|
Post by Calum on Aug 8, 2007 14:37:14 GMT 12
Guys
I'm sure people here will know ;D
I understand we used both 1A and 1D Corsairs in WW2.
When did we change from the 1A to the 1D.
Which sqn's operated which type and from where
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 8, 2007 15:06:16 GMT 12
The RNZAF used F4U-1 models and F4U-1D's
On pages 74 and 75 of Warren Russell's excellent book on RNZAF Corsairs it lists by serial which aircraft served with which Squadrons and SU's.
I won't list the serials but will say this:
F4U-1 were issued to: No. 14 Squadron No. 15 Squadron No. 18 Squadron No. 20 Squadron No. 21 Squadron No. 1 Servicing Unit (Guadalcanal) No. 4 Servicing Unit (Bougainville and Los Negros) No. 5 Servicing Unit (Ardmore) No. 25 Servicing Unit (Bougainville and Espiritu Santo) No. 30 Servicing Unit (Kukum, Guadalcanal) No. 31 Servicing Unit (Espiritu Santo)
F4U-1D were issued to: No. 1 Servicing Unit as replacements No. 2 Servicing Unit (Bougainville) No. 3 Servicing Unit (Nissan Is., Green Islands) No. 5 Servicing Unit (Emirau) No. 25 Servicing Unit as replacements No. 30 Servicing Unit as replacements No. 31 Servicing Unit as replacements
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 8, 2007 15:19:25 GMT 12
Serial-wise
F4U-1 = NZ5201 to NZ5396
F4U-1D = NZ5397 to NZ5527 EXCEPT for intermittent aircraft which were F4U-1 models, these being NZ5461 to 5463, NZ5465, NZ5487, and NZ5501 to NZ5536
FG-1D - NZ5601 to NZ5660
That first F4U-1D, NZ5397, was brought on charge on the 12th of July 1944, The first Corsair, NZ5201, was BOC only three months ealier on the 3 March 1944, so not a lot of difference timewise and I don't think the -1 models were withdrawn to make way for the -1D's.
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Aug 8, 2007 15:32:47 GMT 12
Once the aircraft were issued to servicing units many squadrons ended up operating a mix of F4U-1s and F4U-1Ds during their tours. Both these models of Corsair in RNZAF service had the same P&W R-2800 variant, so as far as the powerplant was concerned there was no difference in maintenance requirements.
Some of the F4U-1s were later sent to NZ to be used for conversion training as deliveries of new Corsairs arriving directly in NZ was a bit slow at one point.
I imagine the F4U-1Ds were probably a bit more useful in service as they could carry bombs and droptanks at the same time, whereas the F4U-1 only had the centreline attachment point for either a bomb or a droptank.
Some of the later F4U-1Ds that the RNZAF received even had rocket stubs under the outer wings, NZ5485 being one example.
|
|
|
Post by trx850 on Aug 11, 2007 21:27:53 GMT 12
Hi to all. And some of the initial deliveries of -IA's were still operational at the end of the war!
Main visual difference was the under wing pylons of the -ID. Several other smaller variations are pretty hard to pick out in photos - the serials (if visible) are the only way to properly i.d. the model.
The broader chord and shorter prop was often retro-fitted to -IA's, and most of our -ID's also had the 'barred' canopy as per the -IA's. Only the later deliveries and the Goodyear built FG-ID's had the 'blown' canopy.
Hope this helps, Pete M.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 11, 2007 22:45:24 GMT 12
Welcome back Pete. Another difference, as noted in this recent thread, is the small window in the belly of the earlier model. rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Wartime&action=display&thread=1183125008So, they were F4U-1A's then and not F4U-1's as noted in the Warren book? This has always confused me, different references call them different models. I know the early -1's had the birdcage canopy but not all of them did.
|
|
|
Post by Calum on Aug 13, 2007 9:56:09 GMT 12
Thanks All. Looking at a modelling project down the track. Guess I need to find the decals first then choose the kit
|
|
|
Post by trx850 on Aug 13, 2007 21:03:44 GMT 12
Welcome back Pete. Another difference, as noted in this recent thread, is the small window in the belly of the earlier model. rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Wartime&action=display&thread=1183125008So, they were F4U-1A's then and not F4U-1's as noted in the Warren book? This has always confused me, different references call them different models. I know the early -1's had the birdcage canopy but not all of them did. Hi to all. Officially, there was no such beast as the -1A. This description has been used by modellers and historians to distinguish between the 'Birdcage' -1's and the later barred 'blown' canopy -1's. It was not a 'factory' or Bureau of Aeronautics (Bu.Aer) designation. I still believe there was no visible 'clear' panel in the belly on our a/c, and most research shows this had been plated over with a dural panel which in the much discussed 'prang' photo appears to have been ripped off, or dislodged. I am willing to be proved wrong, but going on published serials for the various mods to the Corsair production line, ours are too late to have the panel still open. Cheers, Pete M.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 13, 2007 22:11:14 GMT 12
Thanks for clearing those issues up Pete. I wasn't even aware that the clear panel existed on early Corsairs till it was mentioned in that thread, so I'm no expert.
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Aug 14, 2007 11:48:41 GMT 12
I'd imagine the clear vision panel in the belly would have been of very little use in Pacific Island operations anyway, as it'd be coated in a layer of crushed coral dust pretty quickly. I must admit that I didn't even know of it's existance until I saw those photos. I must read Boone T. Guyton's book "Whistling Death" sometime soon!
You just have to look at the photos of RNZAF Corsairs to see what the coral dust (and weather) could do to the paint on the aircraft in a very short time, let alone the rest of its components.
I think the groundies did a wonderful job to keep all those aircraft operating so well, considering the punishment they took from the elements.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Aug 14, 2007 17:50:33 GMT 12
We had 424 of these lovely machines operated between 1944-1948. Surely not all these were melted down. Is there documentation somewhere that shows how many were kept, sold off etc Would be great to go back in time and grab them all before they were scrapped and store them in an atmospheric controlled hangar till the present time. Would have no need to worry about Kiwi Saver.
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Aug 14, 2007 18:28:26 GMT 12
Beags, there are a couple of intact ex-RNZAF Corsair survivors: FG-1D NZ5648: flying - owned by James Slade's Old Stick and Rudder Company at Masterton. Painted up as a US Corsair, this aircraft is the only airworthy ex-RNZAF Corsair still in existance. FG-1D NZ5612: under restoration - owned by Ross Jowett at Ardmore, but is rumoured to be up for sale. Ross also owns bits of F4U-1 NZ5503, but I don't know the status of this. Plus there are no doubt other bits and pieces of ex-RNZAF Corsairs still around, either flying in other Corsairs,or laying around in sheds and garages in NZ. Next time you have a beer/softdrink you could be drinking out of a part of one of the other 422 Corsairs.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Aug 14, 2007 18:30:32 GMT 12
Wasn't the one at Duxford, the old fly company one of ours.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 14, 2007 18:39:51 GMT 12
Yes Beagle, The Old Flying Machine Company's Corsair is now with the Old Stick and Rudder Company.
Ross Jowett had the remains of about five ex-RNZAF Corsairs, and they could have made two complete aircraft at least. On of these 'packages' was sold by him to the USA a year or so ago (alledgedly including the remains of the Cambridge Corsair whuch the Walsh brothers saved from the melting pot).
|
|