And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
My wife's dad flew them in Korea in the Marine Corps. The Navy initially rejected them in WWII because of the difficulty in landing them on carriers. As is common for Navy and Army rejects, it passed them off to the Marine Corps. It was referred to as "Whistling Death" due to the high-pitched whine of its massive engine.
The Corsair was also to the Brits, and it was the Brits who figured out how to land them on carriers. After that, the Navy went all in on Corsairs toward the end of the war.
The difference in its performance as a fighter (except for range) with the P-51 was trivial. In a hypothetical dogfight with a P-51, it was the pilot who would make the difference in the outcome.
The Corsair excelled as a ground support aircraft after jet fighters were introduced. The P-51 could not match its performance in that role.
I wish I could find it now, but I read maybe two or three years ago an account by a Corsair squadron commander who had led an attack on the North Korean Army. On the return, he learned of a US Army commander who was requesting a flyover of his unit. This was in some of the darkest days of the war after the North Korean Army was overwhelming Army units, and just after American reinforcements were arriving.
The Marine squadron commander diverted his squadron and flew many miles until he approached the Amy unit on the ground. As low as they dared, they flew over the soldiers below. The sound must have been deafening, but it sent a clear message, "Uncle Sam is back!"
my father befriended some RNZAF Corsair pilots while stationed on Espiritu Santo in WW2. pop was a rear echelon petty officer, he lost his wallet and one of the pilots returned it, and so they were acquainted. they (three) and my father corresponded every 4-8 years until the old man was the last one left.
Lower San Diego Bay?
ReplyDeleteYep, exactly. I ride my bike around the bay out to Coronado every week.
DeleteThat's my guess.
ReplyDeleteMy wife's dad flew them in Korea in the Marine Corps. The Navy initially rejected them in WWII because of the difficulty in landing them on carriers. As is common for Navy and Army rejects, it passed them off to the Marine Corps. It was referred to as "Whistling Death" due to the high-pitched whine of its massive engine.
ReplyDeleteThe Corsair was also to the Brits, and it was the Brits who figured out how to land them on carriers. After that, the Navy went all in on Corsairs toward the end of the war.
The difference in its performance as a fighter (except for range) with the P-51 was trivial. In a hypothetical dogfight with a P-51, it was the pilot who would make the difference in the outcome.
The Corsair excelled as a ground support aircraft after jet fighters were introduced. The P-51 could not match its performance in that role.
I wish I could find it now, but I read maybe two or three years ago an account by a Corsair squadron commander who had led an attack on the North Korean Army. On the return, he learned of a US Army commander who was requesting a flyover of his unit. This was in some of the darkest days of the war after the North Korean Army was overwhelming Army units, and just after American reinforcements were arriving.
The Marine squadron commander diverted his squadron and flew many miles until he approached the Amy unit on the ground. As low as they dared, they flew over the soldiers below. The sound must have been deafening, but it sent a clear message, "Uncle Sam is back!"
Tears welled-up in my eyes when I read it.
my father befriended some RNZAF Corsair pilots while stationed on Espiritu Santo in WW2. pop was a rear echelon petty officer, he lost his wallet and one of the pilots returned it, and so they were acquainted. they (three) and my father corresponded every 4-8 years until the old man was the last one left.
Deletenow I'm tearing up.
It's a crying shame (to me and other Jarheads) that these are "squid" Corsairs and not US Marine Corps planes.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the theme music to Black sheep squadron is now running thru my head
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly. Pappy Boynton
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