Taking a break from Tigers, I head back in time and onto the other side of the world and the Pacific.
Now, as some may or may not know, The USN squadron that we know as VF-111 `Sundowers` actually started life as VF-11 `Sundowners`. Unlike us Brit`s, the Americans do not seem that sentimental when it comes to unit designations and tend to change names around. For instance, VF-11 became VF-11A post war for a couple of years before getting the VF-111 prefix.
Due to a clerical error in 1944 VF-86 on the Atlantic coast also bore the title `Sundowners` until they transferred to the Pacific and the error was spotted. (VF-86 became the `Wild Hares`)
The Sundowner patch has/had two Wildcats shooting down a Rising Sun, but that is not the full story for the Sundowners title. A `Sundowner` is an old nautical term referring to a diligent worker, a sailor that works all day until the sun goes down.
So..., enough of the history..... and on to the subject.
Charles R Stimpsom, (decal sheet missed out the P) is the highest scoring ace in VF-111 history and credited with 16 confirmed kills. 6 in a Wildcat and 10 in the Hellcat. He passed away in 1983.