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Posted by tomcervo on July 14, 2026, 5:19:38, in reply to "Some extra nuance"
Rhetorical question: How many of the 'F4U's now airborne or in museums are actually 'FG-1's?
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The USN had already been moving in the direction of Corsairs on carriers in 1944 but the Kamikaze did goose things along a bit. The Hellcat was at the end of its performance arc and the Corsair still had room to grow, and just as important, Goodyear had their production up to speed and the Navy was finally getting Corsairs in quantities closer to what they wanted. Navy Corsair squadron had been in the works, but as you said, the need for more fighters and the superior performance of the Corsair gave the Marines some time on the fleet carriers. Previous Message
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.
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