Each year, at the reunions, "Shipmates" referred to "The Lodgers" ... The pilots of the various Albacores, Corsairs and other planes that flew from "Formy" and other Fleet Air Arm Carriers. Here in this collage are a few examples of the planes and the heroes (lodgers), that flew them.  Some of these photos have been sourced across the internet, some provided by ex pilots or shipmates

(See Bottom of text area ... Click any item to jump to photos)

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The Vought F4U Corsair is one of the most iconic carrier fighters of WW2, but its role was a little unusual, especially in British service.

Development Background

• Designed by Vought in the US as a high-performance naval fighter, the Corsair first flew in 1940.

• Its hallmark was the inverted gull wing, allowing clearance for a huge propeller driven by the most powerful radial engine of the time (Pratt & Whitney R-2800).

• Initially, the Corsair had problems operating from carriers:

  • Long nose reduced pilot visibility during carrier landings.

  • Tendency to bounce on landing due to stiff undercarriage.

  • High torque at low speed made handling tricky.

The US Navy initially restricted it to land-based US Marine Corps units — which is where it made its name in the Pacific.

Fleet Air Arm and the Corsair

The Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA) became the first to use the Corsair operationally from carriers (1943).

Why the FAA succeeded where the US Navy hesitated:

• RN carriers were smaller, so British pilots learned to adapt techniques:

  • Curved approach landings (sweeping in from the side so the pilot could see the deck until the last moment).

  • Modified landing gear and clipped wingtips for carrier storage.

• The Corsair’s ruggedness, long range, and heavy armament made it ideal for FAA missions.

FAA Operational Roles:

• 1944: Norway Operations – Corsairs flew from carriers like HMS Victorious, attacking German shipping and providing cover against Luftwaffe fighters.

• British Pacific Fleet (1944–45):

  • Corsairs were central to British carrier groups striking Japanese bases, airfields, and shipping.

  • Excelled in fighter sweeps, bomber escort, and ground attack with bombs/rockets.

  • Played a key role in defending against kamikaze attacks.

In US Navy & Marine Service

• US Marines used Corsairs extensively in the Pacific from 1943 onward:

  • Dominated aerial combat — earning a kill ratio of about 11:1.

  • Famous as the “Whistling Death” to the Japanese due to the noise of airflow over the wing-root intakes.

• By 1944–45, the US Navy also deployed Corsairs on carriers after refining landing techniques.

Merits as a Carrier Aircraft

• Speed & Power: One of the fastest carrier fighters of the war (~446 mph).

• Firepower: Six .50 cal Browning machine guns, or 20mm cannons in some versions.

• Versatility: Fighter, ground-attack, and night-fighter roles.

• Range: Longer legs than the Seafire or Hellcat, giving British and US fleets more reach.

Limitations

• Poor forward visibility on landing remained a challenge.

• Size made it less suited to smaller escort carriers (FAA mostly used them on fleet carriers).

• Required well-trained pilots and adapted techniques.

Impact

• By 1945, the Corsair was arguably the best carrier-based fighter of the war, combining the speed of land-based fighters with the toughness needed for carrier ops.

• In FAA service, it gave the Royal Navy a modern, powerful fighter able to match or exceed Japanese opposition.

• Its success at sea helped pave the way for postwar carrier aviation designs.

⚓ In short:
The Corsair, though initially thought unsuitable for carriers, became a mainstay of the Fleet Air Arm and later the US Navy, excelling in both air superiority and ground attack. The FAA deserves special credit for proving its viability at sea, giving Britain a cutting-edge fighter in both European and Pacific theatres

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Excellent idea — the comparison between the Corsair (F4U) and the Seafire (naval Spitfire) shows a lot about the Fleet Air Arm’s challenges and why the Corsair became so highly valued.

Corsair vs. Seafire (RN’s Naval Spitfire)

1. Design Origins

• Corsair (F4U)

  • Designed from scratch as a carrier fighter (though initially too tricky for US carriers).

  • Rugged, large, and heavily armed.

  • Prioritised power, range, and durability.

• Seafire (Spitfire navalised)

  • Adapted from the land-based Spitfire, which was designed for short-range interception over Britain.

  • Lacked the structural strength and range needed for long over-water carrier ops.

  • Thin undercarriage and narrow track made deck landings very difficult.

2. Flight Performance

• Corsair

  • Speed: ~446 mph (fastest Allied carrier fighter).

  • Excellent climb and dive.

  • Range: ~1,000 miles (with drop tanks) — ideal for Pacific operations.

  • Could carry bombs/rockets for strike missions.

• Seafire

  • Speed: ~370–390 mph (depending on mark).

  • Brilliant agility and turning performance — superb dogfighter in Europe.

  • Range: ~500 miles — too short for oceanic warfare.

  • Limited payload capacity.

