1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 James "Pug" Southerland
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James Julien “Pug” Southerland II was a United States Navy fighter pilot during World War II. He was an ace, being credited with five victories (some accounts say seven), flying Grumman F4F Wildcats. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart.
Born in Narberth, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Southerland graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1936. Rear Admiral David Richardson, who served with him, said Southerland gained the nickname “Pug” because he was such a pugnacious boxer at the academy. Southerland became an aviator and meant to make the Navy his career.
In 1942, Southerland and his flight took off to intercept the Japanese bombers before they could reach the American ships.
Southerland shot down the first Japanese aircraft of the Guadalcanal campaign, a G4M1 "Betty" bomber. After shooting down a second bomber, Southerland was engaged in a dogfight with an A6M2 "Zero", piloted by Yamazaki Ichirobei. He lin
