F4U-1D's of VMF112 - ac numbers

[petewenman]

Guys hi

I'm working on a painting, and plan to have five F4U-1D's from VMF112 circa 1945 flying together, and cannot find too much info.

What I'm really after is the aircraft numbers of five aircraft that flew together, otherwise I'm going to have to guess and some "expert" is bound to come along later and say that aircraft "x" couldn't have flown with aircraft "y" as it crashed the week before.

Any and all help on this welcome

thanks

Pete

[JACK COOK]

I'm certainly no expert but my cousin, Capt Don Owen, was the flight officer (3rd in command) of VMF-112 on the Bennington and scored his 5th kill shortly before he was killed. His F4U-1D was #3 and I have a photo of it. Also Hap Hansen 's was #1 and I do know Hansen's wingman was #35. I can try and did out the info on who would have been my cousin's wingman.
BTW a 4 plane division would look better that 5. No odd man out per say.

[petewenman]

Jack hi

Thanks for the response, that's a great piece of information, made all the more special as it puts names to pilots - a real human connection.

If you could find out the wingman of your cousin I can include the pair of them in addition to Hansen.

My reference material is light, so if you can add to this it would be really helpful.

So far, I've found photos of
#3 on the deck of the Bennington,
Hansen in #1 lined up on deck with the tail of#35 just visible beside him.
#38 in flames having crashed on landing.
It also seems that Hansen had a yellow propeller hub.

I've attached the thumbnail sketch I'm working from showing the five plane formation, as if seen from a sixth. I always think odd numbers work better in a painting, but you point is well made. I'd be interested to hear what you think of this piece.



This a colour study, and so 20" x 8". I hope to start painting later today

thanks

Pete

[Tom Semenza]

As you may both be aware, due to the nature af carrier operations, pilots rarely had a specific aircraft assigned and flew whichever plane was positioned on the deck for his formation assignment. A notable exception is that the CAG generally used the same aircraft for all his missions.

The Princeton's deck crew also seemed to work to make sure a pilot's assigned aircraft was positioned on the flight deck for each mission. I would welcome Jack Cook's comments on whether this was also the case on the Bennington.

Tom

[R Leonard]

And as Jack mentioned, I'd urge you to tone it down to 4 aircraft instead of 5. Standard division in USN/USMC doctrine was 4 planes in two 2-plane sections. Five might look neat, but those in the know on naval aviation would scratch their heads and say "I wonder why there's 5, should be 4."

For what it is worth.

Rich

[JACK COOK]

Dave Andre had told me the wheels of the aqd had assigned a/c ie Hansen #1, Andre #2 & Owen #3. The division leaders had assigned a/c but it would be doubtful if everyone always few their own airplane regularly. The prop domes and cowling ring on Don's #3 B/ N 82325 were white has were all a/c in the sqd.

[petewenman]

Guys hi

I've made good progress on this and so it's nearly finished. I need to let the paint dry before adding the final detail and highlights. I need to alter the tail number of aircraft #3 to 35, with the unfinished aircraft being Owen's number 3.

20" x 8" oil on canvas

Comments welcome

Pete

[JACK COOK]

That's cool! where do I get my print??!!

[petewenman]

Jack hi

Thanks for the comment, glad you like it.

I'll look into getting some prints made, but if anyone is interested, the original can be had for $480 (P&P included)

Pete

[petewenman]

We'll call this finished

A colour study, 20" x 8" oil on canvas.



A closer view of Owens plane, (it measures 5.5 inches on the painting).



Pete