3. Carrier Suitability

• Corsair

  • Strong, wide undercarriage — good for deck landings (once pilots adapted with curved approach).

  • Folding wings (clipped in FAA service) made it easier to stow.

  • Rugged airframe could absorb punishment.

  • Excellent endurance for fleet escort and strike missions.

• Seafire

  • Fragile undercarriage and narrow track caused frequent deck landing accidents.

  • Short range made it unsuitable for Pacific operations, though fine for Mediterranean support.

  • High accident rate: more Seafires were lost in accidents than in combat while carrier-based.

  • Useful in short-range escort and fleet defence, but not for sustained naval campaigns.

4. Operational Roles

• Corsair (FAA)

  • Deployed from 1943.

  • Key strike/fighter aircraft in Norway raids and the British Pacific Fleet.

  • Excellent bomber escort, fleet defence, and ground attack (bombs/rockets).

  • Success against Japanese aircraft and in defending against kamikazes.

• Seafire

  • Used heavily in the Mediterranean (1942–44).

  • Provided excellent fleet defence during invasions (Sicily, Salerno, Normandy).

  • Best when operating close to land where range wasn’t a limitation.

  • Outclassed in endurance-heavy environments like the Pacific.

5. Summary of Comparison

FeatureCorsair (F4U)Seafire (Spitfire Naval)

OriginPurpose-built carrier fighterLand-based fighter adapted for carrier use

Speed~446 mph~390 mph

Range~1,000 miles~500 miles

Carrier SuitabilityStrong, rugged, workable deck handlingFragile, high accident rate

PayloadRockets, bombs, long-range tanksLight bombs, limited

StrengthsLong range, ruggedness, multiroleSuperb agility, short-range fleet defence

WeaknessesPoor forward visibility on landing (solved by FAA techniques)Short range, fragile gear, unsuited to long naval campaigns

Why the Corsair Was More Practical

• The Corsair was designed for endurance, toughness, and versatility — exactly what carrier warfare required.

• The Seafire, while a superb dogfighter, was a stopgap solution. It gave the RN a familiar and fast fighter in 1942–43 but at a high operational cost.

• By 1944–45, the FAA relied on Corsairs, Hellcats, and Avengers in the Pacific, while Seafires were largely confined to European and Mediterranean theatres where their limitations mattered less.

⚓ In essence:

• Seafire = quick fix, superb over land but fragile at sea.

• Corsair = long-term solution, rugged, long-ranged, and versatile, making it the Fleet Air Arm’s true frontline carrier fighter by the end of the war.

Would you like me to also add the Hellcat (F6F) into this comparison — since it sat between the Seafire and Corsair in practicality and was widely used by the FAA as w

 

ell?

adding the Grumman F6F Hellcat into the comparison really shows how the Fleet Air Arm balanced its fighter choices in WW2. The Hellcat often gets overlooked in British service, but it was one of the most practical carrier fighters of the war.

Corsair vs. Seafire vs. Hellcat (Fleet Air Arm perspective)

1. Origins & Design Philosophy

• Corsair (F4U) – Designed for maximum performance; initially too difficult for USN carrier ops, but adapted successfully by FAA.

• Seafire – Spitfire conversion; quick way to get a high-performance fighter on carriers but not purpose-built.

• Hellcat (F6F) – Specifically designed by Grumman as a carrier-optimised fighter, to counter the Japanese Zero. Known as the “Wildcat’s big brother.”

2. Flight Performance

• Corsair

  • Top Speed: ~446 mph

  • Range: ~1,000 mi with drop tanks

  • Outstanding climb/dive, excellent high-speed performance

• Seafire

  • Top Speed: ~390 mph

  • Range: ~500 mi

  • Superb agility, best turning dogfighter

• Hellcat

  • Top Speed: ~380–390 mph

  • Range: ~1,090 mi (excellent endurance)

  • Solid high-altitude performance, forgiving handling

3. Carrier Suitability

• Corsair

  • Initially tricky; long nose blocked forward view. FAA solved with curved approach landings.

  • Strong undercarriage and rugged airframe once mastered.

  • Large size meant better suited to fleet carriers, not escorts.

• Seafire

  • Narrow-track undercarriage caused frequent deck accidents.

  • Short range limited usefulness in Pacific.

  • More accidents than combat losses in carrier service.

• Hellcat

  • Designed from the ground up for carriers.

  • Extremely forgiving handling and wide landing gear.

  • Safe and reliable even on smaller carriers.

  • “Easy to fly well, hard to fly badly” — a pilot’s aircraft.

4. Armament & Role

• Corsair

  • Six .50 cal MGs (later 20mm cannon in some versions).

  • Could carry bombs/rockets → excellent fighter-bomber.

  • Versatile: air superiority, strike, escort, kamikaze defence.

