The F4F-4 represents Wildcat F-12 from VF-5, part of the USS Saratoga's air group in August 1942. This aircraft was piloted by Lt. James Southerland II on August 7, 1942, the day Guadalcanal was invaded. Leading a division of four Wildcats, callsign Scarlet Two, Southerland made contact with 27 Betty bombers over "Ironbottom Sound" and immediately engaged. Executing a skilled firing run Southerland shot down a Betty, the first Japanese aircraft to fall during the campaign. He then maneuvered to shoot a second bomber which began smoking but did not fall though its damage would lead to it being shot down later. Southerland's Wildcat was hit and damaged by bomber return fire and he decided to dive out. The rest of his division did not have their leader's good fortune. As the were turning with him to attack the bombers, they were set upon by Zeros, losing two fighters with the third damaged and out of the fight. While departing the airspace above Guadalcanal Southerland was attacked by 3 Zeros of the famed Tainan Air Group holding his own for a few minutes until he ran out of ammo - and famed ace Saburu Sakai joined the fight. Sakai pumped the Wildcat full of holes until the engine finally flamed at low altitude. Southerland managed to bail out wounded in several places, coming to earth on Guadalcanal, behind Japanese lines. He evaded and finally made it back to American lines near Henderson Field on 20 August. Southerland would be credited with two victories on this day and a further three later in the war. Sadly, he would be killed in a training accident in 1949. The remains of Wildcat F-12 were discovered in the Jungle in 1998.
The A6M2b Zero represents aircraft X-157, of the 3rd Naval Flying Group stationed on Rabaul during much of the campaign. This aircraft was flown by Lt. Takahide Aioi, hikotaicho group leader of the fighters during air operations. Aioi flew this plane during most of the campaign, but I have not been able to find out if he scored any victories during that time, though he engaged in several combats with American fighters operating from Henderson Field. He finished the war with 10 confirmed victories as the XO of the 343rd Air Group in Japan; the fact that he survived the war shows he had better then average luck and skills. Aioi rose to command Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, the equivilent of the USN's Chief of Naval Operations.
I built both planes out of box. I wanted to give them a somewhat worn look, without making them seem ready for the bone yard. The pilot figures are from PJ Productions and the base is an Eduard USN Carrier Deck. I may return to weather the deck at a later date, but it displays the models nicely, so maybe not. Overall, I am pleased with how they planes turned out.
Enjoy the pictures,
Ernest
