Starfighter Decals 48-15: Operation Leader - USS Ranger North Atlantic 1943

Operation Leader was a successful air attack conducted by the United States Navy against German shipping in the vicinity of Bodø, Norway, on 4 October 1943, during World War II. The raid was executed by aircraft flying from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger, which was attached to the British Home Fleet. The American airmen located many German and Norwegian ships in this area and are believed to have destroyed five and damaged another seven. Two German aircraft searching for the Allied fleet were shot down as well. Three American aircraft were destroyed in combat during the operation and another crashed while landing.

The attack followed a two-year lull in Allied aircraft carrier operations against Norway and took the German occupation forces by surprise. The choice of target was guided by intelligence gained from decoding German radio signals and reports from Norwegian Secret Intelligence Service agents; two Norwegian airmen flew with the attack force to provide advice on the local geography. While historians have found it difficult to determine the exact number of ships sunk, Operation Leader damaged the German war effort by considerably disrupting the convoy system in the region and reducing shipments of iron ore.

To commemorate this event, Starfighter Decals has produced this sheet covering three of the participants.

First is an F4F-4 from VF-4 that is credited with half of a Ju-88D kill. Suggested kit is by Tamiya

Next is an SBD-5 from VBD-4. Accurate Miniatures is the recommended kit.

Finally, a TBM-1 from VB-4. Again, Accurate Miniatures is the recommended kit.

All three planes are in the tri-color camouflage scheme and carry the red surround insignia.