Royal Navy Corsairs—the first to fly from carriers

The Fighter Collection’s Goodyear built FG-1D Corsair captured North of Cambridge with Pete Kynsey at the controls. (Photo by John Dibbs/Facebook.com/theplanepicture)

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The Royal Navy operated over 2,000 F4U Corsairs during World War Two. It was flying them from aircraft carriers when the U.S. Navy had declared the aircraft unsuitable for deck operations. “Of all the aircraft I had seen, it was the most wicked-looking bastard. It looked truly vicious. I saw no reason why a Corsair shouldn’t kill me and that day I sat down and typed my last will and testament.” —Lt. Norman Hanson, RNVR...

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