VF-35 Disney-created grim reaper

[Bob Hudson]

Picked up a WWII Navy pilot's Seapack today along with squadron photos and what seems to be a photo or original art. A bit of searching showed the art to be the logo for VF-35, an F4F Hellcat squadron that served aboard the escort carrier Chenango. One online source said the logo was created by Disney. The photo appears to be a period photo of the original art.

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

The lawyer handling the estate and some neighbors I spoke with said this pilot - Allan E Wilson - was an "ace" and had served in WWII and Korea, but I have not found anything online that would confirm he was an ace. I picked four or five photos - most of them large - and I took couple out the frames: they had captions showing them to be from an aerial photo session over Tinian in late 1945.

 

 

 

[Johnny Signor]

The colors for this emblem are, overall the "Reaper" is in black and white, his gloves and shoes are a bright red , the scythe he holds is of a light bright blue both the handle and blade and the handle has a yellow lightning bolt down it's length.

[pararaftanr2]

Hi Forum Support,

Thanks for sharing this interesting grouping. Several years ago, I picked up a flight scarf with a pen and ink rendition of this squadron's insignia. It is attributed to S. W. Forrer, USNR. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find much information on the squadron, other than to confirm the ship they were assigned to and the fact that their insignia was a Disney design, as you mentioned.

 

[pararaftanr2]

Best regards, Paul

[Lee Ragan]

A couple of quick places to check on his "Ace" status would be "Five Down and Glory", by Gene Gurney, or check with the Fighter Aces Association in Seattle, WA. They would have records to verify the ace status.

The book is probably long out of print, but the Fighter Aces Association should have a website.

[Bob Hudson]

Hi Forum Support,

Thanks for sharing this interesting grouping. Several years ago, I picked up a flight scarf with a pen and ink rendition of this squadron's insignia. It is attributed to S. W. Forrer, USNR. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find much information on the squadron, other than to confirm the ship they were assigned to and the fact that their insignia was a Disney design, as you mentioned.

 

That scarf is a great piece.

 

The photo I have of the original insignia art is, or course, black and white , but there is an original patch for sale at http://wwiijeepparts.com/ForSale/WW2NavySq...PatchesUSN.html

 

 

VF-35 is like so many WWII units, with little published info about then. This pilot - Al Wilson - had said he was involved with the atomic bomb drops on Japan, but I can't find anything to support that.

 

There is a history of the escort carrier Chenango at http://rfischer.us/history_world_war_ll/ and it contains this summary about the combat record of VF-35, plus extensive details about the Chenango's operations:

 

Steaming down the western seaboard, the CVE-28 arrived in San Diego on 14 October 1943 where she took aboard Air Group 35--consisting of Fighting Squadron 35 and Torpedo Squadron 35. And when the squadron and ship sailed out of San Diego’s Harbor of the Sun they entered on a 13-month rampage which was destined to distress the Japanese greatly. Together, they were to steam 110,000 miles, destroy 93 enemy planes, 91 ships, fly 4,544 sorties in combat zones, and to strike, along with other U.S. forces, at the insular stepping stones to Japan, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Aitape-Hollandia, Saipan, Guam, Morotai and the Philippines.

[Johnny Signor]

Picked up a WWII Navy pilot's Seapack today along with squadron photos and what seems to be a photo or original art. A bit of searching showed the art to be the logo for VF-35, an F4F Hellcat squadron that served aboard the escort carrier Chenango. One online source said the logo was created by Disney. The photo appears to be a period photo of the original art.

 

 

 

A quick note of correction, the F4F was the Wilcat, F6F was the Hellcat

[Johnny Signor]

That scarf is a great piece.

 

The photo I have of the original insignia art is, or course, black and white , but there is an original patch for sale at http://wwiijeepparts.com/ForSale/WW2NavySq...PatchesUSN.html

 

 

VF-35 is like so many WWII units, with little published info about then. This pilot - Al Wilson - had said he was involved with the atomic bomb drops on Japan, but I can't find anything to support that.

 

There is a history of the escort carrier Chenango at http://rfischer.us/history_world_war_ll/ and it contains this summary about the combat record of VF-35, plus extensive details about the Chenango's operations:

 

Steaming down the western seaboard, the CVE-28 arrived in San Diego on 14 October 1943 where she took aboard Air Group 35--consisting of Fighting Squadron 35 and Torpedo Squadron 35. And when the squadron and ship sailed out of San Diego’s Harbor of the Sun they entered on a 13-month rampage which was destined to distress the Japanese greatly. Together, they were to steam 110,000 miles, destroy 93 enemy planes, 91 ships, fly 4,544 sorties in combat zones, and to strike, along with other U.S. forces, at the insular stepping stones to Japan, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Aitape-Hollandia, Saipan, Guam, Morotai and the Philippines.

Sorry to say but this patch shown is a very "poor" example of the design, compare it to the black and white of the "original", this color patch is one of the "Post War" knock offs and I wouldn't waste 2 cents on it , Just my opinion.

[Misanthropic_Gods]

Nothing to contribute to this thread, but I thought you might like to see what this looked like when it was fully colored.

 

[Johnny Signor]

Hey Misanthropic, thanks for the great "color" addition , you got it spot on there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

[Misanthropic_Gods]

Hey Misanthropic, thanks for the great "color" addition , you got it spot on there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

 

Thanks, I have been trying to boost my skills in GIMP, so it was a good exercise for me. I could have made it looks much nicer but it was just a rough coloring.Thanks for the compliment!

[gauthieb3sxz]

I just picked up a 250+ color slide grouping from the VF-35. Anyone want to see some color from this unit?

[Bob Hudson]

I just picked up a 250+ color slide grouping from the VF-35. Anyone want to see some color from this unit?

 

That would be cool to see.

[manayunkman]

gauthieb,

 

I'm with Forum Support.

 

Bring it on.

[Johnny Signor]

OOOOOOh Yeahhhhhhhhh . lets see that COLOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

[gauthieb3sxz]

No problem! You will have to deal with watermarked images due to the ease of posting.

 

Enjoy, and don't hesitate to message me with requests for unwatermarked images. I'm more than willing to share, just don't want all of Eastern Europe to sell these on eBay next week.

[gauthieb3sxz]

Ok, here's a shot coming in from the back of the USS Chenango - note the tail hooK

[gauthieb3sxz]

And you wonder what they did with the planes after the war? At the famous Marpi Point. Literally thousands of japanese jumped to their deaths here

 

[gauthieb3sxz]

And on way to Guam. This collection is like what you see on the Discovery Channel. Air-to-Air content. Shots taken overhead during TARAWA! Shots on the way to Guam and much more

 

Any interest in seeing other shots?

[gauthieb3sxz]

And a shot of the back of the Chenango. Only 240+ shots to go.............

 

[fstop61]

Great photos--keep 'em coming!

[walika]

I created a post with the original period insignia, here.