[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

You guys seem to know your WWII aircraft, so maybe one of you can help with something that has me puzzled.

My father served in WWII as part of Air Group Fifteen (AG-15) on the USS Essex. AG-15 (the “Fabled Fifteen”), commanded by David McCampbell the US Navy’s all-time leading ace, participated in many major Pacific battles including the “Marianas Turkey Shoot”.

My father wasn't a pilot, but still flew over 50 times. His Flight Book shows he flew in a SB2C, SB2C-1C, SB2C-3, SB2C-4, SB2C-4E, SB2C-5, SBW-4E and a TBM-3E.

My puzzle is with a great picture I have of my father with his squadron in front of a plane. Based on its air intake and wings, the plane appears to be an SB2C-Helldiver. I've wanted to get a model of this plane, but every model I find on-line shows four propellers. The plane in the picture only has three propellers.

Do I have the wrong plane?

[BigCinBigD]

It may be the Grumman F6F Hellcat.

[tanknetter]

Do I have the wrong plane?

Nope. Through the SB2C-1, production Helldivers had three bladed props married with R-2600-8 engines.

The SB2C-3 had the more powerful R-2600-20 engine (same as with the TBM-3) with the four-bladed prop. All production Helldivers from the -3 on had four-bladed props.

I have VB-15 flying from Essex under the command of Lt. Cdr J.H. Mini with -1Cs during the Marianas Campaign, then with -3s at Leyte three/four months later. "Helldiver Units of WWII" (Osprey/Tillman) has a small pic of VB-15 -1C Helldivers (with three-bladed props) spotted on the aft deck of Essex on 5/27/44.

[tanknetter]

Should add ... Matchbox made a 1/72 -1C version of the Helldiver, while Academy makes a -4 in the same scale. I don't believe that there is a 1/48 kit out there for the -1C though.

A company named Accurate Miniatures makes/made a -4 Helldiver in 1/48 scale, which is a repop of an earlier Monogram (Promodeller) kit. It can be converted into a -1C, and a buildup of the conversion can be found here. A cosmetic conversion involving backdating to the 3-bladed prop/spinner and non-perforated dive brakes of the -1C to create a model that "looks good enough" shouldn't be that hard in either scale.