Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Hello,
There are pictures of captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsair a/c.
When were these USN a/c captured and, who were the crews and what was their fate ?

Reproduction of pictures would be good to see.

Please excuse if this has been discussed before, but I could not find it.

Thanks,
Alex

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Hello Alex,



There is a site that specializes in Japanese aircraft and Allied aircraft captured by the Japanese. Example:


http://www.j-aircraft.com/captured/c...ptured_p40.htm

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Hello Ed,

Thanks for the link, but I knew of it.
Tried to log in, but it no longer recognises my name or password.
I have them both written down so have not got wrong spelling or high/low case wrong.
So looks like I'll have to re-register, but it will then say that the name is already in use ?

Alex

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Hello Alex.
I’m sorry for my delayed response.
According to Kazuhiko OSUO & Shigeru NOHARA, Nihongun Rokakuki Hiroku (A Secret Report of Japanese Forces’ Captured Aircraft), (Tokyo; Kôjinsha, 2002), followings are mentioned.

4. Jan. 1945. F6F-5, A/C No. white 29, VF-44, USS Randolph, pilot LJG Charles Valentine August, POW, gear up landing due to engine malfunction, near Kobi Naval Air Base, Taiwan. He survived until Japanese surrender, and returned to United States. The aircraft was minor damage and open to the public at Kobi Shinto Shrine. After that its fate was unknown.

17. Feb. 1945. F4U-1D, A/C No. 61, VMF-123, USS Bennington, pilot 2LT Robert M. Sheath, shot down by AAA near Kasumigaura Naval Air Base, Ibaragi Prefecture. A/C minor damage. OSUO et al. do not mention fates of Sheath and the aircraft.

18. Mar. 1945. F4U-1D, VBF-83, USS Essex, pilot LJG Warren O. Sigman, shot down near Kasanohara Naval Air Base, Kagoshima Prefecture. A/C minor damage. OSUO et al. do not mention fates of Sigman and the aircraft.

All pilot’s names are translated from Japanese phonetic symbols. Thus there may be errors in spelling. All three aircraft don’t seem to have been restored to flyable conditions.

OSUO et al. do not mention a captured Avenger. On the other hand, in 1950s Japan founded Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and United States supplied TBM-3s to JMSDF. I imagine that a photograph of JMSDF’s TBM-3 is mistaken for a captured Avenger.

Best regards.
JYoung

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

LJG Warren O. Sigman (O-145511) on Honolulu Memorial as MIA.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Robert M. Sheath to be identified as Robert Mervin Cies, USMC, O-026780.
Honolulu Memorial, declared dead 17 Feb 1946, loss date 16 Feb 1945.

BuNo 82344.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Thank you for the list JYoung-san

Quite interesting that Japanese intelligence was, seemingly, so disinterested in the true USN serial number that they were never recorded.

Perhaps they felt, with so few aircraft being captured, it was pointless?

US intelligence was quite opposite and investigated every wreck they could find.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Some additional information:

C.V. August was flying 71441 in a strafing attack on Kobi A/F when he apparently experienced engine trouble and force landed. His aircraft was recovered and tested at Yokosuka.

Sigman was in 57719, strafing Tomitaka A/F, Kyushu, when his division was attacked by A6Ms. It seems that he was hit in the oil system and forced to land. He was listed as MIA, but not returned at War's end.

Re: Captured Avenger, Hellcat and Corsairs ?
 

Thanks for that update George!

Cheers
Stig