Author Topic: Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot  (Read 387 times)

Offline Bodhi

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« on: October 25, 2002, 12:03:29 AM »
Just thought ya'll might enjoy this Corsair Photo of a -1 in 1944... I would love to be able to read his mind!
I regret doing business with TD Computer Systems.

Offline fffreeze220

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2002, 02:06:34 AM »
He is thinking......

1. diddlying n1k dweeb
2. damn UFO
3. learn to fly u n00b
Freeze

Offline Xjazz

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2002, 02:27:40 AM »
I dont know about enjoyment but...

He looks like gona brust tears and toejam to his pants any moment... Poor guy

He maybe still have a change see his parents, girlfriend or wife & child...

War IS hell

Offline Xjazz

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2002, 02:31:10 AM »
I dont know about enjoyment but...

He looks like gona brust tears any moment... Poor guy

"I maybe still have a change to see my parents / girlfriend / wife & child..."

War IS hell

Offline jbroey3

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2002, 03:09:17 AM »
Hes really thinking.... wow thank god that the damage model allows for individual component failure.

If it were aces, well.. his entire tail would have been lopped off.

:rolleyes:

Offline Maniac

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« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2002, 03:23:16 AM »
Nah, the photographer djust cracked an joke, hes laughing...
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Offline Voss

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2002, 04:11:18 AM »
Don't think he's real calm. It looks like he had some trouble remaining on his feet. Probably, ack damaged him (note the way the rudder is sprayed with fragmentary damage), he was forced to land at an Aussie field (those ain't Americans behind him), and he had enough control loss to make his landing very interesting. I don't think the tail damage is the sole problem here. The gear has collapsed, and either those guys on the wing have never seen a Corsair, or something in the cockpit has their interest (probably damage). They are probably both thinking "Holy toejam he's lucky to be breathing!"

I bet he's glad to be alive.

It would be interesting to know the details.

Offline Hristo

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2002, 04:33:17 AM »
He's probably remembering the days when his Corasir was 300 pounds lighter.

Offline Innominate

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« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2002, 05:07:51 AM »
The guys looking into the cockpit are probably arguing over who's gunna clean the sh*t up.

Offline Dawggus

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2002, 07:28:24 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Voss
It would be interesting to know the details.


Capt. Donald L. Balch sits beside his Corsair.  He served with VMF-221 for the entire war, gaining two victories in the Solomons and another three whilst on the USS Bunker Hill.

"On 6 July 1943 my division was directed from the Russell Islands to New Georgia.  There we were jumped my several Zeros which we broke up like a covey of quail, each division going in a different direction.  I got into the tail of one Zero and shot him down.  Then I started looking for the other members of my division whilst simultaneously patting myself on the back for my splendid marksmanship.  All of a sudden, all hell broke loose, with part of my hatch disintegrating along with some of the instruments in front of me.  I immeadiately "split S'ed" out to the left and down, pulling out at around 6000 ft, never having seen anything.  My wingman joined up with me and, because I couldn't hear anything on my radio, kept pointing at my tail.  We then turned home and flew back to our base.  I put my gear and flaps down on final, but I lost copmplete control of the aircraft on flare out.  I cut the power and slammed into the runway.  We found later that my conrols had been badlt shot up, just holding together until the moment I flared out for my landing"

- Balch


Cya Up!

Offline Dawggus

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2002, 07:30:02 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Voss
It would be interesting to know the details.


Capt. Donald L. Balch sits beside his Corsair.  He served with VMF-221 for the entire war, gaining two victories in the Solomons and another three whilst on the USS Bunker Hill.

"On 6 July 1943 my division was directed from the Russell Islands to New Georgia.  There we were jumped my several Zeros which we broke up like a covey of quail, each division going in a different direction.  I got into the tail of one Zero and shot him down.  Then I started looking for the other members of my division whilst simultaneously patting myself on the back for my splendid marksmanship.  All of a sudden, all hell broke loose, with part of my hatch disintegrating along with some of the instruments in front of me.  I immeadiately "split S'ed" out to the left and down, pulling out at around 6000 ft, never having seen anything.  My wingman joined up with me and, because I couldn't hear anything on my radio, kept pointing at my tail.  We then turned home and flew back to our base.  I put my gear and flaps down on final, but I lost complete control of the aircraft on flare out.  I cut the power and slammed into the runway.  We found later that my conrols had been badlt shot up, just holding together until the moment I flared out for my landing"

- Balch


Cya Up!

Offline Ripsnort

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2002, 08:06:12 AM »
Bah! Tis only a flesh wound!


Offline fffreeze220

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« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2002, 08:26:21 AM »
This plane made it home.

Token from this Page Link

ANother interresting story
« Last Edit: October 25, 2002, 08:30:53 AM by fffreeze220 »
Freeze

Offline ra

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Imagine the sense of relief of this Corsair Pilot
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2002, 08:58:04 AM »
It would be interesting to see Jap combat records for that day and see if any Corsairs were claimed as killed, and by whom.

ra

Offline Turbot

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« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2002, 09:43:19 AM »
All the Battle Damaged B17's you would care to see with explanations of what happened.

Some more.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2002, 09:45:52 AM by Turbot »