• Seafire

  • Cannon + MG armament (like land Spitfires).

  • Poor strike capacity.

  • Mostly short-range fleet defence / interception.

• Hellcat

  • Six .50 cal MGs.

  • Heavy bomb and rocket load.

  • Perfect “jack of all trades”: fighter, bomber escort, strike, anti-sub patrol.

5. Operational Service in FAA

• Corsair

  • Entered FAA service 1943.

  • Crucial in Norway raids, then in the British Pacific Fleet (1944–45).

  • Excellent against Japanese aircraft; tough and long-ranged.

• Seafire

  • Active 1942–45, but mainly in Mediterranean and European theatres (Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, etc.).

  • Vital in providing air cover during landings but not sustainable for long ocean campaigns.

• Hellcat

  • Entered FAA service in 1943 via Lend-Lease.

  • Used in Mediterranean and Pacific.

  • FAA squadrons flew Hellcats on raids against Norway, Sumatra, and Japan.

  • Praised for reliability and versatility.

6. Summary Comparison Table

FeatureCorsair (F4U)Seafire (Naval Spitfire)Hellcat (F6F)

OriginUS carrier fighter (fast)RAF Spitfire adaptationUS carrier fighter (rugged, forgiving)

Top Speed~446 mph~390 mph~390 mph

Range~1,000 mi (good)~500 mi (poor)~1,090 mi (excellent)

Carrier SuitabilityInitially tricky, then excellentFragile, high accident rateSuperb, safest of the three

PayloadHeavy bombs/rocketsLight bombsHeavy bombs/rockets

Best RoleLong-range strike & air superiorityShort-range fleet defenceAll-rounder: escort, strike, fleet defence

WeaknessPoor landing visibilityFragile gear, short rangeLess agile than Corsair/Seafire

FAA UseNorway, Pacific (BPF)Mediterranean, D-DayNorway, Med, Pacific

Final Assessment

• Seafire – Great stopgap, brilliant agility, but unsuited to long carrier campaigns.

• Corsair – The high-performance powerhouse; best suited for Pacific-style long-range strike and air superiority.

• Hellcat – The workhorse; most forgiving, reliable, and versatile, making it the FAA’s most practical all-round fighter.

⚓ In short:

• The Seafire gave the RN a naval Spitfire when needed but had serious limitations.

• The Corsair was the hardest-hitting and fastest, perfect for Pacific operations once pilots mastered it.

• The Hellcat was the most practical and reliable day-to-day carrier fighter, which is why both the US Navy and FAA valued it so highly.

• let’s rank the Seafire, Hellcat, and Corsair in terms of how effective they were for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), both overall and by theatre of war.

• Overall Effectiveness (Fleet Air Arm, WW2)

• 1. Corsair (Best Overall)

• Why: Combined speed, range, strike capacity, and ruggedness.

• FAA proved it could operate off carriers before the USN did, and by 1944–45 it was the premier FAA fighter in the Pacific.

• Versatile in air superiority, bomber escort, and ground attack.

• Downside: needed careful landing technique — but FAA mastered it.

• 2. Hellcat (Workhorse)

• Why: The most practical and reliable.

• Easy to fly from carriers, long range, tough, and good all-rounder.

• Not as fast/agile as Corsair or Seafire, but safer and more forgiving.

• Gave the FAA a dependable backbone fighter from 1943 onwards.

• 3. Seafire (Least Effective Overall)

• Why: Excellent short-range interceptor and dogfighter, but unsuited to carrier life.

• Fragile, limited range, high accident rate.

• Valuable in Europe and Mediterranean (close to land bases), but not viable for long ocean operations.

• By Theatre

• European / Mediterranean

• Seafire – Best in Europe. Agility + performance gave it superiority over German/Italian opponents. Perfect for Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy where short range was fine.

• Hellcat – Reliable carrier defence and strike fighter.

• Corsair – Arrived late to the European theatre, less influential there.

• Pacific / Long-Range Operations

• Corsair – Best in the Pacific. Long range, strike capability, speed to meet Japanese fighters. Crucial for the British Pacific Fleet (1944–45).

• Hellcat – Excellent endurance, safe handling. FAA squadrons used it effectively in Sumatra, Norway, and with the BPF.

• Seafire – Weakest in the Pacific. Range too short for vast distances, poor accident record on carriers.

• Final Ranked Verdict

• Best Overall FAA Fighter of WW2: Corsair

• Most Reliable & Practical: Hellcat

• Best in Europe (short-range battles): Seafire

• Best in Pacific (long-range carrier ops): Corsair

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• ⚓ In essence:

• The Seafire shone in European waters but broke under Pacific demands.

• The Hellcat was steady, versatile, and dependable everywhere.

• The Corsair was the FAA’s true war-winner in the Pacific, giving the Royal Navy the striking power it needed alongside the

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