Cousin Bill's Hellcat

[Grey Beema]

Cousin Bill’s Hellcat

 

“25th July

"The dusk CAP took off at 1700 hrs and Taylors RT went for a very smart burton.  At 1845 hrs Fosters Engine began doing queer things and it is believed that the drop tank could not have been completely full as all went on main.  Five minutes later Mackie and Atkinson were sent off on a vector to 20,000 feet and Foster told to stay at 5 with Taylor and both to land.

 

At 1915 hrs the two types at 20 caught up with a number of Graces (Aichi B7A) carrying torpedoes. Atkinson hacked down two before you could say ‘Bob’s your uncle’ and Mackie brought the score to three and probably a forth. In no time at all.  Atkinson then perceived aJapanesemaking what might be termed an ‘ugly dash’ at him, so to quote our hero ‘I did a tight loop and rolled out on his tail!’ This statement is believed to be one of the best lines we shot, but the fact remains that he badly damaged this aircraft and it has been claimed by him as a probable.  It was last seen in a 40-degree dive towards the ‘oggin’.  From that moment signals came in thick and fast, the all-important one from Rear-Admiral Vian, ‘Hearty congratulations’ and Admiral Halsey, ‘May I congratulate your CIC Officers and CAP pilots’.

 

Churchills famous statement, ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few’ was written about such gallant men as these two dashing young pilots’”.  ^{Heaven High Ocean Deep – Naval Fighter Wing At War.  Tim Hillier-Graves}

 

I have built a representation of JX772 previously, as have many.  I started this particular build with revision, going through the various notes and posts in Britmodeller and other sources.

 

JX772 was assigned to 1839 Squadron, 5th Naval Fighter Wing HMS Indomitable, British Pacific Fleet in May ’45.  In June HMS Indomitable returned to Sydney for refit.  Six Hellcats were detached with six 1844 Squadron Pilots, Mechanics and Fighter Controller to HMS Formidable, 4 for Dawn & Dusk fighter cover (JX772 was one of these) and two for Photo Reconnaissance. 

 

My search for wartime photos of JX772 has been unsuccessful but in the Britmodeller notes @iang refers to unpublished film that shows JX772: X/119.  An unusual feature with JX772 it that it has the serial applied above the carrier code on the fin in white and no Royal Navy titling.   There is a published wartime news reel shot on board HMS Formidable which has in the background two Hellcats.  Closer, frame by frame, inspection showed one of the aircraft being serviced was Hellcat 119.

 

 

Items of note.  The Aircraft is painted Gloss Sea Blue.  Round Rear view mirror.  High contrast colour around Engine cowling panels.  High gloss finish.  Sky auxiliary fuel tank (paint worn on nose).

 

I decided I would try to emulate the photograph in my model of JX772 / X119

 

Sharing the family name with Bill Atkinson I wondered if there was any family connection.  My wife, Lornagh, is a very good amateur genealogist and she built a family tree for Bill Atkinson.  She traced his family from Canada where Bill was born back to Huddersfield, Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.  Bill’s Second Great Grandfather being a Wool Stapler, Arthur Atkinson.  My family also come from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, my Third Great Grandfather, Arthur Atkinson being a Wool Stapler.  Thus, Lornagh established there is a strong probability of a family link between Bill Atkinson and me.  Bill is probably a distant cousin.

 

This is my representation of Grumman Hellcat Mk II.  JX772 / X119 – Cousin Bill’s Hellcat.

 

Kit is Eduard 1/48 Grumman Hellcat MkII, with:-

• Eduard etch F6F-5 Interior detail set
• Eduard Brassin Hellcat Engine detailing set
• Wolfpack Wingfold Set
• Scratch built changes & detailing
• Trolleys, Cases, oil cans – Airfix Ready for Battle set
• ICM & Resin printed Figures,
• Colourcoats enamels, Tamiya Acrylics, Generic Markings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On its display base..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy the photographs

 

Thanks for stopping by..

[Skyf24]

Great build, with an equally great story and connection. 

 

I picked up some decals to do a build of Bill's Hellcat as well, to go with Hammie's Corsair. I hope to do half as good as your finish! 

[dnl42]

Very well done! Bravo! 

[fox1_BE]

Nice touch with the dio on the base 👍

[bigbadbadge]

What a great connection and backround information GB,  cracking work on the Hellcat it looks awesome with the wings folded and partially exposed engine. 

Great base and diorama.  Love this .

Chris

[Keeff]

A great background to this and a superb build.... 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[noelh]

That's excellent, handy having a genealogist in the family. Being able to connect to a relative is great.

The diorama Is very evocative. 

 

Your mention of the sky auxiliary fuel tank reminds me. I have a question, you being an FAA afficionado. I'm building Revells FAA Corsair in Gloss Sea Blue. Photos show light coloured auxiliary fuel tanks. Would that  have  being sky?

 

 

 

 

[stevehnz]

That is a super build GB & a wonderful story to go with it. A query though, why no upper marking on the starboard wing, was this a squadron thing or something else? I've long thought both side top & bottom was how the FAA did it, even in the BPF.

