D-Day FAA Hellcats

[BruceMk11]

Thanks Andy. But...Hellcats actually were in operational use on D-Day: 'Emperor...joined the CVEs Pursuer and Tracker for the naval part of the D-Day landings in Normandy, Operation Neptune, giving fighter cover over the western approaches to the English Channel from June 5th.'

http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive....m#.VZJPwhuqqko

My interest was prompted by reading that Lt-Cdr Gerald Haynes, RAN, had flown a rocket-armed Hellcat on D-Day (see link below; also includes details re his Malta service). Having examined his service file in the interim, I can see that wasn't possible; he was in Australia! It was the next month that he embarked for the UK, arriving in September. He instructed at HMS Vulture (St Merryn) 27/10/44-25/11/45. It might have been at Vulture that he flew Hellcats (being both a qualified pilot and observer), as that type is listed as being used there.

http://www.battleship.com.au/battles...gerald-haynes/

The Hellcat could be armed with rockets: 6 x 5 in (127 mm) HVARS or 2 x 113x4 in (298 mm) Tiny Tim unguided rockets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat

Cheers,

Bruce