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F4U-4B from VF-53, Jet-Free-Task Group 77 (USS Essex – CV-9), Korea 1952.
Backgroung.
VF-53 was a part of first USN group send to Korea in July 1950 (based on USS Valley Forge CV-45). This unit was engaged twice in Korea: I tour July-December 1950 (USS Valley Forge CV-45), II tour June 1951-March 1952 (USS Essex CV-9). During this two tour units were lost in combat a 17 aircrafts, 8 pilots was rescued, one POW, one MIA and 6 KIA. During the whole Korea War they was shot down one enemy aircraft – on the beginning this claims was classify as North Korean Tu-2 or Soviet IL-4, but in end it was Soviet Boston A-20:
4 September 1950 A US Navy F4U-4B Corsair of VF-53, piloted by Ensign Edward V. Laney, shot down a Soviet Naval Aviation Douglas A-20 Box over the Yellow Sea, southeast of the Soviet-occupied Port Arthur Naval Base in China and west of the North Korean coast. Laney was one of a four-ship Combat Air Patrol from the carrier USS Valley Forge (part of Jet-Free-Task Force 77), which was protecting US Navy air activity against North Korea not long before the Inchon landings. The A-20 was one of two belonging to the Port Arthur-based 36th Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Red Banner Pacific Fleet, apparently sent out on an armed reconnaissance mission. A-20s had been supplied in quantity to the Soviets on Lend-Lease during World War 2, and this unit had had extensive experience during the war as torpedo bombers . The Corsairs encountered the two A-20s about 40 nautical miles from the Chinese coast. One A-20 turned back, but the other pressed on. As the Corsairs descended, the top turret gunner on the A-20 was observed to open fire. Richard E. Downs led Laney on a firing pass, and Laney hit the A-20 with his 20mm cannon. The Soviet aircraft then crashed into the sea. The US recovered the body of one Soviet crewman, later identified as that of Genaddiy Mishin, the copilot. The other two bodies, those of Senior Lt. Karpol, the aircraft commander, and Sgt. A. Makaganov, the gunner, were never found. Mishin's body was returned to the Soviets in 1956.
Ensign Edward V. Laney once again become of VF-53 hero when he took a part in very unusual rescue mission… 22 January 1952 VF-53 was send a few F4U on strike mission over Hangnum. One of them flown by Lt. John Abbot was badly damage (pilot haven’t got possibility to back safely to task group at Wonsan. Abbot was bailed out near enemy-occupied coast. Immediately from USS Rochester (CA-124) was send HO3S-1, helicopter was arrived within twenty minutes. The downed pilot was having a tough time in the water. He had become entangled in his chute and had not been able to get into his life raft, which had drifted away. By the time the helicopter was overhead, the water had chilled him so much he could not get into the rescue sling without assistance. The rescue crewman jumped in and secured the now unconscious pilot into the sling. The rescue crewmen was forced to remain in the water while the rescued man was hoisted out of the water. While the pilot could operate the hoist from the cockpit with a remote switch, the hoist was incapable of lifting the weight of two men, and there was no one in the cabin to pull the unconscious man into the cabin. The rescue pilot had no choice but to leave his rescue swimmer in the water and hustle the unconscious pilot to the nearest friendly ship and race back to get swimmer. Before the helicopter could get back to pick him up, Laney flown one from circling RESCAP F4U tried to drop a raft to rescue crewman. In a freak accident, the raft became fouled on the stabilizer and the plane was forced to crash-lending on the beach. Laney was unhurt but under fire from approaching enemy. He ran into the water to escape capture and swam out to the rescue crewman. Rest of VF-53 RESCAP overhead kept the enemy from following by keeping the beach clear with strafing passes. Both men were picked up when helicopter was returned.
Model.
The model I built from Academy kit. Painted using Agama acrylics and varnish, wash made with using MIG's “potions” - dark wash & neutral wash. Decals come with a original factory set and were "supported" by Mr.. Mark Softer. Exhaust made using brush and Van Ghog oil (Raw Umber).
