Post by davidd on May 21, 2013 10:54:07 GMT 12
Alan W,
The presence of the "bomb aiming" clear panel in the belly of RNZAF Corsairs may not be so unusual - I have seen other photos showing these panels (usually after a/c overturned or stood on their noses) on our aircraft. Also how authorative is the information on the painting of the wheel well interiors? Does it actually specify actual date this (white paint) was introduced, or the Buaer number of the first aircraft effected? The poor clarity of the photographs is such that I am not convinced that this definitely shows the earlier-style canopy. Incidentally, these photos are completely new to me, and I would have to agree that NZ5224 is a possible candidate, although I would like to see the full accident report for this aircraft, complete with a detailed damage report - it is certainly the most "bent" Corsair I have ever seen (a genuine right-angled job!) The brief notes I have state that NZ5224 (Sgt I G Field of 18 Squadron) stalled during a turn at low altitiude on approaching to land at Kukum and crashed heavily, after suffering a partial engine failure during a training sortie. "Error of judgment due to inexperience." However there were 11 RNZAF F4Us destroyed in a three-week period in 1944 flying from Guadalcanal, between 8/5 and 2/6/44, all by 20, 15, and 18 Sqdn pilots. Four pilots killed and a fifth was injured. However two of these aircraft were actually en route to Kukum from Espiritu Santo and ditched en route, and a third crashed on arrival from Espiritu Santo. Two others crashed into the sea after a collision and a third crashed into the sea after another collision. At least three of the other accidents actually took place at Henderson Field (Bomber I) rather than Kukum (Fighter II). Only ones definitely written off at Kukum itself were 5224 (above), 5239 (the one which crashed on landing after ferry flight, on 25/5/44), and 5244 (which hit the Kukum wharf after engine failure on take off, fatal). Thus the only other real possibility would appear to be 5239 (F/O D I Stewart, of 15 Sqdn, who injured his arm in the process.) His accident is described briefly as "Swung on landing after ferry flight, pilot unable to correct initial swing", and in mitigation, "pilot inexperienced in operating from strips with a high crown". So this one seems to have also got out of control and may have been spectacularly damaged. The "high crown" would be the fairly heavily cambered type of strip typical in the tropical regions, ofen a shock to newbies from more temperate regions.
David D
The presence of the "bomb aiming" clear panel in the belly of RNZAF Corsairs may not be so unusual - I have seen other photos showing these panels (usually after a/c overturned or stood on their noses) on our aircraft. Also how authorative is the information on the painting of the wheel well interiors? Does it actually specify actual date this (white paint) was introduced, or the Buaer number of the first aircraft effected? The poor clarity of the photographs is such that I am not convinced that this definitely shows the earlier-style canopy. Incidentally, these photos are completely new to me, and I would have to agree that NZ5224 is a possible candidate, although I would like to see the full accident report for this aircraft, complete with a detailed damage report - it is certainly the most "bent" Corsair I have ever seen (a genuine right-angled job!) The brief notes I have state that NZ5224 (Sgt I G Field of 18 Squadron) stalled during a turn at low altitiude on approaching to land at Kukum and crashed heavily, after suffering a partial engine failure during a training sortie. "Error of judgment due to inexperience." However there were 11 RNZAF F4Us destroyed in a three-week period in 1944 flying from Guadalcanal, between 8/5 and 2/6/44, all by 20, 15, and 18 Sqdn pilots. Four pilots killed and a fifth was injured. However two of these aircraft were actually en route to Kukum from Espiritu Santo and ditched en route, and a third crashed on arrival from Espiritu Santo. Two others crashed into the sea after a collision and a third crashed into the sea after another collision. At least three of the other accidents actually took place at Henderson Field (Bomber I) rather than Kukum (Fighter II). Only ones definitely written off at Kukum itself were 5224 (above), 5239 (the one which crashed on landing after ferry flight, on 25/5/44), and 5244 (which hit the Kukum wharf after engine failure on take off, fatal). Thus the only other real possibility would appear to be 5239 (F/O D I Stewart, of 15 Sqdn, who injured his arm in the process.) His accident is described briefly as "Swung on landing after ferry flight, pilot unable to correct initial swing", and in mitigation, "pilot inexperienced in operating from strips with a high crown". So this one seems to have also got out of control and may have been spectacularly damaged. The "high crown" would be the fairly heavily cambered type of strip typical in the tropical regions, ofen a shock to newbies from more temperate regions.
David D
