Ron C.
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British Corsairs
RufusLeeking
Joined: January 18, 2002
KitMaker: 330 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 02:54 AM UTC
This was one of the disapearing posts from yesterday. The question I had was about British F4U Corsairs, the first Corsairs to service off carriers. Did any of these Corsairs get to tangle with German ME109's or FW190? Or where they all in the South Pacific.
Ron C.
Ron C.
drewgimpy
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 835 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 03:20 AM UTC
Good question. I would like to know the answer also. I have always wondered how the pacific planes would do against the germans and how the planes in europe would do in the pacific.
HunterCottage
#116
Joined: December 19, 2001
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 03:50 AM UTC
The P-38 was originally placed in Europe but after time they had so much down time due the weather they were replaced with the P-51 and shipped the lot to the PTO.
I didn't even know the British used the Corsairs!!
"Corsair Aces of World War 2", by Mark Styling, Osprey 'Aircraft of the Aces'. Has references to the British aces too.
Here is another reference: http://www.squadron.com/old/FAA%20Corsair%20Article.html
Don't know if this helped any!
I didn't even know the British used the Corsairs!!
"Corsair Aces of World War 2", by Mark Styling, Osprey 'Aircraft of the Aces'. Has references to the British aces too.
Here is another reference: http://www.squadron.com/old/FAA%20Corsair%20Article.html
Don't know if this helped any!
RufusLeeking
Joined: January 18, 2002
KitMaker: 330 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 04:01 AM UTC
I haven't read any books on it, but I would think that even some US naval aircraft would of gone against German aircraft in Italy or the landings in southern France. I think the Hellcat and the Corsairs would of done real well against 109's and 190s.
staff_Jim
PublisherJoined: December 15, 2001
KitMaker: 12,571 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 04:26 AM UTC
Rufus,
That brings up an interesting point. I know there were many US naval vessels in the ETO, but were there many capital ships? I don't remember reading or seeing much about US Aircraft carriers operating in the ETO. Of course their were several British carriers.
I did find this bit on the website below:
"During the war, the British Royal Navy accepted 2,012 Corsairs and the Royal New Zealand Air Force accepted 364. The demand was so great that the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation and the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation also produced the F4U."
http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/voughtf4.htm
Another snippet:
"The first unit to form was the Marine squadron VMF-124 in September 1942, but the first to use the Corsair from carriers were squadrons of the British Fleet Air Arm whose aircraft had clipped wings in order to fin inside the cramped hangars with the wings folded. "
http://me.essortment.com/navyfucorsiar_rhqh.htm
Ahh...Bullseye. Here is your answer:
"The only major combat engagement by Corsairs in Europe came on April 3, 1944, when RNFAA Corsairs from HMS Victorious escorted bombers which attacked the German battleship Tirpitz in Norwegian waters. "
http://rwebs.net/dispatch/output.asp?ArticleID=16
That brings up an interesting point. I know there were many US naval vessels in the ETO, but were there many capital ships? I don't remember reading or seeing much about US Aircraft carriers operating in the ETO. Of course their were several British carriers.
I did find this bit on the website below:
"During the war, the British Royal Navy accepted 2,012 Corsairs and the Royal New Zealand Air Force accepted 364. The demand was so great that the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation and the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation also produced the F4U."
http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/voughtf4.htm
Another snippet:
"The first unit to form was the Marine squadron VMF-124 in September 1942, but the first to use the Corsair from carriers were squadrons of the British Fleet Air Arm whose aircraft had clipped wings in order to fin inside the cramped hangars with the wings folded. "
http://me.essortment.com/navyfucorsiar_rhqh.htm
Ahh...Bullseye. Here is your answer:
"The only major combat engagement by Corsairs in Europe came on April 3, 1944, when RNFAA Corsairs from HMS Victorious escorted bombers which attacked the German battleship Tirpitz in Norwegian waters. "
http://rwebs.net/dispatch/output.asp?ArticleID=16
RufusLeeking
Joined: January 18, 2002
KitMaker: 330 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 05:26 AM UTC
I know there were US escort carriers in the Atlantic, mostly Wildcats then later using Hellcats, flew from these carriers. But I was also wondering who flew air cover on the Anzio landings. On D-day in France, England was the worlds biggest carrier. Didn't need naval air cover. 
E23C
Joined: January 23, 2002
KitMaker: 238 posts
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Posted: Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 12:30 PM UTC
Royal Navy Fleet air arm Corsairs probably did tangle with the Norwegian based Luftwaffe ME-109s,Hellcats and Wildcats in RN service did also do raids on Norway from Brit carriers and tangled with the 109s.Dont know if the USN had any Corsairs in the Atlantic?
mikeli125
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,595 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 03:22 AM UTC
A British corsair was captured in Norway I think it was forced down due to either bad weather or mechanical trouble its not known if the Germans got it working again
newtothegame
Joined: October 05, 2003
KitMaker: 588 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 03:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
A British corsair was captured in Norway I think it was forced down due to either bad weather or mechanical trouble its not known if the Germans got it working again
Wouldn't that be a cool paint scheme...a british corsair, with captured German markings...
brandydoguk
Joined: October 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,495 posts
AeroScale: 643 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 05:42 AM UTC
One of the advantages the British had over the US in using Corsairs from carriers was actually brought about because of a poor design feature of the fleet carriers.
