1/72 Hasegawa F4F-3 Wildcat

Gallery Article by James Kelley on Nov 13 2003

 

MAJ Robert Galer,USMC;Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, 1942
"Wildcat Aces" Boxing

     MAJ Galer (who retired as a Brigadier General) was born in Seattle, Washington, October 24, 1913. He attended the University of Washington and graduated with a B.S. degree in commercial engineering in 1935, at which time he began elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Seattle. In June 1936, he began his Aviation Cadet flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, July 1, 1936.

     In 1942, Japanese forces drove southeast along the Solomon Islands to cut Allied supply lines to Australia and the southwest Pacific. In May of this year, after several assignments in the Hawaii and the West coast of the United States, he assumed command of Marine Fighting Squadron 224(VMF 224). On 7 August, US Marines landed on Guadalcanal and took a Japanese air base then under construction. With enemy ground forces only yards away on three sides, and subjected to daily air bombardment and nightly naval gunfire, Americans of the "Cactus Air Force" fought for their lives. Galer himself was shot down three times; 2 of these incidents found Galer swimming back to shore (once with a coast watcher's help, once with 2 fellow Marines who swam out to him), and a third ended with a dead-stick landing on the island. Over a period of 29 days, MAJ Galer attained 11 kills.

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     In recognition of his actions at Guadalcanal, Galer was presented the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on 24 March 1943. Although the ceremony was "a very pleasant and memorable occasion" for Galer, during which he chatted with the president before receiving the decoration, Roosevelt's presentation of the award held special meaning for Galer's mother, a Democratic committeewoman, the one Democrat from a family of Republicans. "This was the highlight of her life. She thought Roosevelt was the nearest thing to the Pope," Galer later said

Citation

For conspicuous heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO TWENTY-FOUR in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area, August-September 1942. Leading his squadron repeatedly in daring and aggressive raids against Japanese aerial forces, vastly superior in numbers, Major Galer availed himself of every favorable attack opportunity, individually shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership, shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes. His superb airmanship, his outstanding skill and personal valor reflect great credit upon Major Galer's gallant fighting spirit and upon the United States Naval Service.

 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
President of the United States

Medals: 
Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V," Distinguished Flying Cross with one Gold Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 10 Gold Stars, and the British Distinguished Flying Cross

     This model depicts MAJ Galer's Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat as it may have appeared on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal during the period  in time described above. This Hasegawa kit (a reboxing of the excellent F4F-4 molding) was a pleasure to build as usual. To represent the  -3 variant, wing-fold and appropriate panel lines were filled and sanded flush, and the outboard machine gun ports were filled on the leading edges. The True Details resin cockpit/wheelwell set was added, along with their resin wheels. As is the case with this kit, the majority of the cockpit detail is difficult if not impossible to see.

James Kelley

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Photos and text © 2003 by James Kelley

Text from various sources, edited by James Kelley 2003