Steve.

[Scooby]

Nice build, great story. I was fortunate to meet Bill Atkinson a few times, he was a guest speaker at a few mess dinners I attended. As well, a senior pilot I served with flew Banshees with him in the RCN. I have one other in-direct connection, a former FAA pilot I knew since I was a young child, flew with him on the Formidable.

[kapam]

At first, I thought this was a build of the Airfix 1/24 Hellcat.  Only when I went back to the text did I realise it is half that size.  That is very impressive.  Beautiful display too.

👏👏👏

[Grey Beema]

19 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

What a great connection and backround information GB,  cracking work on the Hellcat it looks awesome with the wings folded and partially exposed engine. 

Great base and diorama.  Love this .

Chris

Thanks Chris..

[Grey Beema]

15 hours ago, stevehnz said:

That is a super build GB & a wonderful story to go with it. A query though, why no upper marking on the starboard wing, was this a squadron thing or something else? I've long thought both side top & bottom was how the FAA did it, even in the BPF.

Steve.

Hi Steve, the BPF used the same layout for Roundel and bar as their American cousins to avoid confusion.  Upper left, lower right..

[Grey Beema]

12 hours ago, Scooby said:

Nice build, great story. I was fortunate to meet Bill Atkinson a few times, he was a guest speaker at a few mess dinners I attended. As well, a senior pilot I served with flew Banshees with him in the RCN. I have one other in-direct connection, a former FAA pilot I knew since I was a young child, flew with him on the Formidable.

That is so cool.  I managed to snaffle the last copy of his biography and have photos of a couple of pages of his logbook..

[Grey Beema]

16 hours ago, noelh said:

That's excellent, handy having a genealogist in the family. Being able to connect to a relative is great.

The diorama Is very evocative. 

 

Your mention of the sky auxiliary fuel tank reminds me. I have a question, you being an FAA afficionado. I'm building Revells FAA Corsair in Gloss Sea Blue. Photos show light coloured auxiliary fuel tanks. Would that  have  being sky?

 

 

 

 

I think I would opt for Sky or at least US equivalent Sky.  The tanks were probably meant for Corsairs completed in TSS (or at least US equivalent)..

[georgeusa]

I'm not sure which is better, the Hellcat or the diorama.  Both are done to such high standards.  Really enjoyed the background story and how you traced your roots and the pilot back to a common ancestor.  Thanks for sharing.

[85sqn]

Well done old boy, absolutely fantastic work. I'm still trying to find Henry Adlams Hellcat(s) from 1839 Sqn around the Palembang/Pangkalan Brandan Ops. I believe he is possibly a distant relative too!

 

Best regards 

 

Nick

[Grey Beema]

4 hours ago, georgeusa said:

I'm not sure which is better, the Hellcat or the diorama.  Both are done to such high standards.  Really enjoyed the background story and how you traced your roots and the pilot back to a common ancestor.  Thanks for sharing.

Thanks George..

[Grey Beema]

57 minutes ago, 85sqn said:

Well done old boy, absolutely fantastic work. I'm still trying to find Henry Adlams Hellcat(s) from 1839 Sqn around the Palembang/Pangkalan Brandan Ops. I believe he is possibly a distant relative too!

 

Best regards 

 

Nick

Thanks Nick.  Weekend is coming, I can take a trip down my cave and see if I can find anything…

[stevehnz]

4 hours ago, Grey Beema said:

Hi Steve, the BPF used the same layout for Roundel and bar as their American cousins to avoid confusion.  Upper left, lower right..

That makes sense, I guess I'm confusing the BPF aircraft with East Indies Fleet aircraft. 😕

Steve.

[IanC]

Bravo!  The figures really make the scene - so evocative. 

[Dermo245]

 

I was lucky to see this up close at last weekend's IPMS Ireland Nationals - it was a multiple category award winner and Phil also went home with 'Best in Show' which was thoroughly deserved. 

 

A wonderful build with such attention to detail. Then there was the excellent research which made for a great story with a personal connection.

 

Great stuff @Grey Beema

 

[MACALAIN]

Very well done.

 

Alain

[KieranH]

Well done mate. You didn't state you were the Best in show and winner of the prize for the build and background history as well. Modest as ususal.

[Grey Beema]

8 hours ago, Dermo245 said:

 

I was lucky to see this up close at last weekend's IPMS Ireland Nationals - it was a multiple category award winner and Phil also went home with 'Best in Show' which was thoroughly deserved. 

 

A wonderful build with such attention to detail. Then there was the excellent research which made for a great story with a personal connection.

 

Great stuff @Grey Beema

 

Cheers Dermot.  Did I forget to mention that bit!!
 

You spotted the spanners then?

[Grey Beema]

7 hours ago, KieranH said:

Well done mate. You didn't state you were the Best in show and winner of the prize for the build and background history as well. Modest as ususal.

Cheers Kieran.  Hope you enjoyed the show..