RichB
Well-known member
This will be a 2-for-1 deal.
The First, Blenheim IV N6240 OK-M of 107 Sqn RAF.
Pilot : Sgt Plt Albert Stanley "Nab" Prince
Observer : Sgt George F Booth
Gunner : AC1 Laurence Joseph Slattery
Classic Airframes kit. Markings will be sourced from my selection of generic RAF decal sheets.
The Last, Corsair IV KD548 "130" 1842 Sqn FAA, HMS Formidable, British Pacific Fleet.
Pilot : Lt Gerald Arthur "Andy" Anderson RCNVR
The Tamiya kit is labeled as a F4U-1A but contains all the bits for a F4U-1D along with a MDC Conversion set it will make a Corsair IV. Markings will be sourced from generic FAA deal sheets.
On 04 Sep 1939, the RAF launched its first combat mission sending fifteen Blenheim bombers from 107, 110 and 139 Squadrons against the German Navy base at Wilhelmshaven. Sgt Prince's Blenheim was one of four 107 Sqn Blenheims shot down on that raid. All three crew members of N6240 were rescued from the harbour but Sgt Prince died of his injuries 5 days later, becoming the first Canadian to die in World War 2. Sgt Booth and AC1 Slattery survived their injuries and became the first RAF PoWs of the war. The crews of the other three aircraft shot down were all killed. The fifth aircraft from 107 sqn became lost in the low cloud and rain enroute to the target and returned to base without bombing.
On that day, Gerald Anderson was a 16 year old in Trenton, Ontario. Nearly six years later he was flying Corsairs off a carrier against the Japanese. On 09 Aug 1945, Ramrod 3A (8 Corsairs from Formidable) struck shipping in Onagawa Bay. It was during this action that Lt Robert Hampton Gray won the VC for his attack on and sinking of the destroyer Amasuka. Lt Anderson's Corsair had taken several AAA hits and was leaking fuel on the 150 mile flight back to the carrier. He flew a "by the book" approach but as he was about to cross the flight deck rounddown the engine quit and the Corsair sank rapidly. The aircraft slammed into the rounddown, the aft fuselage beaking off just behind the cockpit and falling into the wake. The wings and forward fuselage momentarily hung from the deck. As the deck crew watched it begin to slide backwards, they could see that the impact had slid the canopy closed and Anderson was slumped forward, but it isn't known if he was unconsious or dead. The aircraft dropped the forty feet into Formidable's wake and sank. Lt Anderson was the last Canadian to die in World War 2.
Cheers,
Rich
The First, Blenheim IV N6240 OK-M of 107 Sqn RAF.
Pilot : Sgt Plt Albert Stanley "Nab" Prince
Observer : Sgt George F Booth
Gunner : AC1 Laurence Joseph Slattery
Classic Airframes kit. Markings will be sourced from my selection of generic RAF decal sheets.
The Last, Corsair IV KD548 "130" 1842 Sqn FAA, HMS Formidable, British Pacific Fleet.
Pilot : Lt Gerald Arthur "Andy" Anderson RCNVR
The Tamiya kit is labeled as a F4U-1A but contains all the bits for a F4U-1D along with a MDC Conversion set it will make a Corsair IV. Markings will be sourced from generic FAA deal sheets.
On 04 Sep 1939, the RAF launched its first combat mission sending fifteen Blenheim bombers from 107, 110 and 139 Squadrons against the German Navy base at Wilhelmshaven. Sgt Prince's Blenheim was one of four 107 Sqn Blenheims shot down on that raid. All three crew members of N6240 were rescued from the harbour but Sgt Prince died of his injuries 5 days later, becoming the first Canadian to die in World War 2. Sgt Booth and AC1 Slattery survived their injuries and became the first RAF PoWs of the war. The crews of the other three aircraft shot down were all killed. The fifth aircraft from 107 sqn became lost in the low cloud and rain enroute to the target and returned to base without bombing.
On that day, Gerald Anderson was a 16 year old in Trenton, Ontario. Nearly six years later he was flying Corsairs off a carrier against the Japanese. On 09 Aug 1945, Ramrod 3A (8 Corsairs from Formidable) struck shipping in Onagawa Bay. It was during this action that Lt Robert Hampton Gray won the VC for his attack on and sinking of the destroyer Amasuka. Lt Anderson's Corsair had taken several AAA hits and was leaking fuel on the 150 mile flight back to the carrier. He flew a "by the book" approach but as he was about to cross the flight deck rounddown the engine quit and the Corsair sank rapidly. The aircraft slammed into the rounddown, the aft fuselage beaking off just behind the cockpit and falling into the wake. The wings and forward fuselage momentarily hung from the deck. As the deck crew watched it begin to slide backwards, they could see that the impact had slid the canopy closed and Anderson was slumped forward, but it isn't known if he was unconsious or dead. The aircraft dropped the forty feet into Formidable's wake and sank. Lt Anderson was the last Canadian to die in World War 2.
Cheers,
Rich
