Well, here it is:
Only 912 (MS_?) & 913 (MV_?) Squadrons flew the F6F-3 Hellcat during WW2, operating from the "light fleet" carrier HMAS
Adelaide. In May, 1944, HMAS
Adelaide joined the US carriers USS
Essex, USS
Wasp and USS
San Jacinto in TG 12.1 to strike Marcus Island on 19 to 20 May 1944 and Wake on 23 May 1944. Then travelled south with them to link up with TF 58 to support the occupation of the Marianas on 12 June to 10 August - where Royal Australian Marines were landing alongside US Marines for the first time. During the engagements of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 19th of June, 1944, HMAS
Adelaide was the only ship of Task Group 58.2 hit by a Japanese dive bomber, the plane making a kamikaze attack after being struck by anti-aircraft gunfire. Unfortunately the entirety of 912 Sqn was on deck refuelling & re-arming when the plane struck, the squadron taking severe casualties. Although not seriously damaged, HMAS
Adelaide was unable to fly aircraft, she returned immediately to Australia for repairs. Meanwhile 913 Sqn, which had taken off to combat the air attack, were directed to land aboard USS
Lexington of TF 58.3 but did not take further part in the battle.
After the Battle of the Philippine Sea 913 Sqn were transferred to USS
Wasp, which diverted south, & were flown off to New Britain, where they assisted in the final, bloody capture of Rabaul. 913 Sqn, then, re-embarked aboard HMAS
Adelaide in mid-October as she sailed north-west to partake in the wholly Australian operation to take northern Borneo. The operation was designed to protect the south-western flank of the Leyte landings & to draw out at least some of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Landing simultaneously with the US Leyte operation on the 20th of October, 1944, in Labuk Bay 2Div. RAM encountered little effective resistance, although one of their secondary landings, at Sandakan, confirmed intelligence reports of some of the worst atrocities in the Asia-Pacific region. At sea the predominantly RAN fleet engaged aircraft & surface elements of Admiral Nishimura's Southern Force, sinking several destroyers & two cruisers, & claiming 40 aircraft destroyed.
Depicted is MV_K, piloted by Sgt Henry Dewhurst of 913 Sqn, as it appeared whilst flying from the Australian Army Air Service airfield at Merai on New Britain.
Hope she meets with your approval!
Thanks for looking! :)
