FAA total
 

Hi,

In Seafire vs A6M Zero-sen (Osprey, 2009), Donald Nijboer claims: 'The Fleet Air Arm was credited with 455.5 aerial victories in six years of war, and American-built fighters contributed more than a third of these-52 for the F6F Hellcat, 52.5 for the F4U Corsair and 67 for the F4F Wildcat. Seafire pilots claimed 37 kills, 15 of which were Zero-sens. The remaining 247 aircraft were credited to the Sea Hurricanes, Fireflies, Fulmars, Sea Gladiators and Skuas'.

I believe there were also a few claims by Avengers and one for the Blackburn Roc (Ju 88). Additionally, FAA pilots also claimed on attachment to the RAF, flying Hurricanes, Spitfires, Mosquitos etc. The total victory claims by FAA pilots must therefore be greater than 455.5, unless Nijboer miscalculated in the first place (assuming the figure is his original research).

Has anyone else arrived at a total? Or a total for any of these a/c types?

Cheers,

Bruce

Re: FAA total
 

Bruce

Cannot comment on the Avenger and Skua claims, but I think you need to separate FAA and FAA pilots. Individually the FAA pilots claimed more victories than the FAA itself.

Any victories claimed with RAF units/aircraft should, in my mind, be recorded as RAF victories.

Cheers
Stig

Re: FAA total
 

Hi mate,

I don't have 67 for the Wildcat, only about 58 (60?), Fulmars contributed 200+, Sea Hurricanes about 25 (mostly on Pedestal operation, first one in 1941, 2 in 1944 with 835 squadron). I have 9 for Fireflies, 3 for Avengers, one for the Albacore in 1941.

regards

Keith

Re: FAA total
 

Bruce,

In 2007 I began ghost writing the bio of Air Commodore Christopher Paul, (05164)

Paul had started his career with the FAA, and had done extensive research work on the FAA which was assembled in 12 A4 boxes and 3 A3 boxes were talking reams of paper, photographs, claims, biographies on crews, combat reports etc., sadly since his wife Molly died I've been unable to locate there whereabouts.

Best regards

Andy B

Re: FAA total
 

Stig, Keith, Andy: thanks for your input.

Keith: got any details re the Albacore claim?

Andy: keep looking!!

Moderators: was this thread moved? Is it because I quote from a source that mentions Zeros in the title??

Re: FAA total
 

Hello,

"Got any details re the Albacore claim?"

https://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/steinland.html

Albacore I N4307

Delivered Yeovilton 3.2.41.
827 Sqn ('4K') 2.41-10.41.
'Victorious', Kirkenes raid, Ju 87 shot down, own a/c undamaged 30.7.41. (Lt J N Ball, Lt B J Prendergast & PO A E Sweet).

FAA Aircraft 1939-1945.
Sturtivant & Burrow.
p.131.

NB. There were also a few probable/damaged claims made by other Albacore pilots on this raid.

Col

Re: FAA total
 

--------------------------------------------------------
I do not recall moving this thread.

Where do think it belongs?

Re: FAA total
 

Thanks Col. It would be interesting to know if that claim is substantiated by LW records.

Sorry John. Looks like I've caught the befuddled bug.

Re: FAA total
 

By the way I only have 42 at most for Corsairs, not 52; with the Victorious squadrons (1834,1836) accounting for most of them (24). Although I have three unattributed other than to "Corsairs" and some unattributed Hellcat claims also.

The Hellcats had the advantage of scoring several victories in ETO. 1844,1839 added around 40 in BPF (several shared with Corsairs and Seafires), and 8 were credited to the Escort Carriers in the Indian Ocean.

regards

Keith

Re: FAA total
 

On the Albacore case.
According to Hannu Valtonen's Luftwaffen Pohjoinen Sivusta (1997) the Ju 87 was Ju 87 B-1 W.Nr. 5310, LI+EW, 12.(St.)/LG 1, shot down by Lt. J. N. Ball/827 Sqn with his front gun. The crew of the Ju 87 KIA. As a plus one Bf 110 seems to be shot down by an Albacore gunner. At least its crew, the Bf 110 pilot, Karl-Fritz Schlossstein, and his gunner, both survived, maintained that they were shot down by an Albacore gunner whose plane they were hitting hard not by a Fulmar. British and Valtonen in his book allocate this loss to a Fulmar but when Schlossstein visited Finland some years ago he still insisted that he was shot down by an Albacore rear gunner.

Juha