Algernon Lacey
12th Jun 2007, 17:03
In the bar of the Mermaid tavern on Herm Island (just off the coast of Guernsey) is a rather unusual trophy.
It is a valve and spring from the engine of a Grumman F6F Hellcat and forms part of a power boat trophy.
The inscription states that the aircraft was shot down on or about the 6 June 1944 D Day, by a flak tower. The aircraft belly landed south to north up Shell beach on the eastern side of the island coming to rest just off the north eastern corner of the island.
Here it lay until the remains were recovered by two brothers (Guernsey scrap dealers) I believe in the 1960s .
There is a photo in the book 'The war in the Channel islands Then and Now' of the recovered cockpit section.
I understand that the aircraft was a Fleet Air Arm machine and that the pilot was only slightly injured and was subsequenly sent to Germany.
Can ayone shed any light on the markings or serial number/ pilot details or colour scheme as I would like to recreate the scene as a model.
Many Thanks.
It is a valve and spring from the engine of a Grumman F6F Hellcat and forms part of a power boat trophy.
The inscription states that the aircraft was shot down on or about the 6 June 1944 D Day, by a flak tower. The aircraft belly landed south to north up Shell beach on the eastern side of the island coming to rest just off the north eastern corner of the island.
Here it lay until the remains were recovered by two brothers (Guernsey scrap dealers) I believe in the 1960s .
There is a photo in the book 'The war in the Channel islands Then and Now' of the recovered cockpit section.
I understand that the aircraft was a Fleet Air Arm machine and that the pilot was only slightly injured and was subsequenly sent to Germany.
Can ayone shed any light on the markings or serial number/ pilot details or colour scheme as I would like to recreate the scene as a model.
Many Thanks.