F4U Corsairs in the RAF/FAA...

[Wurger]

 

[nuuumannn]

425 (some sources say 370) Corsairs were also provided to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, beginning in late 1943. By the time the New Zealanders had worked up to operational Corsair squadrons in 1944 there was little for them to shoot at in the South Pacific, and they saw little combat. Most of the New Zealander Corsairs were scrapped after the war, as were the British Corsairs.

Hmm, a brief summary alright. A few alterations. 424 Corsairs served with the RNZAF, F4U-1, '-1D and FG-1D Corsairs. 368 came directly from Vought production, the rest from US Navy and Marine stock, hence the confusion in figures. 13 squadrons operated the type in RNZAF service, although there was only eight in action at any one time. The type was ordered as a fighter but, as stated, there wasn't as much to shoot at, so the squadrons employed them as ground attack aircraft, so they did see plenty of action, with 17 lost to the enemy. Post war, a small number served in a training role, but 24 14 Sqn examples went to Japan in 1946 as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. These were disposed of in Japan by burning. The rest, what remained of the 425 total were scrapped, but sat at Rukuhia until the early '60s in a mass aircraft graveyard that comprised wartime Harvards, P-40s, Venturas, Avengers and Corsairs, as well as a few Vampires and other types. A couple of ex-RNZAF Corsairs survive, including one kept on the New Zealand civil register, although it flies in US markings.

 

[Sid327]

For what it's worth,

I know Corsairs were based at RNAS Eglinton in N. Ireland.
(I used to be based at Ballykelly, a former RAF base nearby. Out of interest, here were at least two Corsair wrecks which could easily be seen at low tide in Loch Foyle and in about 1983 we lifted the engine off the one closest to Ballykelly).