Grumman Hellcat
F6F-5_11F
CFS3 - V4.00.168
This aircraft was built by GregoryP using version 4.00.168 of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line process. It is based on the outstanding F6F-5 visual created by Anthony GRAMPS Sullenger.
Nigel 'ndicki' Dickinson painted the F6F-5 Hellcat in the livery of Flotille 11F, French Navy based at Haïphong - Cat Bai, Viet Nam in April 1954 .
The F6F was widely used by the French Air Force and Navy after the WWII. The French Navy bought 124 F6F-5s and 15 F6F-5Ns between 1950 and 1953 .
French Navy Hellcats were first used by the far east carrier group including the CV Arromanches, CVL Lafayette and CVL Bois-Belleau during the Indochina conflict in 1952. This Hellcat of the French Aeronavale (French Navy) flotille 1F belonged to the carrier Arromanches. The 11F's Hellcats were moved to land base in Haipong in Nov 1952 after the Arromanches returned to France .
The 11th FLT was created in October 1921 and it is the oldest and most prestigious squadron in the French Marine Nationale. In 1940, the Squadron participated in the Battle of France from May to June flying Dewoitine D-520.
After the Armistice the Squadron flew down to North Africa and initially became stationed at Karouba, later they moved to Casablanca and Port Lyaute. The French Fleet Air Arm was disbanded and all pilots from the Flotille were transferred to the French Air Force flying the Bell P-39 Aircobra and the Republic P-47 Thunderbold.
When hostilities finished in 1945 the squadron revived and began to fly the Seafire. From 1950 to 1954 the 11th Flotille carried out two campaigns in Indochina achieving 344 war missions and 950 flying hours in the F-6F Hellcat. The squadrons flew CAS over Dien Bien Phû losing 5 aircraft to crashes & ground fire.