RCAF Corsair Mk II F4U-1A

[Mister Fork]

From Vintage Wings:
This superb profile by Mark Styling depicts Don Sheppard’s personal ‘cab’ for a good part of his operational career. All told, he flew Corsair II Ser. No. JT-410 some 42 times between August 1944 and January 1945, including on operations LENTIL and MERIDIANs I and II, and it was therefore the fighter he was flying for his first four victories. According to Styling, Lieutenant James Edmundson also flew this Corsair when he shot down a Japanese fighter on Operation MILLET. There is often confusion over the meaning of the various “distinguishing symbols” or markings, but these accurately reflect those promulgated under Confidential Admiralty Fleet Order 1901 issued in August 1944. ‘T’ represents the “standard Wing letter” assigned to the 47th Naval Fighter Wing; ‘8’ was one of the four designated “squadron figures” for operational fighter squadrons, in this case 1836; and ‘H’ was the “terminal letter” allocated by individual squadron commanders (any letter could be used except for ‘E’, ‘I’, ‘O’ or ‘T’). According to the regulation, these letters were to be painted in sky but that and their position relative to the roundel sometimes varied. Photo: Mark Styling

Would be a great addition to our F4U-1A lineup but looking at the bubble canopy, it looks like a F4U-1D. Can anyone confirm?

[Mister Fork]

Here is another image that was used by Mark to draw the aircraft.  This one is JT-422

[Greebo]

Royal Navy Corsairs had a couple of differences to US ones. Apart from a few F4U-1s used for training only, all RN Corsairs had squared-off tips to get them into the lower RN carrier hangars. Also most had the F4U-1A-style framed cockpit, even the F4U-1D equivalents. So the usual reference of the framed cockpit is not a reliable way to find out what an RN Corsair was built as.

Another confusing thing is that the RN's policy on marks of Corsair refer to the factory the aircraft was made in. So the Mark I and II were made by Vought with the Mk II having the clipped wing. The Mk III was made (badly) by Brewster and just used for training. The Mk IV was made by Goodyear. Most of these four marks had a mix of F4U-1, 1A and 1D variants.

I have a list of RN serial numbers set against factory data and in the case of JT 410 and 422 they were both Vought-built Mk IIs and F4U-1A equivalents.

[Mister Fork]

I have a list of RN serial numbers set against factory data and in the case of JT 410 and 422 they were both Vought-built Mk IIs and F4U-1A equivalents.

So it's confirmed that Dan's Corsair is indeed a Mark II variant (or a F4U-1A equiv).  Thanks Greebo for verifying.

 

[Mister Fork]

So, is there anyone who would be interested in making a RCAF Corsair F4U-1A?

[Greebo]

I considered skinning this when you first posted but there were a couple of things that put me off at the time: I had already done a 1836 NAS F4U-1A plus I don't like skinning from just a profile. However I have just realised looking at my production table that the 1836 NAS F4U-1A I did should actually have been skinned as an F4U-1D. So when skinners get the option to update skins on the skins submissions page I can redo this skin as JT 410, assuming no one else has done it by then. The existing skin I'll redo as an F4U-1D.

BTW I expect you know this but just in case you don't, I have already skinned a Canadian-flown F4U-1D of 1841 NAS.

[Mister Fork]

I considered skinning this when you first posted but there were a couple of things that put me off at the time: I had already done a 1836 NAS F4U-1A plus I don't like skinning from just a profile. However I have just realised looking at my production table that the 1836 NAS F4U-1A I did should actually have been skinned as an F4U-1D. So when skinners get the option to update skins on the skins submissions page I can redo this skin as JT 410, assuming no one else has done it by then. The existing skin I'll redo as an F4U-1D.

BTW I expect you know this but just in case you don't, I have already skinned a Canadian-flown F4U-1D of 1841 NAS.

  - thanks Greebo.  And no, I didn't know you already skinned a F4U-1D. Thanks

Sorry for the late reply - I've been to England and back for a month and didn't see your input.