"The First Hellcat Ace"
November 19, 1943. Lt. (jg) Hamilton McWhorter III becomes the first pilot to claim all
five victories in the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Operating off the USS Essex as a member
of VF-9, Lt. (jg) McWhorter claims a Mitsubishi G4M medium bomber, code-named
"Betty" with one burst from his .50 caliber machine guns. Traveling at approx. 400
mph, McWhorter closed on the low flying bomber for a full deflection shot. Snapping
out a short burst, his bullets strike the Betty's fuselage, pass through the cockpit, and
destroy the port engine which erupts in a ball of flame. The Betty yaws to the left,
skips once, and then impacts the waves, immediately turning into a ball of flaming
wreckage. Following recovery aboard Essex, Lt. (jg) McWhorter's armorers check his
ammunition supply, and are surprised to discover that only a total of 86 rounds were
expended, forever afterward earning him the nickname "One-Slug." The following
February, Lt. (jg) McWhorter downed his tenth Japanese plane to become the world's
first Hellcat double ace.
five victories in the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Operating off the USS Essex as a member
of VF-9, Lt. (jg) McWhorter claims a Mitsubishi G4M medium bomber, code-named
"Betty" with one burst from his .50 caliber machine guns. Traveling at approx. 400
mph, McWhorter closed on the low flying bomber for a full deflection shot. Snapping
out a short burst, his bullets strike the Betty's fuselage, pass through the cockpit, and
destroy the port engine which erupts in a ball of flame. The Betty yaws to the left,
skips once, and then impacts the waves, immediately turning into a ball of flaming
wreckage. Following recovery aboard Essex, Lt. (jg) McWhorter's armorers check his
ammunition supply, and are surprised to discover that only a total of 86 rounds were
expended, forever afterward earning him the nickname "One-Slug." The following
February, Lt. (jg) McWhorter downed his tenth Japanese plane to become the world's
first Hellcat double ace.
Contact us for pricing and to order this print.
1-800-595-8272 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
1-800-595-8272 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints mainly
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced
without their consent.
without their consent.
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