F4U-4 in action in Okinawa, 1945

[JACK COOK]

Re Ed Schiess
http://warbirdinformationexchange.or...ic.php?t=16058
http://online.statesmanjournal.com/o...ry.cfm?i=35287

[Juha]

Skyraider3D and especially Rich, thanks a lot for very interesting info

Juha

[JACK COOK]

Here are some F4U-4 BuNo's from VMF-222 combat missions
starting 5-17-45 81089, 80852, 80997,80197, 81057, 80977,
80827, 80318, 81110, 80868, 81052, 80965, 81046, 81342.
46 F4U-4 combat missions flown by Lt Whisenhant 79 total.

[Skyraider3D]

Originally Posted by JACK COOK

Re Ed Schiess
http://warbirdinformationexchange.or...ic.php?t=16058
http://online.statesmanjournal.com/o...ry.cfm?i=35287

That's very sad news, Jack... My condoleances.

[Skyraider3D]

PS. Thanks very much for that list, Rich

[Skyraider3D]

Here's an interesting photo showing an F4U-4 in-theatre during WW2:
http://www.footnote.com/image/556850...|iwo/#55684807

[twocee]

Three Marine squadrons flew the F4U-4 in combat on Okinawa, VMFs 212, 222 and 223. All were part of MAG14 and received the new fighters at Guiuan, Samar in May. They were flown to Kadena in early June.

George Kernahan

[CH53Driver]

I have a friend who is a retired GySgt/MGySgt(long story) who was on Okinawa. He was an Air Winger and here is one of the pictures he sent me of the flightline on Okinawa one night...note F4U's in background:



Here is a picture of his squadron in Kadena circa May 1945...he is standing 4th from left:

[CH53Driver]

Originally Posted by twocee

Three Marine squadrons flew the F4U-4 in combat on Okinawa, VMFs 212, 222 and 223. All were part of MAG14 and received the new fighters at Guiuan, Samar in May. They were flown to Kadena in early June.

George Kernahan

Hmmm, this is interesting. I just got an email from my buddy who served on Okinawa with one of the squadrons and this is what he sent me in regards to the original question:

"MAG-31 with 3 Squadrons , VMF 311 Helles Belles,VMF-312 Checkerboards, VMF 314 All with F4U-1C Corsairs. 1St Lt Klingman was famous from VMF 312 for climbing to 38,000 Ft where his guns were frozen & he closed in on a KI 45 Nick twin engine fighter on a photo mission. Chewed off the tail section. The Japanese Gunner had the frozen gun problem also. He was facing Klingman frantically trying to fire his gun when the plane dove in with no tail section. Klingman had a rough flight back to Kadena since the prop was all out of balance. I saw the plane after he landed."

[aileron44]

Hello all:
I was less than a year old when the Battle of Okinawa took place so I have no first hand knowledge to add. However, my brother-in-law served on the USS Chenango-CVE28-during the early part of 1945. He recently e-mailed me asking about something that happened on board. I attach his comments...

Although no squadron of F4U's operated off carriers in the pacific, we trained a marine squadron of 28 F4U's on our way from Seattle to Pearl Harbor. Nobody could figure out why were training Marine pilots flying F4U's. It was total secrecy.

As far as I know, no marine squadrons were assigned to carrier duty. All carrier squadrons were Navy. Anyway, the other interesting thing is that the training consisted exclusively on night launchings and landings. They kept it up every night, in total darkness, for two weeks that we took to get to Pearl. Of the 28 corsairs, 22 were lost or damaged. My office was in the rear of the hanger deck but up high and to the right and immediately under the flight deck. I could hear them slamming into the deck all night as they came in. My quarters were just about the spot where they first hit the deck as they came in.

Perhaps it was a one time raid that the Marines wanted to pull on the Japanese somewhere and it was important enough to warrant all the time and cost and equipment expended. Nobody has ever explained what this was all about.

At any rate, the Navy never took to the F4U. They were not easy to fly and, more important, the Navy could buy 3 F6F hellcats for the cost of one F4U.

I wonder if there is any reference to this somewhere on the internet?

Does anyone have any knowledge of this that I might share with him?

Thanks a bunch!

George