US Naval aircraft in the ETO?
Moderator: John W. Howard
US Naval aircraft in the ETO?
Perusing a book on the Mustang recently, I read that US Naval aircraft - Corsairs - were seriously considered for deployment by USAAF units in the ETO. Intriguing to imagine. How does anyone else think the 'bent-wing bird' would have fared against the Luftwaffe as a bomber escort?
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dazedandconfused
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Well, the FAA (Fleet Air Arm) did use the Corsair in ETO. It flew top-cover in April, July and August during attacks on the Tirpitz (Operation Tungsten) with Corsairs from HMS Victorious (1834 and 1836 Squadrons). These FAA aircraft were slightly different to the USN variants. Obviously they had Anglicized equipment but they also had 8 inches clipped off each wingtip so they'd fit in the smaller hangars onboard RN carriers. As far as I can discover, there was no airborne opposition to the Cosairs during these ops.
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W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946)
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
Anne Frank (1929 - 1945)
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dazedandconfused
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Well, Corsairs never encountered aerial opposition over Europe, but the Hellcat and Wildcat did.
Hellcats (F6F-3) of #800 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm (HMS Emperor), had a furball with some Bf-109Gs and Fw-190s over Norway on May 8, 1944, and scored two 109s and one 190 destroyed without loss. This was the Hellcat's only fighter-vs.-fighter combat over Europe.
Then, on March 26, 1945, four Wildcats (FM-2) of #882 Squadron (HMS Searcher) were bounced by eight Bf-109Gs over Norway. One Wildcat was damaged, but the Wildcats turned the tables on their faster opponents with their superior manuverability, and shot no less than four 109s out of the sky before the Germans decided enough was enough and broke off. Although there had been some inconclusive encounters with 109s before, over North Africa, this was the first real furball between the two types--and also the last.
IMHO, the combination of the American naval fighters' superior manuverability and the better standard of training of the FAA pilots made the difference.
Yours,
Paul
Hellcats (F6F-3) of #800 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm (HMS Emperor), had a furball with some Bf-109Gs and Fw-190s over Norway on May 8, 1944, and scored two 109s and one 190 destroyed without loss. This was the Hellcat's only fighter-vs.-fighter combat over Europe.
Then, on March 26, 1945, four Wildcats (FM-2) of #882 Squadron (HMS Searcher) were bounced by eight Bf-109Gs over Norway. One Wildcat was damaged, but the Wildcats turned the tables on their faster opponents with their superior manuverability, and shot no less than four 109s out of the sky before the Germans decided enough was enough and broke off. Although there had been some inconclusive encounters with 109s before, over North Africa, this was the first real furball between the two types--and also the last.
IMHO, the combination of the American naval fighters' superior manuverability and the better standard of training of the FAA pilots made the difference.
Yours,
Paul
were this losses actually confirmed by Germans or are we talking cllaims?Paul_9686 wrote:Well, Corsairs never encountered aerial opposition over Europe, but the Hellcat and Wildcat did.
Hellcats (F6F-3) of #800 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm (HMS Emperor), had a furball with some Bf-109Gs and Fw-190s over Norway on May 8, 1944, and scored two 109s and one 190 destroyed without loss. This was the Hellcat's only fighter-vs.-fighter combat over Europe.
Then, on March 26, 1945, four Wildcats (FM-2) of #882 Squadron (HMS Searcher) were bounced by eight Bf-109Gs over Norway. One Wildcat was damaged, but the Wildcats turned the tables on their faster opponents with their superior manuverability, and shot no less than four 109s out of the sky before the Germans decided enough was enough and broke off. Although there had been some inconclusive encounters with 109s before, over North Africa, this was the first real furball between the two types--and also the last.
IMHO, the combination of the American naval fighters' superior manuverability and the better standard of training of the FAA pilots made the difference.
Yours,
Paul