F4U-1A "White 13" skin by Rick 'Schatten' Palumbo
Version 1.0
April 21, 2000

(please hir word wrap in Edit up above, this is a long one)

	This is a PAW/EAW Corsair conversion and skin based on "White 13" BuNo 02350, a F4U-1A flown by 2nd Lt. Kenneth Walsh of VMF-124 based at Munda in August, 1943. Marine Fighting Squadron 124 was the first United States Marine Corps squadron that was deployed to the Pacific Theatre that was equipped with the F4U Corsair, and were intially based on Guadalcanal. The virtual cockpit of this plane is actually that from a Hurricane, as it is a better subsitute for the shape and framing of the "Birdcage" style cockpits on the F4U-1A.


I. Notes: All of the PAW 3DZ files are included for the Corsair shape in EAW as well as the new "Birdcage" style F4U-1A cockpit 3DZ files. The 640 'fixed' cockpit is NOT included due to space limitations and the fact that the fixed cockpit is marked for a Hurricane. I do have the fixed cockpit view renumbered so the Birdcage will appear in that view, if you would like a copy feel free to email me. All of the .pcx files used are included as well, if you wish to modify the skin and/or cockpit then feel free to. There is a known issue with the pp51dx.tpc file in that the guages are operable but some of them give improper readings, this is escpecially noticable on the speeometer (which pegs at 300 knots) and the oild temperature guage which gives a falsely 'cool' reading. I will attempt to fix these in later versions of the skin or if you want to try to modify it yourself the pp51dx.pcx file is included. The gunsight in the cockpit screenshot is one that I did based on a Mk VIII Gunsight that was fitted on the Corsair, this file is NOT included in this version as I need to rescale it from the old P-51D cockpit to this one. Again it will be included in a later version or if you would like just that file when it is finished I will be glad to send it along. 

Contents of this zip file: 

Pp51df.3dz
Pp51dm.3dz
Pp51ds.3dz
Pp51dtes.pcx
Pp51dtes.tpc
Pp51dtex.pcx
Pp51dtex.tpc
Pp51du.3dz
Pp51dv.pcx
Pp51dv.tpc
Pp51dvtr.pcx
Pp51dvtr.tpc
Pp51dw.3dz
Pp51dx.3dz
Pp51dx.pcx
Pp51dx.tpc
Pp51dz.3dz
VCG_P51d
White13.jpeg
Ken Walsh's White 13.jpeg
Instruments in Birdcage.jpeg
This Read Me file


II. Installation:

Unzip the files into a seperate folder or your Working folder if you are using Stab 2.1 and then use the configure skins as
normal to add into your skins database. Then configure the terrain skin sets using Configure Terran (skins) in Stab and it should do the work for you. 

If you just wish to use the skin and the default cockpit (a P-51D) then move or delete all of the files EXCEPT for: Pp51df.3dz, Pp51dm.3dz, Pp51ds.3dz, Pp51dtes.pcx, Pp51dtes.tpc ,Pp51dtex.pcx ,Pp51dtex.tpc and the .jpegs if you are going to use Stab 2.1 to install with. 

If you are not using Stab then move all files (except for the .jpegs and .pcx files) into your EAW directory. 

The above applies if you are not using Stab and want the default cockpit, move the files that were listed in the 2nd para above into your main EAW directory.



III. Kenneth Walsh (bio taken from USMC Corsair Aces of WWII, http://www.westnet.com/~ssherman/usmc_aces2.html#Walsh)

	By February 1943, examples of the new Chance Vought F4U Corsair had arrived with VMF-124. Although the squadron's first missions were not as successful as hoped, the big, gull-winged fighter soon became the mainstay of the shore-based Marine Corps fighter organization, quickly supplanting the veteran Wildcat.  The first Corsair-mounted Marine ace was 1st Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh, a former enlisted pilot. 

	Deliveries of the F4U to VMF-124 started in October, 1942, when the squadron was still stateside. The planes needed a lot of refinements and the pilots needed a lot of training in them.  But after a few short flights in the Corsairs, they were sent to the Pacific, where they were badly needed to carry out escort missions that the Wildcats couldn't handle, because of their limited range and combat capability.  Only Corsairs and P-38 could provide the long-range escort required.  VMF-124's twenty-four Corsairs went to Espiritu Santo in the jeep carrier Kitty Hawk in January, 1943.  The pilots caught up with the planes and flew up to Guadalcanal on February 12.  They had already been assigned a mission for that same day!  The mission was to escort a PBY Catalina which was going to rescue a couple Wildcat pilots off Kolomabangara, Jefferson DeBlanc and James Feliton, who had ditched earlier and were now in the care of coastwatchers on Vella Lavella.  The Catalina also made an unplanned stop to pick up an Army P-38 pilot who had ditched off New Georgia,only 50 miles from a large Jap Zero base.  But the newly-arrived pilots of VMF-124 finished their escort mission without incident, some pilots having logged nine hours flight time that day. 

