Author Topic: Hay's Corsair  (Read 427 times)

Offline Greebo

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Hay's Corsair
« on: January 03, 2021, 05:24:43 AM »
I noticed there wasn't an F4U-1A skin with the correct markings for the "Operation Meridian" January FSO so thought I'd do one for it.

This is the Corsair of Lt. Col. Ronnie Hay, who as strike leader flew it during the Royal Navy's strikes against the Japanese-held Sumatran oil fields at Palembang in January 1945. In RAF Wing Commander fashion his aircraft carried his own initials rather than a squadron code.

Ronnie Hay joined the Royal Marines in 1935 but flew as a pilot with the Fleet Air Arm for the whole of WW2. Flying with 801 NAS from HMS Ark Royal he shot down an He 111 in a Blackburn Skua during the ill-fated Norway Campaign. Later in 1940 operating from England he flew dive bombing missions during the evacuation of the BEF at Dunkirk and fighter missions during the Battle of Britain. Back on Ark Royal he shot down five Italian aircraft in the Med during 1941 before that ship was sunk. Promoted to Captain in 1942 he was given command of 809 NAS and fought during the invasion of NW Africa, Operation Torch. In late 1944 Hay, now a Major, was given command of the Corsair-equipped 47 Naval Fighter Wing aboard HMS Victorious and led the attacks on the Japanese held Nicobar islands and the Palembang oil refineries. During these operations he shot down four Japanese fighters, bringing his score to 13 kills of German, Italian, Vichy French and Japanese aircraft and ended the the war as the only Royal Marine ace.








Offline lyric1

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2021, 05:35:08 AM »
 :aok

Offline Nefarious

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2021, 09:14:05 AM »
Excellent work. Thanks for your continued support of AH Special Events.
There must also be a flyable computer available for Nefarious to do FSO. So he doesn't keep talking about it for eight and a half hours on Friday night!

Offline Devil 505

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2021, 12:07:09 PM »
Superb.
Kommando Nowotny

FlyKommando.com

Offline perdue3

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2021, 12:57:24 PM »
Thanks, Greebo.  :cheers:
C.O. Kommando Nowotny 

FlyKommando.com

 

Offline DaddyAce

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2021, 01:28:23 PM »
Very nice Greebo!   :aok

Offline whiteman

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2021, 02:58:51 PM »
Great looking Corsair!

Offline Palace Cobra

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2021, 09:45:29 PM »
 :aok :rock

I approve.

Offline Vraciu

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Re: Hay's Corsair
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2021, 09:11:48 AM »
Wow.   That's impressive.  Good story, too. 
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