Corgi US61005 Carrier Deck Set - USN F4U-1D Corsair, Figures and Diorama Base - Roger Hedrick, VF-17 "Jolly Rogers" (1:72 Scale)
"Why should we have a navy at all? There are no enemies for it to fight except apparently the Army Air Force."
- General Carl Spaatz, Commander of the US 8th Army Air Force, after WWII
Its gull-wing shape made it instantly recognizeable. Its characteristic sound while in an attack dive led the Japanese to call it "The Whistling Death." Combined with its high speed, agility and toughness, the Vought F4U Corsair was one of the finest fighters ever built. Originally thought to be too powerful to fly from a carrier, the Corsair weaved a path of destruction in battle after battle during WWII, totally outclassing the much-feared Zero. The last of the great piston-engine fighters, the Corsair went on to become an important component of the US naval air power during the Korean War. Even while it was being replaced by jet aircraft, pilots flying this tough warbird were credited with downing a few MiG-15 jet fighters.
This particular 1:72 scale replica of a Corsair, flown by Roger Hedrick, comes with four figures and a diorama base.
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Diorama Dimensions:
Length: 8-inches
Width: 8-inches
Release Date: April 2006
Historical Account: "Jolly Rogers" - Executive officer of legendary VF-17 "Jolly Rogers," with whom he claimed nine kills over Bougainville in 1943-44, Roger Hedrick led VF-84 on its fateful combat cruise aboard Bunker Hill in 1944-45. He claimed three kills in this machine on February 25th, 1945, over the Japanese islands, taking his final score to 12. Hedrick later assumed command of the vessel's Air Group (CVG-84) following the death of its previous commander in action. The aircraft's distinctive yellow nose, which had been applied for CVG-4's first Tokyo raid on February 19th, 1945, had been painted out by the time Hedrick claimed his last kills six days later.