F4U Corsair USMC VMF-214 Black Sheep, White 86/Lulubelle, Pappy Boyington, Solomon Islands, November 1943 Diecast Model Airplane
Scale: 1:48
Wingspan: 10"
Model Length: 8.25"
Item #: FMB11B810
This Franklin Mint F4U Corsair USMC VMF-214 Black Sheep, White 86/Lulubelle, Pappy Boyington Diecast Airplane Model has realistic panel lines, markings, and surface details from the actual aircraft. Franklin Mint presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. Armour Collection diecast airplanes from This Franklin Mint model airplane requires no glueing or painting. Each model is an instant display piece or diorama centerpiece straight from the box. Made from diecast metal and plastic components, the diecast airplanes in the Franklin Mint Armour Collection are 100% true to scale.
Franklin Mint Armour Collection Diecast Airplane Features:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Detailed cockpit interiors.
- No pilot figures.
- Sturdy fixed metal landing gear for static display.
- Authentic fixed ordnance loads.
- Accurately detailed underside.
In September 1943, Maj. Gregory Boyington took command of VMF 214, the "Black Sheep Squadron." Boyington was a superb leader and fighter with VMF-214, scoring 22 victories with the Marines, plus six from the AVG. Under his command, VMF-214 claimed 94 victories against the Japanese. At thirty-one years old, he was ten years older than most of his pilots, earning him the nickname "Pappy." On 26 November 1943, Boyington posed in the cockpit of Corsair "White 86" for a publicity photo. Japanese flag "kill markings" were applied so hastily that some were accidentally reversed. Some speculation exists as to whether the aircraft was called "Lucybelle" or "Lulubelle", since the name was partially obscured in the final photograph. Boyington was recognized as the leading Ace of the US Armed Forces, and when he was shot down on a mission over Rabaul on 3 January 1944, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. But Boyington survived Japanese captivity, and President Truman pinned the Medal of Honor on him on 5 October 1945.
Designed to meet the US Navy's request for a single-seat carrier based fighter, the F-4U was first flown on May 29th, 1940 and saw service with both the Navy and Marine Corps in WW II and the Korean War. In the Corsair story, there were numerous types and improvements such as a lengthened fuselage, a high visibility bubble-top canopy- allowing carrier based landings- and recognizable folding inverted gull wings providing clearance for a large propeller driven by a powerful engine capable of 400 MPH. The performance advantage- the ability to take severe punishment- and six .50 Browning machine guns made the F4U a devastating weapon against aircraft, ground targets, and even ships.
