Popular Post Mark Harmsworth Posted June 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 4, 2020 George W. Rarey was a commercial artist and cartoonist working for the Washington Star when, in early 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent for pre-flight training. On November 22, 1943 the 379th Fighter Squadron, along with the rest of the 362nd Fighter Group, set sail for England. George Rarey designed and painted the nose art for almost 30 aircraft. He would sketch a design based on the pilot's character and, if they were happy with it, create it on the cowling. His letter home of March 5, 1944: “Painted some cowlings this afternoon - have about half of them finished. It is a colorful thing to see the old 379th lined up for take off - looks like a menagerie. It sort of gives personality to an otherwise pretty cold collection of machinery. I think it means quite a bit to the pilots, and the crews that keep the planes in shape get a kick out of them, too - and I enjoy doing it, a pretty good thing all around.” He was described by fellow servicemen as gentle and friendly, always drawing or sketching during his free time. At grand old age of 25 he naturally was called “Dad”. On the 22nd March he heard that he had become a father to a son, Damon. In his letter to his wife he said “this happiness is nigh unbearable” and in celebration he renamed and repainted his P-47 as “Damon’s Demon”. In April the 362nd moved to the Advanced Landing Ground at RAF Headcorn in Kent. This meant more dive bombing and less escort duties although D-Day saw them escort a large group of C-47s towing gliders to the beachhead where they dropped onto the Cherbourg peninsula. But ground attack was a risky business and sadly he would never meet his son. On June 26, 1944, Captain George Rarey was leading a flight of four on a search and destroy mission which spotted a German lorry transporting troops. As they attacked, 20mm AA flak appeared around them and, George Rarey's plane exploded. Damon, the son who never met his father, later published a book of his father’s wartime sketches and cartoons entitled “Laughter and Tears”. There is also a website devoted to his father which includes sketches, extracts from letters and how he found the crash site. I can recommend it: http://rarey.com/rareybird/ This is the Tamiya 1:48 P-47D razorback which, as you might expect, was an enjoyable build. The extras were a Yahu instrument panel (I love those things), Montex canopy masks and Barracudacal decals for 'Damon's Demon' from the Maugin's Maulers sheet which includes stencils. The decals worked perfectly – my one gripe being no placement guide for the stencils so there was a bit of research done. Here we are then. Captain George W. Rarey's 'Damon's Demon' of the 379th FS, 362nd FG at RAF Headcorn, Kent, UK which I've attempted as at 6th June 1944. This last picture is my slowly growing collection of 9th Air Force planes - 'Damon's Demon' alongside 'Beantown Banshee' of the 354th FG just a few miles away at RAF Lashenden. I live near those old Advanced Landing Grounds 80 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 A touching story and a completely wonderful model to support it. Thank you for sharing! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Stunning work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_Ukraine Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Great! Your magnificent work and the story behind the aircraft really touched me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoohoo Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 A lovely model and a very worthy monument to a touching story, thanks for sharing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Excellent Thunderbolt and a lovely Mustang too ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith in the uk Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Great story , Great model , Great photography , whats not to like ? 10/10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Top notch, always nice to have the background as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Excellent work!great to hear the history behind the aircraft and it pilot. Very poignant. Cheers Greg 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Fantastic build, fantastic photography, fantastic backstory. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 2 hours ago, stoohoo said: A lovely model and a very worthy monument to a touching story, thanks for sharing Very well said and I couldn't agree more! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomLover Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Always nice when there is a story that comes with the model, and yours is particularly touching. Great Thunderbolt as well! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeuschile Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 excellent job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Mark, What a smashing result and a great story. I strongly urge anyone to go to the linked website, it's a joy and a delight tinged ultimately with sadness, you won't regret it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Brantley Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Great scale model and a wonderful tribute to the pilot! Thanks for sharing your story and build! 🍺 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 A very nice Thunderbolt. Such backstories bring a build to life and reminds one of the tragic fates which stand behind many of the machines we build. 👍 Cheers Markus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Fantastic model & a lovely tribute. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almac Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Lovely Thunderbolt and touching story. Cheers Allan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Great narrative, great photos, beautiful model! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Outstanding work and excellent presentation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAFAN Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Great story! what a wonderful way to bring that aircraft to life! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Lancaster Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Nice Razorback! Good to hear a bit of a backstory about of the subject as well, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 What everybody has said, great looking Thunderbolt and very touching story. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 On 6/5/2020 at 4:19 AM, Wez said: Mark, What a smashing result and a great story. I strongly urge anyone to go to the linked website, it's a joy and a delight tinged ultimately with sadness, you won't regret it. Very much agree with this, a superb bit of modelling & very interesting and moving website. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Very nice builds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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