
Caption | US Lt (jg) Alexander Vraciu of Fighting Squadron 6 in his F6F Hellcat 'Gadget' aboard USS Intrepid, 1944, photo 1 of 2; note markings for his first 9 kills ww2dbase | ||||
Photographer | Unknown | ||||
Source | ww2dbaseUnited States Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation | ||||
More on... |
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Photo Size | 1,838 x 1,425 pixels | ||||
Photos in Series | See all 2 photos in this series | ||||
Added By | David Stubblebine | ||||
Licensing | Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government". Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
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Colorized with Adobe Photoshop |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. Bill says:
8 Nov 2012 02:23:40 PM
THE WELL DRESSED HELLCAT PILOT:
BY LATE 1943 AND 1944 MOST HELLCAT PILOTS WERE ISSUED THE AN-H-15 TROPICAL FLYING HELMET W/B-7 GOGGLES.
SUMMER FLYING SUIT OVERALLS, B-4 MAE WEST LIFE JACKET, SEAT TYPE AN-6510 PARACHUTE OR EQUIVALENT, KNIFE, FIRST AID KIT, CANTEEN, SHOULDER HOLSTER FOR A M1911 .45 CAL. AUTOMATIC OR A COLT OR SMITH & WESSON .38 CAL. REVOLVER, FOOTWARE BLACK REGULATION LOWQUARTERS(SHOES)SOME PILOTS AND AIRCREWS ALSO WERE ALSO ISSUED GI COMBAT BOOTS.
8 Nov 2012 02:23:40 PM
THE WELL DRESSED HELLCAT PILOT:
BY LATE 1943 AND 1944 MOST HELLCAT PILOTS WERE ISSUED THE AN-H-15 TROPICAL FLYING HELMET W/B-7 GOGGLES.
SUMMER FLYING SUIT OVERALLS, B-4 MAE WEST LIFE JACKET, SEAT TYPE AN-6510 PARACHUTE OR EQUIVALENT, KNIFE, FIRST AID KIT, CANTEEN, SHOULDER HOLSTER FOR A M1911 .45 CAL. AUTOMATIC OR A COLT OR SMITH & WESSON .38 CAL. REVOLVER, FOOTWARE BLACK REGULATION LOWQUARTERS(SHOES)SOME PILOTS AND AIRCREWS ALSO WERE ALSO ISSUED GI COMBAT BOOTS.
3.
Bill says:
4 Jan 2016 05:24:15 PM
HELLCAT: ACE MAKER
Lt.(jg) Alex Vraciu of VF-6 ready to climb aboard his F6F-3 Hellcat assigned to the USS Intrepid photo taken February 1944. The F6F Hellcat was armed w/6 x 50 caliber machine guns w/400 rpg
that's 2,800 rounds, self sealing fuel tanks and armor protection for the aircraft and pilot...
At the end of WWII in the Pacific, the Hellcat claimed over 5,000 Japanese aircraft shot down that's a kill ratio of 19 to 1. The Hellcat continued to serve with post-war carrier groups and naval reserve squadrons until being phased out of service and retired in the mid 1950s

4 Jan 2016 05:24:15 PM
HELLCAT: ACE MAKER
Lt.(jg) Alex Vraciu of VF-6 ready to climb aboard his F6F-3 Hellcat assigned to the USS Intrepid photo taken February 1944. The F6F Hellcat was armed w/6 x 50 caliber machine guns w/400 rpg
that's 2,800 rounds, self sealing fuel tanks and armor protection for the aircraft and pilot...
At the end of WWII in the Pacific, the Hellcat claimed over 5,000 Japanese aircraft shot down that's a kill ratio of 19 to 1. The Hellcat continued to serve with post-war carrier groups and naval reserve squadrons until being phased out of service and retired in the mid 1950s
4.
Bill says:
9 Jan 2016 08:37:26 PM
OOPS! MY ERROR
In my previous comment, Number 3, I stated that the F6F Hellcat carried 2,800 rounds of ammo. This is incorrect my error those 6 x .50 caliber guns carried 400 rounds each giving the Hellcat 2,400 rounds or about 35 seconds firing time....

9 Jan 2016 08:37:26 PM
OOPS! MY ERROR
In my previous comment, Number 3, I stated that the F6F Hellcat carried 2,800 rounds of ammo. This is incorrect my error those 6 x .50 caliber guns carried 400 rounds each giving the Hellcat 2,400 rounds or about 35 seconds firing time....
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8 Feb 2012 08:39:46 PM
This is a 1944 photo. Alexander Vraciu would end up as the fourth highest scoring US Navy ace of the war with 19 kills.