Title
Beached Hellcat
Description
A photo of an F6F Hellcat from Fighting Squadron Twelve (VF-12) on the beach of Nukufetau, an atoll in Tuvalu. The writing on the back describes the sun as being so hot that it was impossible to stand on the wings of the plane, even in shoes.
Context
Nukufetau is an atoll in the Pacific used as a launch point for the Battle of Tarawa by the US Navy and Marines.
Part of Carrier Air Group Twelve (CAG-12), Fighting Squadron Twelve (VF-12) was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) on August 1, 1943. Serving on and off the aircraft carrier through the Battle of the Treasury Islands and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign, CAG-12 was transferred to the USS Randolph (CV-15) in January 1945 for the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Part of Carrier Air Group Twelve (CAG-12), Fighting Squadron Twelve (VF-12) was assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) on August 1, 1943. Serving on and off the aircraft carrier through the Battle of the Treasury Islands and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign, CAG-12 was transferred to the USS Randolph (CV-15) in January 1945 for the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Accession #
2025.35
