King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
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“KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES”
February 2016
February 2016
Already February is upon us and here in Hong Kong it’s cold, wet and grey… Certainly not as bad as our friends in North America have just experienced with snow storms and blizzards… so for that we must be grateful.
However in a week’s time it will be “CHINESE NEW YEAR”
and that is always cause for celebration and good cheer… And this particular year it is “The Year of the Monkey”
… So, I hope it’s a happy one!
Anyway while we’re waiting for the fireworks to begin… Here’s a few of our own to start the ball rolling…
1. APPEARING IN FEBRUARY
A. “A Big Welcome to the Bent-Wing Bird!”
As K&C moves further into WW2 in the Pacific and South East Asia there is one American fighter aircraft that will forever be associated with that mighty struggle against the military forces of the Empire of Japan… The Chance Vought F4U Corsair.
Nicknamed the “bent-wing bird” this U.S. fighter saw service with both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy . In addition it flew with Britain’s Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Postwar it flew on with the USMC in Korea (1950-53) and the French Aeronavale during the conflicts in Indochina… Algeria… and the Suez Operation . It also served with several South American nations.
Our first-released version is, however, a Corsair flown by one of the most famous USMC “aces” … Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington.
AF032 “USMC F4U Corsair”
This model is painted in the style and markings of one of the F4U’s flown by “Pappy” Boyington while he commanded Marine Squadron VMF-214.
The three-tone colour scheme is typical of the 1942/43 period and has Boyington’s girlfriend’s name “Lucybelle” , painted just under the cockpit along with 16 of his eventual 26 “kill markings”.
This model comes complete with the standing "Pappy" Boyington figure. Please note this figure is also available individually.
PLEASE NOTE: Just 250 of this “Boyington Corsair” are being released… Other versions will follow.
AF033 “Lieut. Chris Magee USMC”
Another top ace of VMF-214 was Chris Magee (1917-1995) a colourful character credited with 9 “kills” he was awarded the Navy Cross.
After the war he dabbled in bootlegging and flew for Israel in the 1948 War of Independence. With his rakish moustache, baseball cap and easy grin he was a popular member of the squadron.
AF034 “Lieut. (later Lieut. Col.) John Bolt USMC”
One more “pilot” of VMF-214 was John Bolt (1921-2004) , a double ace with 6 victories in the Pacific War followed by 6 “kills” in the Korean Conflict. Here, he demonstrates how he shot down one of his Zero opponents.
AF035 “Airstrip Leathernecks”
Two battle-worn “Mud-Marines” on guard duty to protect these precious F4U’s on their island airstrip.
One carries the trusty “Garand“M1… the other the Winchester Model 1912 shotgun… better known as the “Trench Gun”.
AF038 “VMF-214 Signpost”
“Pappy” Boyington was well-known for his “salty” language and sense of humour and irreverent attitude to authority… This little squadron sign personifies it!
AF039 “Maj. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington USMC”
To say that “Pappy” (1912-1988) had a chequered military career would be a slight exaggeration.
A hell-raiser and defiant of authority by nature he was also a fine pilot and a born-leader. His active flying services took him to China where he flew with the “Flying Tigers” and also to the Pacific where he led VMF-214 and shot down the majority of his Japanese “kills”.
Among his many awards were the “Medal of Honor” and the “Navy Cross”. He was eventually promoted to full colonel before retiring from the Marine Corps in 1947.
AVAILABLE: Mid February
