RAF Vought Corsairs in WWII?
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Keith, glad to be of help.
The letter is certainly readable. Thanks for posting. No.814 Sqn was the 'attack' half of the 15th Carrier Air Group onboard Venerable. After WWII, that ship was first sold to The Netherlands as the second Karel Doorman (HMS Nairana, which also features in the thread, was the first) and then, in Oct 68, to Argentina, as the Veinticinco de Mayo.
No. 1851 Sqn wore the "R6" codes between July 1945 and February 1946. It transferred to HMS Vengance in June 1946 for its journey back to the UK and disbanded at Devonport on 13 August 1946.
The letter is certainly readable. Thanks for posting. No.814 Sqn was the 'attack' half of the 15th Carrier Air Group onboard Venerable. After WWII, that ship was first sold to The Netherlands as the second Karel Doorman (HMS Nairana, which also features in the thread, was the first) and then, in Oct 68, to Argentina, as the Veinticinco de Mayo.
No. 1851 Sqn wore the "R6" codes between July 1945 and February 1946. It transferred to HMS Vengance in June 1946 for its journey back to the UK and disbanded at Devonport on 13 August 1946.
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I recall reading an absolutely wonderful and riveting book written by a FAA WWII Corsair pilot and his exploits in the Pacific and elsewhere. Damned if I can remember title/author.
I think the book is "Carrier Pilot" by Norman Hanson.He was a civil servant from Carlisle,who almost by accident ended as a senior pilot on 1833 Corsair squadron on Illustrious.
For anyone interested in the FAA's Pacific war it's a must read.
For anyone interested in the FAA's Pacific war it's a must read.
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PS Nacluv - He was a submariner (radio operator) during the war .... known in those days and until the early 1960s as a Telegraphist
Funnily enough, reading through more of the papers last night, I came across his wireless examination records, where he is labelled as a 'Radio Operator'!!! Other documents state, as you say, 'Telegraphist'.
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Another excellent, though fictional, account of Corsairs in the RN Pacific fleet carriers can be found in "Aircraft Carrier" by John Winton, the renowned naval author. Every one of his books are eminently readable, full of humour and incident, delivered with great style. "HMS Leviathan" continues the carrier theme, this time into the 50s.
Sad that he didn't write more books. The Artful Bodger was a terrific character in his first four books.
Sad that he didn't write more books. The Artful Bodger was a terrific character in his first four books.
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Keith
This is just to confirm that the picture of Corsair R6P of 1851 squadron taking off was taken by the photo section on HMS Venerable. The pilot was Lt Michael B Gerrish RNVR Commanding Officer (acting) 1851 May1945 to June 1945. His age at the time was 24 years. He now lives in Sussex. I have an original print on which he has pencilled on the reverse side "self".
This is just to confirm that the picture of Corsair R6P of 1851 squadron taking off was taken by the photo section on HMS Venerable. The pilot was Lt Michael B Gerrish RNVR Commanding Officer (acting) 1851 May1945 to June 1945. His age at the time was 24 years. He now lives in Sussex. I have an original print on which he has pencilled on the reverse side "self".
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Hi just reading this thread with interest, my father flew FAA Corsairs in 1944/45,he did his fighter training on them based at Yeovilton then flew them out in India and remembers them being moved by elephant out there, still his favourite piston fighter out of all that he flew including the Sea Fury which he flew during Korea from HMS Ocean and HMS Vengence as well as from some of the shore bases. He says the Americans did have problems with them on the decks until the FAA altered the height of the tail wheel which the Americans then adopted
gordon
gordon
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aedie. Thank you for your input, and welcome to the forum, it never ceases to amaze me just how many small peices of information can be collected in this way ! all of course adding to the bigger picture !
Keith
Keith
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Anyone who flew or worked on Corsairs will surely be fascinated by what the Fleet Air Arm Museum have done to their Corsair KD431. If they haven't done so already - Corsair KD431: The Time Capsule Fighter - is a 'must read'.
It may be out of print though. Strangely the museum website invites you to buy it and then doesn't show it in their display list of books available. A search on that place named after a very long river shows copies available tho!
It may be out of print though. Strangely the museum website invites you to buy it and then doesn't show it in their display list of books available. A search on that place named after a very long river shows copies available tho!
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Corsairs in Ceylon/Sri Lanka
Greetings from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) to all of you. I happened on this thread and joined the forum to comment on it.
The Fleet Air Arm did indeed fly a number of Corsairs in the Indian Ocean theatre. There were Corsair squadrons based at Koggala and Palavi (both RAF bases) on the west coast of Ceylon. The Imperial War Museum has a number of good images showing this, together with quite a lot of information for anyone who is interested. In the meantime, I’m sure members here will enjoy these images from Palavi. First, the romanticized version:
The reality was slightly less picturesque – and more cruel. That's an immature elephant and, as many of you will know, a dry Corsair weighed well over four tons.
The Fleet Air Arm did indeed fly a number of Corsairs in the Indian Ocean theatre. There were Corsair squadrons based at Koggala and Palavi (both RAF bases) on the west coast of Ceylon. The Imperial War Museum has a number of good images showing this, together with quite a lot of information for anyone who is interested. In the meantime, I’m sure members here will enjoy these images from Palavi. First, the romanticized version:
The reality was slightly less picturesque – and more cruel. That's an immature elephant and, as many of you will know, a dry Corsair weighed well over four tons.
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I wouldn't say there was anything cruel about the work the elephant is doing, even if the Corsair is "well over four tons".
It is easy enough to roll a substantial weight on wheels, if it's on firm ground or pavement. The ground around the Corsair certainly appears to be quite firm.
The Corsair wheels are large enough diameter to provide low rolling resistance, and no doubt they are inflated to a reasonably high pressure.
I would be very surprised to find if it took more than about 300-400 lbs force to move the Corsair, with the major effort required initially to overcome the inertia from a standing start, and with a much lower pull effort required, once the aircraft was moving.
I would have thought this amount of effort would have been easily achievable, even for a small elephant, as a single draughthorse is capable of up to 400 lbs of initial pulling effort, and a constant pull effort of 200 lbs.
It is easy enough to roll a substantial weight on wheels, if it's on firm ground or pavement. The ground around the Corsair certainly appears to be quite firm.
The Corsair wheels are large enough diameter to provide low rolling resistance, and no doubt they are inflated to a reasonably high pressure.
I would be very surprised to find if it took more than about 300-400 lbs force to move the Corsair, with the major effort required initially to overcome the inertia from a standing start, and with a much lower pull effort required, once the aircraft was moving.
I would have thought this amount of effort would have been easily achievable, even for a small elephant, as a single draughthorse is capable of up to 400 lbs of initial pulling effort, and a constant pull effort of 200 lbs.
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........and a few aircraft handlers can shift it just as well. Mmmm
"Now then you lot...two six...HEAVE!" Come on..put your backs into it....."
.......easier said than done with a heaving deck!
"Now then you lot...two six...HEAVE!" Come on..put your backs into it....."
.......easier said than done with a heaving deck!
