Friedkin's Hellcat

[Pat Carry]

I dont think this has been mentioned on the WIX previously but in the current Air Classics there is a bit of info about the Friedkin F6F getting a new paint job. Its been painted to look like a Hellcat flown by Butch O'Hare. Since Butch O'Hare is one of my ultimate heroes from WW2, I think this is a great tribute to him.

[bdk]

It was painted before the airshow in May. I much prefer the new scheme to the old.

[k5083]

I vote for the old one! But the new one is not bad, and it's always nice to see a fresh look.

August

[warbird1]

It was painted before the airshow in May. I much prefer the new scheme to the old.

I agree, it finally looks good now. The Hellcat just looks plain weird in a British paint scheme. It's just like seeing a Mossie in a USAAC paint scheme (NMUSAF). That looks weird to me as well.

[Obergrafeter]

Brings up a question.......with all the warbirds he owns, does Rod Lewis have a F6F?

[warbird1]

Brings up a question.......with all the warbirds he owns, does Rod Lewis have a F6F?

No he doesn't, unless he did a deal that is not publicly known. I believe that most of the Hellcats are accounted for, but it wouldn't surprise me if he went for the crashed remains of the one up in Oregon. That would be a good basis for an airworthy restoration.

[RMAllnutt]

Whatever happened to the collection of Hellcat crash remains which were up for sale at the Jim Fry forced auction last year?

Cheers,
Richard

PS. I loved the FAA marked Hellcat scheme... and am sad it's gone. At least it was different from the normal lot we see. Personally, I'd love to see one in Aeronavale colors, or even the all red US Navy drones... now that would be cool, and unusual too.

[TimAPNY]

Anyone have a picture of it?

Tim

[mrp]

Here ya go !!

mrp

[TimAPNY]

Thank you very much!

[MKD1966]

I liked the FAA scheme but I also like this too... Maybe they can include it in the Naval Horsemen routine with the Bearcat and Corsair... That would be a cool looking 3 ship acro routine... Does anyone know if the A-36 has been painted yet ?
Mike

[Django]

I love it. There are far too few warbirds flying in markings from the red outline National Insignia timeframe.

What was the "FAA" scheme? I'm not familiar with that.

[k5083]

Actually the red outline insignia is way overrepresented on flying warbirds, in view of the very limited time it was in use. It is worn by a substantial percentage of the flying FG1Ds, 50% of SBDs (1 of 2), and a lot of SNJs and N2Ss. It's a good looking marking, so this is understandable. I guess it hasn't been seen on a flying F6F since POF's was lost.

FAA = Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy.

August

[Django]

I meant overall, not just Navy/Marine.

Got it, thanks.

[Mark Allen M]

I kind of like the old 70's scheme since the ole man flew hellcat's off the Franklin in Oct 44 ... although far from accurate representing any F6F air group from the USS Franklin.