The USS Hancock WWII Aircraft Gallery

The USS Hancock WWII Aircraft Gallery
This gallery is courtesy of the Hancock History Book
See the Order Blank for this Book ¤

† The F6F Hellcat had the highest Kill/Loss ratio of any American fighter plane in Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force service during WWII. It was designed specifically to stop the Japanese Zero Gilberts Operation, November 1943.

A Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5). Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts. Official U.S. Navy Photograph

Shipmates, this picture depicts Flight Quarters and Air Operations on Hancock in WWII. The above is a Launch Sequence of Grumman F6F Hellcats from VB-6 of Air Group 6. Photo actually was taken on the Yorktown, the 'Fighting Lady', Hannah's sister ship, during flight ops, November, 1943.*

Corsair Pilots celebrating a successful mission on the Lexington CV-16

† Pilots leaning across the tailplane of an F6F Hellcat on board the USS Lexington (CV-16) after shooting down 17 out of 20 Japanese planes heading for Tarawa November 1943 L - R: Ens. William J. Seyfferle, Ltjg. Alfred L. Frendberg, Lcdr. Paul D. Buie, Ens. John W. Bartol, Ltjg. Dean D. Whitmore, Ltjg. Francis M. Fleming, Ltjg. Eugene R. Hanks, Ens. E.J. Rucinski, Ltjg. R.G. Johnson, Ltjg. Sven Rolfsen.

Photo by: Edward J. Steichen

The picture above shows some Jubilant young pilots attached to squadrons on the USS Lexington CV-16 just after the Marshall Islands attack, November, 1943.

In them, you see the faces of every young pilot daring to be slung off the deck of aircraft carriers. They represent the 'Cream' of the American fighting man, who, unlike other fighter pilots, having passed Car-Quals, have proven themselves to be of the "Real Stuff" that makes up United States Naval Air.

I'd like to welcome you to our WWII Aircraft Gallery. As we don't have many pictures at this time, this Page is under construction.

Those of you who donated pictures to either the USS Hancock History Book or to the Association, who would like to also see your pictures displayed here in memory of a loved one or family member, living or not, please send them to the Yeoman, and credit and a Memorial will be made in your loved one's honor and memory beside each picture donated.

F4UD/FUF Corsair - outperformed the Zero...

Picture courtesy of Doc Andy Gibbons, and the San Francisco Chronicle
Although not taken during WWII, but Vietnam, it shows how the Corsair changed looks, but not it's reputation. Left, a Navy Corsair II jet fighter-bomber became operational in 1968, taken along side it's former namesake, a WWII F4UD/FUF Corsair, one of the few remaining flyable Corsairs. Newsprint, poor quality, donated by Doc Andy Gibbons, but still an interesting article.

Picture courtesy of
Hersch Pahl

The F4F -Grumman Wildcat picture courtesy of Hancock Shipmate Hersch Pahl. Thanks, Hersch! Visit..

Hersh Pahl Books

F6F is retrieved safely,
having aileron damage
US Navy Photo
A damaged FM is retrieved on the Flight Deck, with aileron damage, pilot was Lt. George S. Corthorn (US Navy Photo). This photo was taken during the Fourth Combat Cruise December 30, 1944 - January 25, 1945.

Hersch Pahl gave us a little run-down about this aircraft and believes it was a "visitor" to our deck from a CVE. Here's what he said: "The plane in question threw me. As I said first off, I thought it was a Hellcat, but it is not. I believe we are looking at an FM that came from one of the CVEs. It was a visitor to the Hancock. the FM was a Wildcat that Eastern Aircraft put an SBD engine on. The engine was an R-1830-86, It has 100 horse power..Top speed was listed at 275 mph. There was an FM-2 also. They probably built and used more FM-2 on the CVEs especially in the job of supporting the ground forces on Saipan and in that area. I just finished talking to Fred Thomas who flew them during that time period. They were great for air support. They were fast and did not go very high. In San Diego spring of '43 the first FM to arrive in that area was painted up with white rings around the fusalage and it was used as a air police to help catch the "flat hatters" in Our squadron and others who had people that liked to do things that they should not do. It was stripped down and was fast enough to run down an F6F at low altitude. I did not get caught, but that is not saying that I shouldn't have been caught a time or two. You will find a photo of the FM on page 425 of FLAT-TOPS AND FLEDGLINGS by Gareth L. Pawlowski. I recommend that you contact some of the "Jeep carrier" boys that flew those "souped up hot-rods". They liked them and are proud of their work in them during WW-II."

Thanks again to Hersch!

Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book

Picture #1 of a SB2C
Helldiver
Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book

Picture #2 of a SB2C
Helldiver
Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book
Members of VB-6 standing by a SB2C Helldiver of Air Group Six. Pictured 3rd from left is Louis Burke. Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book and donated by Lisa Burke Sweeten.

Airbone and in formation, the SB2C Helldiver also of VB-6 of Air Group Six.

We would like to thank Lisa Burke Sweeten for these nice pictures of the Helldiver.

Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book

US Navy Photo
An F6F Hellcat awaits the "go" from the catapult Officer, February 14, 1945.

Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book

Please donate your WWII Aircraft Pictures!!!

Your pictures of WWII
Aircraft will be welcome
and placed here!

Please donate pictures to this Gallery - as you can see
we are in despirate need of good pictures for the WWII
Aircraft Gallery.

WWII Gallery

The Earl P. Ayres Extended WWII Gallery

Catch the Launch to the Hancock Galleries

† Visit Aviation History site

¤If you have MS Word, see the Order Blank for the Hancock History Book
¤If you don't, then print out this order blank

Email Jake with a Picture or Picture Archive (zip)
Attachment with your Favorite Photos -
should be in JPG or GIF format only

* Contributor of the photo is unknown, but we thank him for taking such a brilliant picture of a Hellcat launch, and allowing us to use it. If the photographer visits here, please E-Mail as I'd like to have more great photos of WWII era aircraft.

Back

Picture courtesy of Doc Andy Gibbons, and the San Francisco Chronicle	Although not taken during WWII, but Vietnam, it shows how the Corsair changed looks, but not it's reputation. Left, a Navy Corsair II jet fighter-bomber became operational in 1968, taken along side it's former namesake, a WWII F4UD/FUF Corsair, one of the few remaining flyable Corsairs. Newsprint, poor quality, donated by Doc Andy Gibbons, but still an interesting article.
Picture courtesy of Hersch Pahl	The F4F -Grumman Wildcat picture courtesy of Hancock Shipmate Hersch Pahl. Thanks, Hersch! Visit.. Hersh Pahl Books
F6F is retrieved safely, having aileron damage US Navy Photo	A damaged FM is retrieved on the Flight Deck, with aileron damage, pilot was Lt. George S. Corthorn (US Navy Photo). This photo was taken during the Fourth Combat Cruise December 30, 1944 - January 25, 1945. Hersch Pahl gave us a little run-down about this aircraft and believes it was a "visitor" to our deck from a CVE. Here's what he said: "The plane in question threw me. As I said first off, I thought it was a Hellcat, but it is not. I believe we are looking at an FM that came from one of the CVEs. It was a visitor to the Hancock. the FM was a Wildcat that Eastern Aircraft put an SBD engine on. The engine was an R-1830-86, It has 100 horse power..Top speed was listed at 275 mph. There was an FM-2 also. They probably built and used more FM-2 on the CVEs especially in the job of supporting the ground forces on Saipan and in that area. I just finished talking to Fred Thomas who flew them during that time period. They were great for air support. They were fast and did not go very high. In San Diego spring of '43 the first FM to arrive in that area was painted up with white rings around the fusalage and it was used as a air police to help catch the "flat hatters" in Our squadron and others who had people that liked to do things that they should not do. It was stripped down and was fast enough to run down an F6F at low altitude. I did not get caught, but that is not saying that I shouldn't have been caught a time or two. You will find a photo of the FM on page 425 of FLAT-TOPS AND FLEDGLINGS by Gareth L. Pawlowski. I recommend that you contact some of the "Jeep carrier" boys that flew those "souped up hot-rods". They liked them and are proud of their work in them during WW-II." Thanks again to Hersch! Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book
Picture #1 of a SB2C Helldiver Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book Picture #2 of a SB2C Helldiver Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book	Members of VB-6 standing by a SB2C Helldiver of Air Group Six. Pictured 3rd from left is Louis Burke. Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book and donated by Lisa Burke Sweeten. Airbone and in formation, the SB2C Helldiver also of VB-6 of Air Group Six. We would like to thank Lisa Burke Sweeten for these nice pictures of the Helldiver. Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book
US Navy Photo	An F6F Hellcat awaits the "go" from the catapult Officer, February 14, 1945. Picture courtesy of the Hancock History Book
	Please donate your WWII Aircraft Pictures!!!
Your pictures of WWII Aircraft will be welcome and placed here!	Please donate pictures to this Gallery - as you can see we are in despirate need of good pictures for the WWII Aircraft Gallery.