Chance Vought F4U Corsair
By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette
"Jolly Rogers" VF-17
Aircraft Development
By
Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette
In 1938 the U.S. Navy open design competitions among the aircraft industry for a new high altitude fighter aircraft. Chance Vaught’s engineers set out to compete for this challenge and ultimately designed one of the finest single seated fighter aircraft ever developed.
The
prototype was presented to the Navy in 1939 as the XF4U-1. After the Navy
accepted the design development continued and the new fighter was named the
“Corsair”. The Corsair was rushed in its development from concept to
creation due to the United States planners fearing an up coming war.
The
initial order of the new F4U-1 was for 584 of the Corsair’s. Powered by a
monstrous Pratt and Whitney R-2800-8 2,000hp engine the Corsair had a speed of
425mph. Fitted with six 50-caliber machine guns the Corsair was a beast compared
to all other Naval aircraft.
Delivery of the Corsair to its first squadron was in late summer of 1943 for training and eventual assignments. The Corsair at first proved to be a challenge on the fleet aircraft carriers with Corsair dangerously bouncing on landing and the difficult taxiing characteristics. In the right hands the carrier landings were no problem, however to many newly trained naval aviators the Corsair was a hand full.
Many of the first squadrons flying the Corsair were switched from carrier duty to land based Marine and Navy groups. The Corsair proved to be rugged fighters capable of high altitude cover for escorting bombers an excellent aerial fighter and a stinging ground attack platform. The Corsair was one of the top Ace Makers for the Marines and Navy aviators. The Corsair served the Navy for over a decade including combat in the Korean War.
John
Thomas (Tommy) Blackburn was the Commanding Officer of the newly formed VF-17.
VF-17 was the second Navy squadron to receive the new Corsairs. After training
in the new fighters they were assigned to the USS Bunker Hill. The squadron was
later detached from the Bunker Hill onto several island bases in the Pacific.
The
Jolly Rogers during their tour of combat was the top scoring Navy squadron
totaling 154 victories producing 12 aces in just 79 days. The squadron had a
stellar reputation for innovative fighter tactics. In over 100 bomber escort
missions defending Dauntless dive bombers, Grumman Avengers, B-25 Mitchell’s,
and even the B-24’s the Jolly Rogers never lost one of their bombers to enemy
aircraft.
Blackburn
and his squadron worked closely with Change Vaught engineers working out the
flaws they encountered with the new aircraft. They experimented with engine
cursing techniques that enabled the Corsair to extend its range considerably
from its original specifications. Blackburn with his fellow pilots and ground
crews developed bomb racks that would carry 500lb bombs. This lead to all
Corsair Marine and Navy squadrons being fitted with bomb racks for
fighter-bomber attacks.
During the Battle of the Solomon Sea Blackburn and his men flew cover for the American carrier fleet and shot down 18.5 attacking Japanese aircraft. The Jolly Rogers flew air cover for the Marine landings on Bougainville and was awarded the Unit Citation.
The F4U-1A Corsair pictured above was flown by Lt Cdr Roger Hedrick while the squadron was stationed on Bougainville in March 1944. Blackburn selected Roger when the unit was formed to be the Executive Officer. Hedrick scored 9 aerial victories flying 250 combat hours with VF-17.
The above painting of the "Jolly Rogers" is 24x48" and is available for $1,600.00.
I would like to do a print of this aircraft honoring the VF-17 Squadron. If you are interested in helping me publish this print you can buy the above original painting and I will give you 200 poster prints as a bonus.
Let me know you are interested.
All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.
No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.
Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.
I do not mind sharing, I do not mind people or groups linking to this page, I just need to register them on my "LINKS" page. Thanks!
Sir. Ernie Hamilton Boyette
904-282-4198
2-10-07