VF-16 ace

[CJE]

Can anyone ID this ace of VF-16 about to take-off from USS Lexington in 1944?

Thanks.

Chris

[twocee]

If you don't who he is how do you know that he is an ace?

[CJE]

Nine Japanese flags painted under the cockpit seem to be a good clue, don't you think so?

[RSwank]

Possibly Cdr Paul D Buie who flew #7. He had 9 kills.
Image here when he had 7 kills (see 2nd plane down from top of page).

http://www.markstyling.com/F6F.04.htm


Here is the plane on the Lexington in March 1944.

http://ww2.wwarii.com/wwii-equipment...ts-of-FS-VF-16

[Michal R.]

It is Cdr Paul D. Buie, commander of VF-16.
http://www.markstyling.com/F6F.04.htm

[twocee]

It could be any VF16 pilot in the cockpit of an F6F painted to show Buie's kills!

[RSwank]

Actually, according to the book "Hellcat Aces of WWII", all VF-16 pilots had an assigned aircraft and while in most squadrons pilots seldom flew their "assigned" planes, VF-16 was one of the few squadrons that did make the effort. So the odds are good that Buie was at the controls in the photo.

[twocee]

It must be borne in mind that Navy squadrons had many more pilots than aircraft so Buie's favourite Hellcat would have been flown by other VF16 pilots when not needed by him.

[CJE]

Thanks to all of you, chaps.

[Buckeye30]

In most cases the flags were applied as decals supplied from the USA , they could be stuck on when a pilot had his photo taken either for himself or for propagander
purposes. A few senior commanders like McCampbell kept them on for a while. They were also used on warships for planes shot down eg. on gun turrets.
See attached piece.
Nick
http://www.fahnenversand.de/fotw/flags/xf-vict.html