Strana 56
OTU VF-2, NAS Melbourne, United States, October 1944
VF-8, USS Intrepid (CV-11), Summer 1943
Naval Air Station Melbourne was established on
October 20, 1942, and the first training course
began on January 18, 1943, on F4F Wildcat aircraft.
Hellcats started to arrive at the unit on June 1,
1943, fully replacing the originally operated
Wildcats on October 1, 1944, and their inventory
varied between 75 and 150 aircraft. During 1944,
546 pilots completed their pilot training at this
base, another 916 pilots did it from January to
October 1944. Hellcats belonging to this unit
sported a prominent marking carried on the
front part of the engine cowling consisting of
stripes or other geometrical shapes.
The second unit identified as VF-8 was
established on June 1, 1943, under the command
of LCdr. William M. Collins Jr. It was dispatched
for the operational training aboard USS Intrepid
which was sailing in the Caribbean Sea at that
time. The Tri-Tone camouflage, introduced on
January 5, 1943, was designed for the aircraft
deployed to the Pacific, it was composed of
Non-specular Sea Blue, Semi-gloss Sea Blue,
Intermediate Blue and Non-specular White, and
was applied slightly differently than on aircraft
of other units. National markings featuring the
red outline were introduced on June 28, 1943.
KITS 09/2026
INFO Eduard56
September 2026