|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 2, 2011 23:37:38 GMT 12
The RNZAF did not get rockets till late 1945, and they never used them in combat till the Malayan conflict in the 1950's using Vampires and Venoms. Corsairs usually carried large bombs, 1000lb was common, under the centreline hardpoint on the fuselage with droptanks under the wings to carry fuel if extra was needed.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 3, 2011 2:02:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave.
Heres a strange question,Would you know how long machine gun fire would last if you pressed the trigger? I saw it somewhere that you only have about 15 seconds of firing per mission.
|
|
|
Post by buffnut453 on Oct 3, 2011 3:15:53 GMT 12
It depends on the firing rate(s) of the weapon(s) and the quantity of ammunition that could be carried for each weapon. Your figure of about 15 secs sounds about right - fighter pilots only fired in 1-2 sec bursts at maximum.
Per your previous question about bombs under wings, they would simply be free-fall bombs. Some aircraft were equipped with rockets (and others have answered the availability of those weapons to the RNZAF) but they would carry much less explosive than a bomb.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 3, 2011 3:57:55 GMT 12
Makes you realise how hard it must of been to become an Ace and to be able to shoot down two or three aircraft in one mission with only around 15 secs of fire.
From what I know so far they used 325ib 500ib and 1,000ib bombs. What is a ''sand bomb''?
Also what is a Neutral blower?and why did it have to be tested at 14,000 ft.
|
|
|
Post by buffnut453 on Oct 3, 2011 23:39:00 GMT 12
Dunno about "sand bomb" unless it's just a dummy bomb loaded with sand for practice bomb-dropping training.
"Blower" is a colloquialism for a supercharger which greatly improves aero engine performance at high altitudes, hence the need for testing at altitude.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 5, 2011 6:12:37 GMT 12
Cheers Buff.
It says ''Dropped 1,000 ib sand bomb great show''thats a strange one.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 7, 2011 9:33:01 GMT 12
Would anyone know what New Zealand Army forces were in the Occupational forces of Japan after the war?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2011 13:06:50 GMT 12
The Army sent a battalion, I think it was, and the RNZAF sent No. 14 (Occupational) Squadron flying FG-1D Corsairs.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 7, 2011 13:16:29 GMT 12
Thanks Dave.
My Grandfather was sent to Japan in the Occupational force, any idea what Battalion it was?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2011 14:15:11 GMT 12
You'll have to do some Googling because I don't know for sure what the Army strength was. but I do know the first lot sent there came from Italy and were those who'd only done a short stint at the end of the war and those who volunteered to go with them. Then re-inforcements and replacements were raised in NZ later so they could bring the originals back to NZ and relieve them. The Army did very little indeed in Japan. The Air Force flew patrols etc.
J Force was apparently not so much about occupying Japan and quelling the conquered nation, but was instead to act as a major deterrent to Stalin who may have had ideas of trying to occupy Japan himself since he was now at war with them. So the British, US, Australian, Canadian and NZ and probably others formed the occupational forces there.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2011 14:16:43 GMT 12
Here you go, it was a Brigade: From www.army.mil.nz/at-a-glance/events/archived-events/1rnzir/short-history.htm"On 9th January 1947 the New Zealand Permanent Force and the Territorial Force were amalgamated to form the New Zealand Army with The New Zealand Infantry Corps being established also on this date. Over this period, New Zealand’s contribution to the Allied Occupation Force of Japan was J Force, which comprised the 9th New Zealand Infantry Brigade. This further comprised the Divisional Cavalry Regiment, the 22nd and 27th New Zealand Infantry Battalions, which on this date were redesignated as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, the New Zealand Regiment (1 NZ Regt, 2 NZ Regt and 3 NZ Ret respectively with the Div Cav Regt becoming the 1st Bn). In 1948 the 9th NZ Infantry Brigade was withdrawn from Japan and the three Battalions deactivated."
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Oct 7, 2011 19:33:27 GMT 12
Awesome, thanks Dave!
Sounds like more of a holiday he would of had.
Interesting about what they did there. I read somewhere a few days ago that the US within 10 years was trying to get Japan to build their forces back up to fight communism. Shows how quick the world changes!
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Dec 10, 2011 4:04:03 GMT 12
Heres something I find odd.What is a P-47 doing at Henderson field in the Pacific. Uploaded with ImageShack.us
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 10, 2011 9:12:26 GMT 12
The USAAF used P-47D's in the Pacific. They were long range escorts for bombers, just as they were in Europe. In fact there are at least three ex-Pacific P-47D's being restored to fly in Australia, one of which used to be here in NZ after it was recovered from PNG.
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Dec 10, 2011 14:41:46 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. The only thing I could find on P-47's in the Pacific was the 348th Fighter Group but they were based in Australia,there's nothing about them being at Henderson.
|
|
|
Post by baronbeeza on Dec 10, 2011 15:03:16 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 10, 2011 15:19:16 GMT 12
|
|