Backgroung.
VF-53 was a part of first USN group send to Korea in July 1950 (based on USS Valley Forge CV-45). This unit was engaged twice in Korea: I tour July-December 1950 (USS Valley Forge CV-45), II tour June 1951-March 1952 (USS Essex CV-9). During this two tour units were lost in combat a 17 aircrafts, 8 pilots was rescued, one POW, one MIA and 6 KIA. During the whole Korea War they was shot down one enemy aircraft – on the beginning this claims was classify as North Korean Tu-2 or Soviet IL-4, but in end it was Soviet Boston A-20:
4 September 1950 A US Navy F4U-4B Corsair of VF-53, piloted by Ensign Edward V. Laney, shot down a Soviet Naval Aviation Douglas A-20 Box over the Yellow Sea, southeast of the Soviet-occupied Port Arthur Naval Base in China and west of the North Korean coast. Laney was one of a four-ship Combat Air Patrol from the carrier USS Valley Forge (part of Jet-Free-Task Force 77), which was protecting US Navy air activity against North Korea not long before the Inchon landings. The A-20 was one of two belonging to the Port Arthur-based 36th Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Red Banner Pacific Fleet, apparently sent out on an armed reconnaissance mission. A-20s had been supplied in quantity to the Soviets on Lend-Lease during World War 2, and this unit had had extensive experience during the war as torpedo bombers . The Corsairs encountered the two A-20s about 40 nautical miles from the Chinese coast. One A-20 turned back, but the other pressed on. As the Corsairs descended, the top turret gunner on the A-20 was observed to open fire. Richard E. Downs led Laney on a firing pass, and Laney hit the A-20 with his 20mm cannon. The Soviet aircraft then crashed into the sea. The US recovered the body of one Soviet crewman, later identified as that of Genaddiy Mishin, the copilot. The other two bodies, those of Senior Lt. Karpol, the aircraft commander, and Sgt. A. Makaganov, the gunner, were never found. Mishin's body was returned to the Soviets in 1956.
Ensign Edward V. Laney once again become of VF-53 hero when he took a part in very unusual rescue mission… 22 January 1952 VF-53 was send a few F4U on strike mission over Hangnum. One of them flown by Lt. John Abbot was badly damage (pilot haven’t got possibility to back safely to task group at Wonsan. Abbot was bailed out near enemy-occupied coast. Immediately from USS Rochester (CA-124) was send HO3S-1, helicopter was arrived within twenty minutes. The downed pilot was having a tough time in the water. He had become entangled in his chute and had not been able to get into his life raft, which had drifted away. By the time the helicopter was overhead, the water had chilled him so much he could not get into the rescue sling without assistance. The rescue crewman jumped in and secured the now unconscious pilot into the sling. The rescue crewmen was forced to remain in the water while the rescued man was hoisted out of the water. While the pilot could operate the hoist from the cockpit with a remote switch, the hoist was incapable of lifting the weight of two men, and there was no one in the cabin to pull the unconscious man into the cabin. The rescue pilot had no choice but to leave his rescue swimmer in the water and hustle the unconscious pilot to the nearest friendly ship and race back to get swimmer. Before the helicopter could get back to pick him up, Laney flown one from circling RESCAP F4U tried to drop a raft to rescue crewman. In a freak accident, the raft became fouled on the stabilizer and the plane was forced to crash-lending on the beach. Laney was unhurt but under fire from approaching enemy. He ran into the water to escape capture and swam out to the rescue crewman. Rest of VF-53 RESCAP overhead kept the enemy from following by keeping the beach clear with strafing passes. Both men were picked up when helicopter was returned.
Model.
The model I built from Academy kit. Painted using Agama acrylics and varnish, wash made with using MIG's “potions” - dark wash & neutral wash. Decals come with a original factory set and were "supported" by Mr.. Mark Softer. Exhaust made using brush and Van Ghog oil (Raw Umber).
