) 00380, aircraft number 8-T-1, the only aircraft of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) to survive the Battle of Midway (1/100 TBF-1 Avenger Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) (S&P, PacificWind's Recolors)). The markings of Kakper’s model were as they appeared when the aircraft was at Naval Air Station (NAS) Norfolk, Virginia in April and May 1942 before being flown to the Pacific. By the time the aircraft arrived in Hawai’i, the red centers of the stars and the red and white rudder stripes had been painted out.

The tragic and heroic story of Torpedo Squadron Eight, commanded by Lieutenant Commander John Waldron, is well known. Every one of the squadron’s aircraft that flew off USS Hornet (CV-8) was shot down during the Battle of Midway, with Ensign George (Tex) Gay as the only surviving member of the squadron. The saga of the six TBF-1 Avenger aircraft of Torpedo Squadron Eight that flew from Midway Island is less well known.
At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941, the Navy had selected the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger as the replacement for the Douglas TBD-1 Devastator and had chosen Torpedo Squadron Eight of the USS Hornet (CV-8) air group to be the first unit to be equipped with the new airplane. The TBF-1s were delivered to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, in January 1942, and 21 aircrews designated as “VT-8 (Detached)” were sent to Norfolk to accept the aircraft and fly them out to Hornet. However, there were delays due to the inevitable problems with a new aircraft, and Hornet sailed from Norfolk on 4 March with TBD-equipped VT-8 aboard and VT-8 (Detached) still preparing its TBF-1s for service. Among those aircraft was BuNo 00380, 8-T-1, the aircraft modeled by Kacper.

At that time, the VT-8 (Detached) aircraft were painted in the scheme mandated by Commander Aircraft Pacific Fleet on 18 December 1941 and further implemented by a Bureau of Aeronautics directive of 5 January 1942: 24-inch diameter stars with red centers were to be applied on either side of the rear fuselage, with larger stars on the upper and lower surfaces of both wings. The vertical rudder was to be painted with 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes. Aircraft codes designating the squadron, mission, and individual aircraft (e.g. 8-T-1) were to be painted in 12-inch high black letters and numerals on the fuselage. Several additional orders were issued, and various squadrons interpreted the instructions differently, so there was much variation in the application of these markings, but Kacper’s model accurately depicts the appearance of 8-T-1 in early 1942, as shown in Image 2.

On 8 May 1942, VT-8 Detached) was ordered to deploy to the West Coast for further movement to Hawai’i. By the time aircraft arrived in the Pacific, the red and white rudder stripes had been painted out and new, larger stars without the red centers had been painted on the fuselage and wings, so the aircraft looked like Images 3 and 4, below.

It was intended that the detachment would load aboard Hornet at Pearl Harbor, but they arrived in Hawai’i on 29 May, the day after Hornet (which had participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and operations in the South Pacific since it had sailed from Norfolk) had sortied from Pearl Harbor with Enterprise and their escorting ships as Task Force 16. VT-8 (Detached) flew their airplanes to Luke Field on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, where six volunteers were ordered to fly to Midway Island. The Midway contingent of VT-8 (Detached) took off at 0730 on 1 June. The officer in charge was Lieutenant Langdon K. Fieberling. Among the six aircraft was 8-T-1 piloted by Ensign Albert K. (Bert) Earnest, with Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class (AMM3c) J.D. Manning as turret gunner and Radioman Third Class (RM3c) H.H. (Harry) Ferrier as radio operator/gunner. The planes landed at Midway that evening and were immediately armed with torpedoes. As they waited for the battle to begin, Manning and Ferrier glued strips of red tape on the wing inboard leading edges to simulate gun muzzle covers, presumably to intimidate their Japanese adversaries.

At 0600 on 4 June, 8-T-1 and the other five aircraft of the VT-8 Midway contingent took off and headed toward the Japanese fleet. Four Army B-26 Marauder medium bombers armed with torpedoes, 14 Army B-17 heavy bombers, and 27 Douglas SBD-2 and Vought SB2U-3 dive bombers of Marine Scouting Squadron 241 also launched in a set of uncoordinated attacks.
As they approached the Japanese ships, the VT-8 contingent came under attack by what Earnest identified in his subsequent report as “Zero fighters and Messerschmitts” [there were, of course, no Messerschmitts]. Manning was killed, Ferrier was wounded in the head, and 8-T-1’s hydraulic system and elevator control wires were shot away. All the other five TBF-1s of the contingent were shot down with no survivors. Nonetheless, Earnest pressed on and released his torpedo at what he thought was a light cruiser. Returning to Midway with an inoperative landing gear and a dead turret gunner, Earnest crash landed 8-T-1 on the beach at Sand Island.

Two hours after the attacks from Midway, Torpedo Squadrons 3, 6, and 8 from Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet, went into attack, losing 10 of 12 TBD-1s from VT-3, 9 of 14 from VT-6, and all 15 from VT-8. However, three squadrons of Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Enterprise and Yorktown successfully sank three of the Japanese aircraft carriers and, although Yorktown was sunk later that day, the U.S. Navy pilots sank the fourth Japanese CV.

