Warbird Information Exchange

I've delayed this request long enough, and as I will be traveling to London next week seems a good time to post some very nice images. Mostly Hellcats but a few Wildcats (Martlets), Corsairs and Avengers as well. So here is some good stuff of well earned valor on the part of the Royal Navy Air arm during WW2. Sources, NMNA archives, SDASM archives, Library of Congress archives, LIFE archives.

The archives at times do not state correct information and dates so if I may ask the Commonwealth guys to correct any photo that is mis-labeled if possible. I'm certainly not an expert on the Royal Navy (but willing to learn) ... and much appreciated.

BTW wouldn't it be a nice tribute if TFC re-painted their Hellcat in one of these RN schemes. I think the Hellcats based in the States represent the US Navy quite nicely and one example in the UK being a representative of the sacrifices made by the Royal Navy during WW2 would be appropriate. Just a thought and 1 1/2 cent worth.

Part 1 of 3


Royal Navy Martlets and Avengers, carrier unknown 1944


Royal Navy Hellcats, carrier unknown 1945


F6F Hellcat II of the British Navy belonging to the 881 Squadron in flight from Wingfield 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron with 'Christine' painted on the fuselage below the cockpit 1945


F6F Hellcat I aircraft is on the flight deck of HMS Khedive of the Royal Navy from 808 Squadron 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the British Navy belonging to the 804 or 888 Squadron crashed on landing on the HMS Ameer in the Pacific 1945


Four (4) F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the British Navy belonging to the 881 Squadron in flight from Wingfield 1945


Four (4) F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the British Navy belonging to the 881 Squadron 1945


F6F Hellcat I aircraft of the Royal Navy, with wings folded,, of the 800 Squadron on the deck of HMS Emperor during the Southern France landings 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft landied on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy. It belongs to 800 Squadron 1944-2


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the British Navy belonging to the 881 Squadron on the ground at Wingfield 1945


F6F Hellcat I aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron crashed in landing on the deck of HMS Emperor in the Aegean Sea during the Southern France landings-2


F6F Hellcat I aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron on the deck of HMS Emperor in Khios Harbor in the Aegean Sea in Greece during the Southern France landings 1944


F6F Hellcat aircraft of Bombing Squadron 808 on the HMS Khedive (D62) of the Royal Navy in the Pacific in 1945


F6F Hellcat I aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron crashed in landing on the deck of HMS Emperor in the Aegean Sea during the Southern France landings 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft is on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy from 800 Squadron 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft landied on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy. It belongs to 800 Squadron 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft landing on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy from 800 Squadron 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft of the British Navy did not catch the barrier well


F6F Hellcat I aircraft on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy from 800 Squadron 1944


F6F Hellcat I aircraft on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy from 800 Squadron 1944-2


F6F Hellcat I aircraft on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy from 800 Squadron 1944-3


F6F Hellcat II aircraft are lined on the flight deck of HMS Emperor. The aircraft is from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron has crashed on the ground at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron in flight off Trincomalee, Sri, Lanka 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron on the ground at Trincomalee, Sri, Lanka. Steve Pain standing on wing 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft is landing on the flight deck of HMS Khedive. The aircraft is from the Royal Navy, 808 Squadron 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft is launching from the flight deck of HMS Khedive. The aircraft is assigned to the Royal Navy, 808 Squadron 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft is on the flight deck of HMS Khedive. The aircraft is from the Royal Navy, 808 Squadron 1945

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

Part 2 of 3

A few RN Corsairs ...


An F4U of the Royal Navy 1842 Squadron of HMS Formidable taken aboard CV-38 at an unknown location.


Royal Navy Corsairs, Carrier unknown.


Royal Navy Corsairs, Carrier unknown.


Royal Navy Corsairs, Carrier unknown.


Royal Navy Corsairs, Carrier unknown.


Royal Navy Corsairs


Royal Navy Corsairs


An F4U of the Royal Navy Squadron KD 706


An F4U of Royal Navy Squadron KD 427


An F4U of Royal Navy Squadron JT 155 is seen landing at an unknown location.


An F4U of KD 204 appears to have had a mishap at landing on CVG-30. The pilot was Sub LT P. D. Hudson

RN Avengers ...


Avenger I JZ 150 of Squadron 711, British Royal Navy


Avenger II JZ 578 of Squadron 849 on the deck of HMS Victorious, British Royal Navy


Avenger II, JZ 444, of Squadron 820, going over the edge of the deck of HMS Indefatigable, British Royal Navy, in the Pacific


Avenger J P Squadron 846 from HMS Trumpeter, British Royal Navy


Avenger PI-X of HMS Victorious, British Royal Navy, flying over the Indian Ocean


TBF Avenger HIP of Squadron 845 on the HMS Empress, British Royal Navy, in the Pacific, nearTrincomalee


TBF of Squadron 832, British Royal Navy

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

Part 3 of 3

A few more Hellcats ...


