Author Topic: U.S. Naval Planes (Read 6070 times)

Krusty · « **Reply #60 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:09:55 PM »

F4u is a late war plane, don't forget

FM2 is as well. F4F-3 and F4F-4 were the mainstay until the F6F came around. The FM2 is like the next generation after F4F-4 (technically F4F-8, I believe)

1K3 · « **Reply #61 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:18:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
F4u is a late war plane, don't forget

I think Marines used them as early as 1943 (the Birdcage version). I just wanna make sure/double check if later F4Us A and D were fully operational in late '44.

Krusty · « **Reply #62 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:33:17 PM »

Generally speaking, they didn't see much action til late half of 1943.

F4UDOA · « **Reply #63 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:44:35 PM »

Krusty,

The F4U was actually in service in early 1943 and scored 640+ kills in 1943 more than any other Navy type for the year including F4F and F6F.

The F4U had more kills in 1943 than in 1944. The first kills were in April of 43 peaking in June with over 120 for the month.

Movie · « **Reply #64 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:45:11 PM »

who is this guy?

Krusty · « **Reply #65 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:53:05 PM »

Dangit, you're gonna make me look it up when I get home, ain't ya?

I don't recall there being *that* much action for the Corsair in 1943.

SIK1 · « **Reply #66 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:26:49 PM »

VF-17 qualified their corsairs for carrier duty 1943, and were the first F4U Naval squadron to launch a combat mission from a carrier 1943.

Saxman · « **Reply #67 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:46:54 PM »

Walsh had already become the first all-Corsair ace by mid April '43, hadn't he?

1K3 · « **Reply #68 on:** July 20, 2007, 06:09:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Saxman
Walsh had already become the first all-Corsair ace by mid April '43, hadn't he?

He's a Marine pilot right?

I think the F4U still wasn't in widespread use on the US Navy carriers. until late 1944.

Rolex · « **Reply #69 on:** July 20, 2007, 08:24:13 PM »

The first combat operation of the Corsair from a carrier was off the HMS VICTORIOUS on April 3, 1944, by the British Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Number 1834 Squadron.

The US adopted the British landing technique and the first operational sortie from a carrier by the US was by VMF 124 from the USS Essex on December 28, 1944. There was widespread use of land-based F4Us in 1944, but not from carriers.

The F4U was essentially a USMC aircraft with Marine pilots shooting down 1,400 enemy planes. US Navy pilots scored 162 victories.

Saxman · « **Reply #70 on:** July 20, 2007, 09:20:55 PM »

Uh, check your facts again.

VF-17 was operating off carriers as early as mid-1943 and proved the F4U was perfectly suitable for carrier use. They were shipped to land bases because it was easier for the Navy F4U squadrons to rely on the Marine Corps' established supply chains rather than specially provision a handful of carrier-based Corsair squadrons in a fleet full of Hellcats and F4Fs.

Also, VF-17 by ITSELF scored 160-odd kills. I find it hard to believe that of ALL the US Navy land and carrier-based Corsair squadrons, the Jolly Rogers succeeded in shooting down all but TWO of them.

F4UDOA · « **Reply #71 on:** July 20, 2007, 09:32:23 PM »

Krusty,

Take a look here. It is a condensed version of the Naval Historic Records file.

Naval Aircraft Victories by Type

Widewing · « **Reply #72 on:** July 20, 2007, 10:29:16 PM »

Rolex stated that the first COMBAT operation was flown by FAA Corsairs, and he's right. VF-17 never flew a combat sortie from the Bunker Hill. They were detached and transferred via a 'jeep' carrier to Guadalcanal. They then flew to New Georgia, where they flew their first combat mission under Marine Corps command on October 27, 1943.

My regards,

Widewing

Rolex · « **Reply #73 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:39:03 PM »

After the Corsair became operational from carriers, another 570 some victories were claimed, Saxman. I should have clarified that, but was running out the door as I posted.

Sure, Corsairs were being flown off and on US carriers, starting with carrier trials on the USS SANGAMON on 25 September 1942, but I believe VMF-124 was the first US squadron to fly operations off a carrier, and VF-17 was the first US Navy squadron to fly the Corsair off carriers.

Those are the facts as I understand them. If there is something wrong with that information, I'm always ready to accept correction to it. I'm not in this for a fight, whatever is right is right.

I understand Lt. Walsh was an ace in mid-May, 1943.

Saxman · « **Reply #74 on:** July 21, 2007, 12:30:05 AM »

Actually, VF-17 DID fly at least one combat sortie from Bunker Hill. The took off from a land base, flew CAP over Bunker Hill and landed aboard. They later took off and flew either a strike/sweep or bomber escort then returned to the land base.