April 17, 2022

Tales of Transparency: Supply and Demand 2022

If you thought last year was a bear to get through, then you may want to fast forward to 2023. Even as the logjam that has affected our ports for the past year seems to be waning, signs are already pointing to another troubling year for the upcoming holiday season. That’s because China is experiencing a new wave of COVID-related cases, which is particularly bad in the port city of Shanghai. Currently, 25,000,000 people, or roughly three times the city of New York, are in complete lock down, unable to mill about on the streets, go to work or even obtain groceries at their local markets. The government claims it is doing its best to control the virus but thus far things do not seem to be improving with cases on the rise and its inhabitants literally on the verge of revolt. Keep in mind that Shanghai is one of China’s principal export centers, so when their vast manufacturing sector and trans-oceanic ships end up sitting idle, this has a dramatic effect on the rest of the world, all desperate to get goods and other finished products for the holidays. Stories are already being written about how this is all coming at an inopportune time, as the rest of the world struggles in the wake of their own pandemic relapses. While goods seem to be flowing again for the first half of this year, we expect that the tap will be turned off for the latter half of 2022, with many items likely slipping into early 2023 or later. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but unless COVID isn’t struck down soon, its going to be another tough year for retail, as inflation continues to push up the consumer price index and the pandemic, now in its third year, will slow the rate at which products make it into the global market place.

Product Spotlight: Hellcats of the Pacific

Hobby Master’s 1:32 scale USN Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Fighter – “Paper Doll”, VF-27 “Kangaroos”, USS Princeton (CVL-23), October 1944

Established at NAS Norfolk,VA in April 1942 flying the Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, VGF-27 became one of the most traveled Navy squadrons of the war. Following Operation Torch against French Morocco in November 1942, the squadron remained aboard the USS Suwannee as part of CVEG-27 through most of the next eight months. Upon re-designation as VF-27 in March 1943, the squadron operated their Wildcats ashore at Guadalcanal until July, except for a brief period at sea, again aboard the USS Suwannee, in June. Among the 12 victories credited during April through July, were the first for future standouts Cecil Harris, and Sam Silber.

After refitting with the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat in the U.S. in early 1944, and intense training in Hawaii during March, and April 1944, VF-27 embarked aboard the USS Princeton CVL-23. This would prove to be one of the most spectacular Light Carrier cruises of the war. Under Lt. Cdr. Ernest Wood, the “Cat Mouthed” Hellcats flew warm-up missions against Saipan, and Tinian, on June 11th and 12th of 1944. Within a week the squadron participated in the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”, on June 19th. The Hellcats of VF-27 claimed 30 kills against Japanese aircraft attempting to strike Task Force 58. Squadron commander Lt. Cdr Wood was lost on this day however, his replacement was Lt. Cdr. Fred Bardshar. Future aces Bill Lamb, Dick Stambook, and Gordon Stanley splashed four enemy aircraft apiece during the operation. Lt. Cdr. Bardshar led VF-27 on a fighter sweep over Manila on Sept 21st, with VF-27 claiming 38 victories over IJN, and IJAAF aircraft. The days bag included 4.5 kills for Lt. John Rodgers, and 4 kills for Lt. Jim “Red” Shirley.

After strikes against Formosa in mid- October, the Princeton was back in the Leyte Gulf as part of Task Force 38.3 on October 24th. Near Pollilo Island in the eastern part of the gulf VF-27 wrecked havoc on the Japanese, destroying 36 enemy fighters that day. Four pilots emerged as “Aces in a Day” in this engagement. They were Lt’s Carl Brown, and Jim Shirley, plus Lt. (jg) Gene Townsend, and Ensign Tom Conroy.

However upon return to the fleet, “Sweet P”, the USS Princeton was found afire and sinking. At 9:38 that morning a lone Judy dive-bomber appeared suddenly out of thick clouds and dropped a single bomb on the Princeton’s flight deck. The bomb exploded amidst fueled and armed Grumman TBF Avengers on the hanger deck. The ship was rocked by multiple explosions, seven hours later gutted by fire the Princeton was scuttled by American torpedoes. VF-27’s 5 month war cruise was over. Of the 136 victories credited during the deployment, a staggering 104 occurred on three days. A record unbeaten by any other CVL fighter squadron during the war. Lcdr. Bardshar reformed the squadron in time to return to the Western Pacific aboard the carrier USS Independance. One more victory was scored before the war ended. VF-27 officially disbanded Nov 26th, 1945.

Like its counterpart “Minisi II”, Paper Doll is now available for immediate shipment.

Product Spotlight: “The Fabled Fifteen”

Hobby Master’s 1:32 scale USN Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Fighter – CDR. David McCampbell, “Minsi II,” Commander Air Group 15, USS Essex (CV-9), 1944

Captain David McCampbell (January 16th, 1910 – June 30th, 1996) was an American aviator, who became the US Navy’s all-time leading ace with 34 aerial victories during World War II.

Following service aboard a cruiser, 1935-37, McCampbell applied for flight training and was accepted. He received his “wings of gold” in 1938 and was assigned to Fighting Squadron Four on the East Coast. Subsequently he became a landing signal officer and survived the sinking of USS Wasp (CV-7) off Guadalcanal in September 1942.

From September 1943 to September 1944, McCampbell was commander of Air Group 15, in charge of fighters, bombers, and torpedo bombers aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex. From April to November 1944, his group saw six months of continuous combat and participated in two major air-sea battles, the First and Second Battles of the Philippine Sea. During the more than 20,000 hours of air combat operations before it returned to the United States for a rest period, Air Group 15 destroyed more enemy planes (315 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy shipping than any other Air Group in the Pacific War. Air Group 15’s attacks on the Japanese in the Marianas and at Iwo Jima, Taiwan, and Okinawa were key to the success of the ‘island hopping’ campaign.

In addition to his duties as commander of the ‘Fabled Fifteen,’ then Commander McCampbell became the Navy’s ‘Ace of Aces’ during the missions he flew in 1944. In October 1944, he and his wing man attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft. During the mission, Captain McCampbell shot down nine enemy planes, setting a single mission aerial combat record. When he landed his Grumman F6F Hellcat, his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and the plane had only enough fuel to keep it aloft for 10 more minutes. Captain McCampbell received the Medal of Honor for that action, becoming the only fast carrier task force pilot to do so. During a similarly courageous mission in June 1944, Air Group 15’s planes routed a large enemy force and McCampbell earned seven kills.

For his brilliant record in command of Air Group 15, McCampbell was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat ‘V’, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third awards, and the Air Medal.

McCampbell’s legendary F6F Hellcat, produced in a mega sized 1:32 scale, is now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.