LT Richard Stambook flew various types of carrier aircraft during the war, transitioning from the SBD Dauntless to the F4F Wildcat, and eventually flying the F6F Hellcat with VF-27. His best day was during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19JUN44 when he was credited with four – three A6M Zeros and a single D4Y Judy. He scored his final victory, a Ki-45 Toryu “Nick” on 18OCT44. One week later the USS Princeton (CVL-27) was struck by a single bomb dropped by another D4Y Judy, the subsequent fires eventually leading to her loss. Stambock survived the sinking and the war, an ace with eleven victories.
This model represents the F6F-3 Hellcat of LT Richard Stambook, VF-27, USS Princeton (CVL-23), October 1944.
Inch High Guy 
The Hellcat, one of my favorite airplanes.
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A beautiful aircraft, and a workhorse!
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Beautiful build Jeff. Despite hearing this is such a great kit, I don’t recall seeing anyone post a build of it online. So, . . . any thoughts or conclusions about the building/painting of this kit?
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It’s a great kit, and the best Hellcat in 1/72 scale. The wings slide into recesses in the fuselage and the tolerances are so tight that if you paint the wings separately beforehand it is difficult to slide them in. You won’t be disappointed building this kit!
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Very nice painting, as usual. June 1944 rather than october, I suppose, since USS Princeton was sunk in june. Unless VF 27 was still in action within an other carrier’s air group.
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Thanks Arnaud. Princeton was sunk on 24OCT44 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Some of her Hellcats did recover on other carriers, but their “cat mouth” marking was non-regulation and was ordered to be removed.
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Re: non-regulation markings: Sometimes i think certain naval officers find ways to dampen morale!
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It would certainly be more interesting for us modelers if there were more of the non-regulation markings!
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Very nice- a salwart fighter of the early part of the pacific war.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Actually Pete, it’s from the last half of the war.
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