	While Ken Walsh and the other fliers of VMF-124 had hoped for some time to familiarize themselves with the area, the islands, and the locations of enemy troops. But the next day they were escorting B-24s to Bougainville, 300 miles up The Slot.  On this mission Lt. Walsh led the third four-plane element (group of 4), thus he was number 13.  He was not superstitious and the number stuck; he usually flew number 13 thereafter.  The flying continued on the following day (February 14), Walsh's first exposure to actual combat.  Again, they were escorting B-24 bombers, this time to Kahili airdrome on Bougainville, but the Zeros were ready for them, having been warned by the Japanese' own coastwatchers.  The Americans lost eight planes, the Japs three, in what was inevitably called "The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre."           
 
 
	As one of the first Cosair squadrons, the pilots of VMF-124 were anxious to establish a tactical doctrine for the Corsairs that later squadrons could build on.  When they asked one of the early, well-known, high-scoring Wildcat pilots about how to approach combat with the Japanese, they were told "you've gotta go after 'em."  Walsh quickly learned the importance of altitude, as this was one of the Corsair's key advantages over the Zero.  He also learned to avoid slow speed dogfights, because of the Zero's superior maneuverability at speeds below 300 mph. 

	His first kill came on April 1, 1943, on patrol over the Russells.  The Marine F4Us circled their assigned area quietly for two hours, then were relieved by some P-38s, which were promptly jumped.  Walsh alerted his flight and turned them back from their homeward course to help the Lightnings.  As a wild melee was taking place, the Zeros didn't notice the Corsairs in time.  Walsh lined one up for a deflection shot and missed, but his wingman scored, burning up the Zero.  They came undetected upon a second Zero, and Walsh hit and destroyed him. 

He gained three more kills on May 13. 

	By mid-August, he had doubled his score to 10, when VMF-124 moved over to the newly captured airbase at Munda.  On the 12th, Walsh's wingman, Lt. Johnston,  saved his life by getting a Zero off Walsh's tail.  Walsh had been badly shot up, his plane was on fire, and the Zero was about to finish him off when Johnston flicked him off.  Walsh managed to get back to an emergency strip at Segi, New Georgia, but landing without much control, he smashed into another Corsair on the line.  Both planes were lost.  It makes one wonder if the Jap pilot got credit for two kills that day. 

	On the 15th, Walsh was flying CAP over the invasion beaches at Vella Lavella, when the fighter director warned of bogeys coming in.  Some Zeros and Vals came in, and Walsh shot down two, before a Zero clobbered him, hitting his starboard wing tank.  The plane could still fly, and Walsh headed for home, only to suffer an attack of vertigo and looping wildly.  He was able to recover control and land safely, but the plane was scrapped and used for spares.  One wing was all shot up, and they didn't have facilities in the field to change wings.  But they felt they had accomplished their mission in turning back the Vals from the landing zone. 

	On August 30, Walsh fought an incredible battle against 50 Japanese aircraft, shooting down four enemy fighters before he had to ditch his damaged Corsair. Assigned to escort bombers headed for Jap bases on Bougainville, his plane soon developed engine problems. He landed at an advanced base at Munda, and immediately secured a replacement Corsair. He continued on, now alone, but hoping to catch up with his squadron. From his isolated vantage point, he attacked a gaggle of Zeros that were going after the B-24s, shooting two of them down. On the return he picked up a message from other B-24s, in trouble over Gizo. He flew off to help, and again downed two Zeros. But one of the Japs damaged Walsh's Corsair, and he was forced to ditch off Vella Lavella. It was his third water landing in six months. 

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this mission. 

	He ultimately scored 21 kills, of which 17 were Zeros.  He lost five aircraft: three times shot down and the two noted above on August 15.  His first combat tour in the Solomons lasted seven months, from February to September, 1943.  He returned for a second tour with VMF-222 later in the war, flying the advanced F4U-4.  He scored his last victory on June 22, 1945, downing a kamikaze Zero over northern Okinawa. 



IV. Thanks! (yeah I know it's like an Oscar's speech but I want to give credit where it's due)

I'd like to thank everyone at the Combatsim.com EAW Forum for all their help over the past year, also particuliarly Charles Gunst who's ECA Panel and Notes on EAW Editing made all of this possible, Jamie Richards for his help and advice on skins and other EAW matters, VMF-124 Gramps my virtual squadron CO who also got me the image of the Mk VIII gunsight and encouraged me to work on Corsairs even when I was at my wit's end, Herr Rommel for being a good friend and always keeping my spirits up when thing haven't been going quite right, Cfran for getting me the image that this skin is based off, Pharoah for giving me music to work by, Donster for giving me pictures to look at when all I was seeing was little blue pixels, HeinKill and all his personalities for lightening the mood when we all needed it; Airbuddha, Cord, -E, Migge and Major Lee for having sites which got me interested in skins and my hard drive filled with them, and last but certainly not least all of the guys from Kali Server #61 for being my wingmen and targets for just this very bird (even though they didn't see it this way until now). A big S! and thanks to all of you.

Any questions, comments, suggestions or requests (only for USMC operated planes for right now though) are appriciated. Any errors in the files or documents are my own. 

Rick 'Schatten' Palumbo, April 21st, 2000

To contact:

Email: rick72@penn.com
Kali: VMF-124_Schatten (usually can be found nightly on #61)
ICQ: 55653546 (usually only checked once daily but think of it as my internet answering machine, feel free to leave a message) 	
Other: Schatten on the Combatsim.com board (usually found posting/reading whenever I have a spare minute)