TBF-1 8-T-1, although badly damaged in the attack and crash landing, was repaired and, with the other 13 VT-8 detachment Avengers at Midway, was assigned to USS Saratoga. However, 8-T-1 didn’t survive long after the battle. It was lost during flight operations off Suva Bay, Fiji, on 30 July 1942.
After the war, George Gay had a long career flying for Trans World Airlines. From time to time, he was invited to speak at commemorations of the Battle of Midway. At one of these events, Bert Earnest and Harry Ferrier were also invited. “They were standing at the back of the auditorium when Tex was introduced as the sole survivor of Torpedo Eight. Later, someone asked them why they were there, and Bert replied, ‘We’re the other sole survivors.’” [Mrazek]
Images:

1. Pilots of the VT-8 Detachment examine a new Grumman TBF-1 at Naval Air Station Norfolk in February 1942. Source: U.S. Navy photograph via Wikipedia, available at Grumman TBF Avenger - Wikipedia

2. Grumman TBF-1 Avenger BuNo 00380, 8-T-1, at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, April 1942, prior to being deployed to the Pacific. USN photograph reproduced in Kinsey and Roszak, p. 83.

3. “Grumman TBF-1 ‘Avenger’ (BuNo 00380) Coded 8-T-1, from VT-8, soon after returning from the morning strike against the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942.” NHHC Image, available at NH 102559 Grumman TBF-1 "Avenger" (BuNo 00380) Coded 8-T-1, from VT-8, Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942

4. Grumman TBF-1 BuNo 00380 Avenger of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8), on the beach at Sand Island, Midway. NHHC Image, available at 80-G-17063 Battle of Midway, June 1942

Sources:

Aerodata International, “Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger,” U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of World War II, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1987, reprint of Vintage Aviation Publications edition, pp. 89-120.

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, Third Series (00001 to 10316),” available at US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Third Series (00001 to 10316)

René Francillon, Grumman (Eastern) TBF (TBM) Avenger, Aircraft Profile 214, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications, 1971.

Louis Gardner, Midway Group Build, VT-8 “Torpedo 8” Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, 1/48 Accurate Miniatures, available at https://imodeler.com/2017/06/midway-...es-back-dated/ A description of a build of a model of 8-T-1 with many images of the actual aircraft and of the model.

Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak, “Grumman TBF & General Motors TBM Avenger,” U.S. Navy and Marine Carrier-Based Aircraft of World War II, Middletown, DE: Detail & Scale Aviation Publications, 2018, pp. 83-89

John B. Lundstrom, The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1984.

Joseph V. Mizrahi, U.S. Navy Dive and Torpedo Bombers, Northridge, CA: Sentry Books, 1967, p. 54.

Robert J. Mrazek, “Torpedo Eight's Celebrated Survivor,” Naval History Magazine, Volume 31, Number 3 (June 2017), available at https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval...rated-survivor

Charles L. Scrivner, TBM/TBF Avenger in Action, Aircraft Number 82, Carrolton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1987.

Barrett Tillman, Avenger at War, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1990, reprint of Ian Allan 1979 publication.
Attached Thumbnails
Battle Of Midway models project-1_grumman_tbf-1_being_examined_by_vt-8_pilots_wiki.jpg   Battle Of Midway models project-2_grumman_tbf_8-t-1_nasnorfolk_apr1942_kinzey-roszak_p83.jpg   Battle Of Midway models project-3_grumman_tbf_8-t-1_sandislandmidway_nhhc_image102559.jpg   Battle Of Midway models project-4_grumman_tbf_8-t-1_sandislandmidway_nhhc_image80-g-17063.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-24-2021, 11:06 AM
Butelczynski's Avatar
Butelczynski Butelczynski is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Brampton ,Ontario
Posts: 3,151
Total Downloaded: 322.93 MB
Don,I was hoping you will provide us with info like this.This thread is not only about models.It's about those who were there.
Btw-Kacper did send me his recolor of the same TBF in Midway colors-it will be done a bit later.

Today I have pictures of another of Rata reclors ,this time TBD Devastator. It's in colors of one the machines mentioned in above writing by Don. Devastator was a predecessor of Avenger.Battle of Midway was (according to Wiki) the last armed use of this plane. All remaining ones were pushed stateside to be used for training.