The British carriers were armoured as they were expected to come under attack from shore based aircraft. To save on topweight the height of the hangers was restricted. This meant that the Corsairs had to have their wingspan shortened so that the aircraft could fit into the hangers when their wings were folded.
This shorter wingspan actually helped eliminate the tendency of the Corsair to "float" at the point of touchdown meaning they were easier to actually get onto the deck and engage the arrester wires, resulting a lower landing accident rate.
The British carriers were armoured as they were expected to come under attack from shore based aircraft. To save on topweight the height of the hangers was restricted. This meant that the Corsairs had to have their wingspan shortened so that the aircraft could fit into the hangers when their wings were folded.
This shorter wingspan actually helped eliminate the tendency of the Corsair to "float" at the point of touchdown meaning they were easier to actually get onto the deck and engage the arrester wires, resulting a lower landing accident rate.
brandydoguk
Joined: October 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,495 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 03:19 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hey Martin:
I read the same thing.
In all my Corsair research, I can't figure out why did the Brits dump them at the end of hostilities?
The U.S. kept them even in favor of the latest Grumman release, the Bearcat, and used the quite effectively in the Korean war.
Similarly, in all the reading I've done, the Seafire was always a marginal carrier fighter, yet they kept those!!??
Except for chronistic politics, I can't see why.
Can you shed some light on this for me?
Tom
Hi Tom, I'm not 100% certain but the British may have dumped the corsairs simply on the grounds of cost. They had improved naval aircraft in the pipeline [such as the Sea Hornet and Sea Fury] and the jet era was starting.
The Seafire was indeed marginal as if there was insufficient wind over the deck the landing accident rate shot up.
I've read that many of the aircraft supplied to the FAA by the US under Lend/Lease were dumped overboard at sea so that the British govt. wouldn't have to pay for them. What a waste.
mikeli125
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,595 posts
AeroScale: 0 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 03:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextHey Martin:
I read the same thing.
In all my Corsair research, I can't figure out why did the Brits dump them at the end of hostilities?
The U.S. kept them even in favor of the latest Grumman release, the Bearcat, and used the quite effectively in the Korean war.
Similarly, in all the reading I've done, the Seafire was always a marginal carrier fighter, yet they kept those!!??
Except for chronistic politics, I can't see why.
Can you shed some light on this for me?
Tom
I've read that many of the aircraft supplied to the FAA by the US under Lend/Lease were dumped overboard at sea so that the British govt. wouldn't have to pay for them. What a waste.
true at my old barraks were I done basic training Colerne just out side Bath.
they dug massive holes in the ground and filled them full of lancasters ect the landing gear were cut off this was mentioned in the book of the history of the camp as well so its not an urban legend thats been added to the camps tales belive there were some spitfires and other stuff put in as well. if you know anyone who's been there one of the holes is now were the regimental football pitch is. A signal unit is now in there
Mahross
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 837 posts
AeroScale: 89 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 12:13 AM UTC
This is the corsair that was captured by the germans.
Corsair JT404 of 1841 squadron. Involved in anti-submarine patrol from HMS Formidable enroute to Scapa after Operation Mascot against the German Battleship Tirpitz, in company with Barracuda of Wing Leader Lt Cdr RS Baker-Falkner. Emergency landing in a field at Sorvag, Hameroy, near Bodo, Norway on 18 July 1944. The pilot Lt Mattholie taken POW and the aircraft captured intact with no damage. The german authorities made attempts to get the pilot to explain how to fold the wings so as to transport the aircraft to Narvik. Aircraft was ferried by boat for further investigation. It is not known if the Corsair was taken to Germany. This was probably the first Corsair captured by the Germans. Aircraft is listed at Rechlin for 1944 under repair.
Given its operation it is possible that it may have tangled with german fighters.
Corsair JT404 of 1841 squadron. Involved in anti-submarine patrol from HMS Formidable enroute to Scapa after Operation Mascot against the German Battleship Tirpitz, in company with Barracuda of Wing Leader Lt Cdr RS Baker-Falkner. Emergency landing in a field at Sorvag, Hameroy, near Bodo, Norway on 18 July 1944. The pilot Lt Mattholie taken POW and the aircraft captured intact with no damage. The german authorities made attempts to get the pilot to explain how to fold the wings so as to transport the aircraft to Narvik. Aircraft was ferried by boat for further investigation. It is not known if the Corsair was taken to Germany. This was probably the first Corsair captured by the Germans. Aircraft is listed at Rechlin for 1944 under repair.
Given its operation it is possible that it may have tangled with german fighters.
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