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the British Navy belonging to the 808 Squadron in flight over Katukurunda 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of the 808 Squadron as seen from above in flight over land near Katukurunda, Sri Lanka 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of the 808 Squadron as seen from above in flight over land near Katukurunda, Sri Lanka 1945-2


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of the 808 Squadron in flight over water near Katukurunda, Sri Lanka 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of the 808 Squadron took a barrier crash on the deck of HMS Khedive in the Pacific Ocean 1945


F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of896 Squadron is on the deck of the HMS Empress 1945


F6F Hellcat II damaged aircraft from the Royal Navy, 800 Squadron being lifted by a crane at Trincomalee, Sri, Lanka 1945


F6F-5 Hellcat I aircraft are on the flight deck of HMS Emperor of the Royal Navy. They are part of 800 Squadron taking part in the Tirpitz OPS in 1944


Two (2) F6F Hellcat II aircraft of the Royal Navy of the 808 Squadron on the deck of HMS Khedive in the Pacific Ocean 1945

... and this photo is interesting ... a bit beat up though


Royal Navy SB2C on Fox Point Blvd. circa 1945


British Royal Navy carrier Illustrious streaming past the carrier Saratoga (CV 3) in the Indian Ocean, 1944


British Royal Navy carrier Illustrious at sea in the Indian Ocean, 1944


British Royal Navy carrier Illustrious streaming past the carrier Saratoga (CV 3) in the Indian Ocean, 1944

... And if anyone is interested I have more ...

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

I'm sure they are great photo's, but all I see are a bunch o' red "X"'s.

I'd certainly be interested in more of these pictures,Mark.I've saved them,as usual,but I named my folder "Royal Navy Lend-Lease Carrier Aircraft".The SB2C markings are non-standard,to day the least...

Fantastic collection of photos Mark, even better than usual!

The TFC Hellcat did in fact briefly wear a Royal Navy scheme when it first arrived in the UK. The Friedkin Hellcat also wore a RN scheme for a couple of years in the very recent past, although it is now back in a USN scheme.

Photo of the TFC bird by "LAHARVE"

Were they Fairey Barracudas with the four bladed props, folded wings and canvas engine covers? How come there are so few photos of these, but so many TBMs, F6Fs and f4Us? Great photos Mark, None of the dumping of these aircraft off the East coast(of Australia)?

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"If that's a goddamn 'Jug' in front of me, you sure as hell better wiggle your wings." 80FS/8FG Cape Gloucester, December 1943. And the entire 41st Fighter Squadron rocked their wings.

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR P-38 PARTS

Yes I've seen the Freidkin example many times in that scheme, very nice indeed.



Actually several here with ww2images flickr account.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=7686032 ... 0Barracuda

... and a few more






Anyone have info on this Hellcat?

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

Mark -the Hellcat KE209 is in the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. I imagine that this picture was taken in the late 1960's at Lossiemouth . If you look at this link you will see her in colour http://www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1002181.

She was used as late as 1953 with what I guess was Station Flight

Thanks Mark,

Great stuff as always. It's always interesting to see the huge variety of schemes that these machines were painted.
I never fail to be impressed by that Leroy Grumman wing fold. Like all of the best inventions, it is simple and clever. Elegant.
The other thing that catches my eye with Royal Navy photos is the Corsairs. I'd love to see a restorer have the gall to chop four inches off the wing tips. That would be bada$$!

Andy Scott

Look no further than ZK-COR. Maybe not as "bada$$" as you think. In fact you might not even notice it if you weren't looking.

Nice!

Now all we need is for it to be in Royal Navy markings

Thanks Chad

Andy Scott

Oh no you don't! We want her back in her original RNZAF markings. FAA markings ha!
Our Corsairs didn't have clipped wings so this was most likely done in the US when she was restored in the 70s

Maybe the outer wing panels were sourced from a Royal Navy Corsair? I can't imagine that Landri and crew would have clipped them when they restored the airplane and assume they must have already been clipped. Guess I may have to dig out the old Air Classics article on the restoration and see if it gives any details. Maybe the wings on ZK-COR could be swapped with those on G-FGID belonging to TFC to make both of them more authentic? (In appearance at least!)

Yeah that would be a perfect solution. Don't know what happened to NZ5648s original wings as she did have them when she left New Zealand. Maybe they were going to race her and decided clipped wings equaled speed! Or they had access to a set of clipped wings in better condition than the ones she arrived with?