Model on pictures is larger than 1:72 scale so I tried arming it with a torpedo,unfortunately Mk14 torpedo has very different proportions than any torpedo model I found. Maybe next time. Meanwhile enjoy the pictures



Years ago on ecards there use to be a recolor of this plane in those colors but of model but Aaron Murphy. If author of that recolor is reading it please contact me.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-24-2021, 11:41 AM
konguinio871 konguinio871 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: GB
Posts: 155
Total Downloaded: 396.75 MB
Send a message via ICQ to konguinio871 Send a message via AIM to konguinio871 Send a message via Yahoo to konguinio871 Send a message via Skype™ to konguinio871
Smile

hello i got the dauntless douglas sbd from the battle of midway

Last edited by rickstef; 12-24-2021 at 11:51 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-24-2021, 11:50 AM
rickstef's Avatar
rickstef rickstef is offline
ETERNAL ADMINISTRATOR
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Wales, Florida
Posts: 9,776
Total Downloaded: 683.37 MB
Send a message via Yahoo to rickstef Send a message via Skype™ to rickstef
Quote:
Originally Posted by konguinio871 View Post
hello i got the dauntless douglas sbd from the battle of midway
You CANNOT share paid for models, that is pirating.
__________________
"Rock is Dead, Long Live Paper and Scissors"
International Paper Model Convention Blog
http://paperdakar.blogspot.com/
"The weak point of the modern car is the squidgy organic bit behind the wheel." Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear's Race to Oslo
Reply With Quote
Google Adsense
  #16  
Old 12-24-2021, 11:59 AM
konguinio871 konguinio871 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: GB
Posts: 155
Total Downloaded: 396.75 MB
Send a message via ICQ to konguinio871 Send a message via AIM to konguinio871 Send a message via Yahoo to konguinio871 Send a message via Skype™ to konguinio871
Unhappy

I am not sharing anything just showing the title of the model because they are talking about the models of the battle of midway I also have that model
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 12-24-2021, 05:51 PM
Rata's Avatar
Rata Rata is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,808
Total Downloaded: 871.99 MB
Jim and Don, how about VMF-221 Capt. W.C.Humberd's F2A-3?
I'll be starting a test build of it probably tomorrow to post on this thread.
Attached Thumbnails
Battle Of Midway models project-scan_20211225.jpg   Battle Of Midway models project-capture.jpg  
__________________
''Oh, stop whining! Can't you just print off another one?''- my wife ca 2018
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 12-24-2021, 06:14 PM
Rata's Avatar
Rata Rata is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,808
Total Downloaded: 871.99 MB
Don, thanks so much for revisiting and posting on here the write-up on 00380 you did for Kacper.
Unfortunately I was given a bum steer by the Bill Gunston book 'Aircraft Of World War Two' that is a prized part of my book collection. The abbreviated story he relates of this TBF-1's involvement in the battle has always fascinated me and I've always wanted a model of it and why I jumped at doing the repaint. Unfortunately the otherwise excellent accompanying Pino dell'Orco illustration in the book gives an incorrect identification number. While 8-T-3 certainly existed, it's not the one I wanted to portray.
Karol's build has shown a couple of other boo-boos that need correcting, so while I'm at fixing those I'll change that fuselage code and will submit to downloads in it's revised form.

Cheers, Garry G.
Attached Thumbnails
Battle Of Midway models project-scan_20211225-2-.jpg  
__________________
''Oh, stop whining! Can't you just print off another one?''- my wife ca 2018
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 12-24-2021, 06:24 PM
Rata's Avatar
Rata Rata is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,808
Total Downloaded: 871.99 MB
Nice work Karol on Ensign George Gay's TBD. Do you mind if I use your photos for when I submit this model to Ecards?

I have feeling this thread will be long-lived one! While there will be (at least I'm hoping there will be) many other subjects by other designers/repainters, these are the Battle Of Midway 1/100 models I've prepared:

Boeing B-17E 41-2463 'Yankee Doodle' 431st BS, 11th BG
Aichi D3A-1 ''Val' IJN Carrier Soryu
Aichi E13A1 'Jake' IJN Cruiser Tone
Brewster F2A-3 VMF-221 Capt. W.C.Humberd
Consolidated PBY-5A 44-P-1 Ensign Jack Reid VP-44
Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull USS Portland
Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless Lt. R.H. Best C.O. of VB-6, USS Enterprise
Douglas TBD-1 Devastator Lt Cmdr John C. Waldron, VT-8, USS Hornet
Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat Lt Cmdr John S. Thach, VF-3, USS Yorktown
Grumman J2F-2 Duck NAS Midway Atoll
Mitsubishi A2M2b 'Zeke' IJN Carrier Akagi
Nakajima B2N2 'Kate' IJN Carrier Hiryu
Nakajima E8N2 'Dave' IJN Battleship Kongo
Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator Capt Richard E. Fleming VMSB-241

Garry G.
__________________
''Oh, stop whining! Can't you just print off another one?''- my wife ca 2018

Last edited by Rata; 12-24-2021 at 06:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 12-24-2021, 06:35 PM
Don Boose's Avatar
Don Boose Don Boose is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Posts: 20,702
Total Downloaded: 424.90 MB
Excellent TBD, Karol!

All the recommendations sound good to me.

Don
Reply With Quote
Google Adsense
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Parts of this site powered by vBulletin Mods & Addons from DragonByte Technologies Ltd. (Details)
Copyright © 2007-2023, PaperModelers.com