USS Essex, Franklin, Bunker Hill, Wasp, and Bennington each embarked two USMC Corsair squadrons during December 1944 to June 1945. See John Pomeroy Condon, ‘Corsairs and Flattops - Marine Carrier Air Warfare 1944-1945’ (USNI, 1998).

The immediate danger of Kamikaze attacks led the USN in 1944 to order USMC Corsair squadrons to fast attack carriers. Corsairs were faster than Hellcats and the USMC pilots were already trained in fighter tactics but had to learn carrier landings.

USS Essex, Franklin, Bunker Hill, Wasp, and Bennington each embarked two USMC Corsair squadrons during December 1944 to June 1945.

Essex retained her Hellcat and Avenger squadrons but the detached her Helldiver squadron.