draggie748 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Hi People, I'm after info on the Weapons the Kiwi Corsairs used in the SWPA. Did they use US bombs or underwing rockets or both? I take any bombs would have been carried on the under fuselage pylons? Thanks for your time with this query. Phil Hastie Canberra "The Nation's Capital" Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles81 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 US pattern bombs and depth charges Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, draggie748 said: Hi People, I'm after info on the Weapons the Kiwi Corsairs used in the SWPA. Did they use US bombs or underwing rockets or both? I take any bombs would have been carried on the under fuselage pylons? Hi Phil, RNZAF F4U-1D's never had the Plumbing/stubs for the Rockets, FG-1D did, but rockets were never used. Given that the RNZAF was attached to the USN, during WWII Standard US armaments, Aircrew would often wear US issued flying equipment too The F4U-1A used the "Brewster" bomb brace as below (Daisy Cutter type bomb) (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Standard Bombs (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) F4U-1D/FG-1D could also carry 450lb Depth Charges as below - set at zero feet, were perfect for De-vegetating large areas of jungle (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) These below are FG-1D's (tell by the Rocket stubs under wings) (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) You could always do the "Triple Drop Tank" arrangement? RNZAF F4U-1D's Corsairs at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain after RNZAF units departed Green Island. (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Hope that helps you in your build? Rwgards Alan Edited December 28, 2020 by LDSModeller 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Neat photos, Alan- thanks for posting them. Hoping you and yours are OK where you are! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 4 hours ago, 72modeler said: Hoping you and yours are OK where you are! Hi Mike, Yes we're all good thanks, though trying to BBQ on Christmas/Boxing days was a rather windy affair even though it's Summer here Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draggie748 Posted January 6, 2021 Author Share Posted January 6, 2021 Everyone, thanks for the great info and photos. I may just have to go with twin fuel tanks or just put a couple of 250/500lb bombs on the weapon pylons. Cheers Phil Canberra Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 On 12/28/2020 at 4:27 AM, LDSModeller said: RNZAF F4U-1D's Corsairs at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain after RNZAF units departed Green Island. Alan, Looking at this photo again- was the apparently white band on the props and the white prop dome a flight color? Never saw this before! Just curious. Mike BTW- we put some steaks on the grill Christmas Day here, too, but it was warm and sunny- typical South Central Texas winter weather! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, 72modeler said: Looking at this photo again- was the apparently white band on the props and the white prop dome a flight color? Never saw this before! Just curious. Hi Mike, There was a discussion (some time ago now) about this same Propeller, on an RNZAF Forum here in New Zealand. It simply came down to a Prop that had been foraged, most likely from either a USN/USMC Corsair (RNZAF shared same airstrips with them) to replace a damaged one. It wasn't uncommon for the odd RNZAF aircraft (Corsairs more noticeable) to have different coloured panels etc. Couple of Photos below showing a Cowling Ring and replacement panel off a GSB painted Corsair on a Tri Coloured one. Not sure whether the Cowling Ring is White or Yellow (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Replacement panel on NZ5393 in foreground (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Whilst the USN/USMC had reasonably good resupply, replacement parts always were the type needed now , so the RNZAF along with USN/USMC Servicing personnel would forage/ cannibalise non flyable/non repairable airframes (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) The photo below is a prime example of reducing to produce - this a fire damaged airframe (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Of course if you couldn't find a convenient part nearby - why not make one (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Of course you know about the Spliced RNZAF Corsair with the two different coloured F4U-1a Fuselage parts. There was a either a USN or USMC Corsair, where one half of the fuselage was of a US bird, and other half off an RNZAF bird (complete with Roundel) - I'll have to see if I can find the photo. There is a story Wally Ingham tells in his Book "Avengers" (Wally served with 30/31 SU in the Pacific), where he and another SU member were foraging for parts in the Jungle when a US Servicemen told them that there were still Japanese troops in the Jungle nearby - fun times - I have done anymore BBQing since Christmas/Boxing Days - but plenty more Summer days ahead yet Regards Alan Edited January 8, 2021 by LDSModeller 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 20 hours ago, LDSModeller said: RNZAF along with USN/USMC Servicing personnel would forage/ cannibalise non flyable/non repairable airframes I'm guessing there was no such thing as a "numbers matching" USMC or RNZAF Corsair in the Pacific! Thanks for taking the time to post the photos, Alan! (Looks like in the last photo the ground crew was making a new forging and BBQ'ing at the same time!) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M. Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 On 1/9/2021 at 5:09 AM, 72modeler said: Alan, Looking at this photo again- was the apparently white band on the props and the white prop dome a flight color? Never saw this before! Just curious. Mike BTW- we put some steaks on the grill Christmas Day here, too, but it was warm and sunny- typical South Central Texas winter weather! Hi Mike. Unfortunately, Alan has this wrong..the white bands on the prop blades and white prop hubs WAS a identifier used by Number 3 Servicing Unit for it's charges while operating from Green Island after it's occupation by US and New Zealand troops. There is a sequence of official RNZAF photos taken both on Green Island, and after the move by No.3 S.U. to Jacquinot Bay on New Britain One or two have been posted by Alan, but I've attached a few more as follows. All photos other than the model are Air Force Museum Of New Zealand copyright. PR5250: Group of No. 3 Servicing Unit Armament Section personnel in front of a Corsair. Green Island 1945. PR6754: Corsair NZ5440 from No.3 Servicing Unit about to land on the airstrip at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain after RNZAF units moved from Green Island. Named 'Lil Audrey'. PR6755: Corsair NZ5410 (also from No.3 S.U.) equipped with long range fuel tanks about to land on the airstrip at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain after RNZAF units departed Green Island. PR6758: Airmen and natives with Chance Vought Corsair '76' ( ) at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain after RNZAF units arrived from Green Island. No.3 S.U. PR6761: Australian soldiers, New Zealand servicemen and local men shelter in the shade with a line up of Corsairs at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, after RNZAF units arrived from Green Island. PR6763: RNZAF Airmen, Australian soldiers and natives with F4U-ID Corsair at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, after RNZAF units arrived from Green Island. Name on cowl is 'Old Faithful'. Unfortunately, the serial is unknown and the 'last 2' on the fuselage and the undercarriage covers/dive brakes is obscured. Note the 20 bomb mission markers on fuselage in front of the windscreen. And for an idea of what they looked like, here's my effort to replicate 'Lil Audrey' using the Tamiya 1:48 kit made back in 2007. Hope these help. Pete M. 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete M. said: white bands on the prop blades and white prop hubs WAS a identifier used by Number 3 Servicing Unit Thanks Pete, Now that you mention it, I do recall this topic being discussed on Proboards re the White bands. Should have payed better/more attention in Class Thanks/regards Alan 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) On 1/8/2021 at 1:11 PM, LDSModeller said: The photo below is a prime example of reducing to produce - this a fire damaged airframe (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) That is just very sad to see. Edited January 16, 2021 by Corsairfoxfouruncle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: That is just very sad to see. Hi Dennis, Fortunes of War unfortunately, but yes, still sad to see RNZAF lost a few by fire in operations Photo above is NZ5343 (F4U-1) From NZDF Serials - "Destroyed by fire after belly landing at Piva on 13 April 1945, following hydraulic failure. The aircraft made a wheels up, flapless landing. " - Pilot uninjured NZ5367 - 15 Sqn - Green Is -Caught fire in air Test landed and pilot escaped (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) NZ5482 - 16 Sqn (possible Bouganville) caught fire after crashing off runway During After (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Regards Alan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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