The most recognizable markings carried by US Navy aircraft in WW11 must be those of the Hellcats of VF-27 flying off of the USS Princeton. The uncommon and unofficial markings were painted on to the front of all of VF-27's aircraft by one of its pilots, Robert Burnell. These birds, adorned in this way, wreaked havoc everywhere they engaged in combat over the Pacific from May to October, 1944. During this span, some 200 enemy aircraft were claimed. The end of combat for VF-27 came on October 24th, 1944, when the Princeton was hit by a Japanese bomb causing a catastrophic fire, and was ultimately sunk, after being evacuated, by friendly forces.
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Created on: 20 December 2014
