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HISTORY
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Info Eduard - October 2011
‘Minsi III’, BuNo 70143, CDR. David McCampbell,
USS Essex, October 25th, 1944
White 7 ‘Paper Doll’, LT. Carl A. Brown Jr., VF-27,
USS Princeton, October 24th, 1944
David McCampbell commanded Carrier Air
Group 15 and was the most successful gh-
ter pilot in the US Navy. Flying this plane, he
managed at least twenty of his 34 kills and
twenty ground victories. During the Great
Marianas Turkey Shoot on June 19th, 1944,
he shot down seven Japanese aircraft,
‘Paper Doll’ was the personal mount of
LT.(JG) Robert Burnell. The distinctive
sharkmouth markings used on earlier air-
craft by the squadron appear here in a sim-
pler form. On October 24th, 1944, during
the Battle of Leyte Gulf, LT. Carl A. Brown
intercepted a large formation of enemy
aircraft at a time when the USS Princeton
had suffered serious damage. During the
intercept, Lt. Brown was able to down ve
of the Japanese aircraft, but was, in the
process, hit and injured. He landed on theU-
SSEssex, as the Princeton was out of action.
‘Paper Doll’was pushed overboard to make
room for other landing aircraft.
and a few days later, on October 24th,
another nine against a large Japanese nu-
merical advantage. He was twice awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor. ‘Minsi
III’was lost in December, 1944, in an acci-
dent own by another pilot.