Mysterious Hellcat!
 

Hello folks.
I have spent some years gathering information on Allied & German aircraft losses/incidents in & around the Channel Islands during the period of the German Occupation (40-45).I used to post requests on a regular basis on these forums.
But,due to various factors (two kids/job/wife etc),I let my researching lapse over the last couple of years.However,I have been bitten by the bug again and need your help on a number of subjects!

So I thought i'd ask for info on one of the oddest losses on my to do list!

The story is this.During the early 70s,a scrap metal dealer from the island of Guernsey recovered the remains of a Grumman Hellcat from the sea just to the north of the small island of Herm.See link below for a scanned photo.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ermHellcat.jpg

The a/c,it is said,was shot down by flak on or about D-Day.The pilot put the Hellcat (a Fleet Air Arm example?) down on Shell Beach, Herm and was subsequently captured by the Germans with minor injuries and sent to the continent as a POW! The plane was reclaimed by the sea and sat there for 30 years. The bulk of the F6F,sadly, coroded away over the years and litle or nothing is said to exist!

However, if you ever find yourself on Herm, a visit to the small pub on the island will turn up one or two small parts which form the base of a yachting trophy. I believe they are a valve and spring from the Hellcats engine.

I have spent ages in the past looking for info on the plane & pilot but have turned up very little. Could you help? What was a Hellcat doing over the heavily defended Channel Islands on the 6th June '44? Were these aircraft used on or around that date? I have trawled through the FAA Archive website and have found only one pilot lost at around this time. He was Cdr.Keene-Millar, the CO of 808 Sqn. He was allegedly shot down by 109s over Normandy and made a POW!

However, 808 Sqn. were using Seafires on spotting sorties at this time and didn't convert to Hellcats until later in the year when they were sent to the Far-East! Could it possibly have been a US aircraft?

If anyone can help please do and clear up a mystery thats been bugging me for ages.

Thanks.....Steve.

Re: Mysterious Hellcat!
 

HI.steve< hellcat some RAF crews did use them maybe this is one.as to USA crews there ????? ..as i know norway 80 sqn used them there in 1944.FROM CARRIERS, and mustangs too.from england bases. not carriers. this is a real bug..............are you sure its USA and not french flown they did have some after 45.....see armor 1 48th scale models.
GARY

Re: Mysterious Hellcat!
 

It appears that on D-Day No 804 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm operated Hellcats from the carrier HMS Emperor in the Western approaches to the Channel to provide cover from that area.

Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium

Re: Mysterious Hellcat!
 

I'm afraid Cdr Keene-Miller can be ruled out indeed. He flew Seafire III NF486 with No 808 Squadron FAA when shot down over Normandy on 7 June 44.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Mysterious Hellcat!
 

Thanks guys!

804 Sqn. sounds promising. They flew Hellcat Is from HMS Emperor which provided air cover over the Western approaches during Overlord. The Channel Islands aren't too far away so perhaps one of their pilots strayed a bit too close?

It would be nice to know the pilots name and some aircraft details! Is there anyone out there with such info or could someone point me in the right direction please?:)