Pilot History
Richard Moore had served briefly in aboard a carrier off Attu, then assigned to the South Pacific. On January 29, 1943 he was shot down over the Munda area, loosing his first plane "Betsy", named after his wife.  His next Hellcat was "Betsy II". After this incident, he was shot down and rescued off Japan in 1945, and was rescued by a destroyer. He passed away in 1978, but his wingman received news of the discovery of his Hellcat.

Aircraft History
Built by Grumman at Bethpage, New York. Manufacturer number A553, was accepted by the the US Navy on June 26, 1943, and delivered the following day. Dispatched to the Pacific on July 10, 1943, arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii the following day, and overseas to Nouméa on July 14. It was assigned to VF-38 on September 13 based at Fighter One on Guadalcanal. Officially stricken from the record on October 6, 1943.

Mission History
This Hellcat took off from Munda Airfield at 1:15pm to escort for 24 TBFs attacking Ballale Island. Other aircraft on the mission included and 31 SBDs. Other escorts consisted of 13 Hellcats from VF-38 and 11 from VF-40. In addition to VMF-214 "Black Sheep" F4U Corsairs, RNZAF P-40, P-38's making up a total of 71 escorting fighters.

Over the target, 40-50 intercepting Zeros and Tonys were met, and heavy anti-aircraft over the target. In the ensuing dogfights, 3 Zeros were destroyed and a probable claimed by VF-38.

F6F Hellcat 25940 piloted by Lt(jg) Presley, led the last division of F6Fs providing low cover for the TBF Avengers. Lt(jg) Moore was the second section leader, with Lt. (jg) Beaumont as his wingman. As the TBFs were beginning their attack when Moore saw an F4U about a half mile away at 50 ft above him.

VF-38 Combat Report, page 2 states:
"At first Moore thought it a Zero, then recognized it as an F4U, as did his wingman. The Corsair was flying alone. Moore turned into him as the F4U came in at him straight above. The Corsair started firing at about 100 yds. range, and Moore pulled up a bit and fired a burst in retaliation, as did his wingman. A 50 caliber bullet hit Moore's engine high on the port side. It started to throw oil and began smoking, although no heavily. Moore and Beaumont left the other section and set out for Munda, diving to about 500 ft."

They got as far as Blackett Strait, about a mile south of Kolombangara when Moore's engine cut out. He had no trouble making a water landing, flaps down in full stall at approximately 3:30pm. He stood on a wing, then dropped into the water and inflated his life jacket. He was about 100 ft. from a reef and in shallow water. As soon as he got into his raft he saw two native canoes putting out from a small island. The first canoe carried about 15 natives and the second canoe carried about six natives and Pvt. Nash of the U.S. Army, who took Moore to a Coastwatcher Lt. Evans.

Taken to Evans quarters on an island about one mile south of Kolombangara. Moore received dry cloths, a cup of tea and some fresh limeade. He was then taken by canoe a couple of miles east to Arundel where the US Army were shelling Kolombangara. It was then about 7:30pm. He remained there overnight, and at 800, Sept 17, departed for Munda.

Wreckage
This Hellcat was discovered intact off Quomu Island by Danny Kennedy, owner of Dive Gizo in 1986. The plane was in remarkable condition, even the navigation charts in the cockpit.

Perfectly intact, the only more contemporary damage was caused by divers. The ammunition magazines covers are open. The engine cover is missing and you can see the oil tank, with its armored cover providing protection from the front.

Michael McFadyen dove the wreck October 18, 2001:
"When I dived it, we were asked to replace some 0.50 inch rounds stolen from the plane a week earlier by a group of Sydney divers. The plane has two obvious bullet holes, one in the front of the tail and one behind the cockpit. There does not appear to be any hole in the oil tank so it would appear an oil line was hit."

References
VF-38 Combat Report, September 16, 1943 pages 1-2
Thanks to Danny Kennedy of Dive Gizo for additional information
The Black Sheep & Black Sheep One by Bruce Gamble
Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Gumman Hellcat
US Navy Loss lists Bu No 25839 as associated with pilot Anderson
US Navy Loss lists Moore as associated with a Hellcat without BuNo

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 1, 2009

F6F

9-10m

Photo Archive

Who Shot Down This Hellcat?

Michael McFadyen