Gord Beaman wrote:

Peter Stickney wrote:

W. D. Allen Sr. wrote:

The Douglas A3D Skywarrior was probably the biggest operated from
the 27C class modified WWII carriers.

Could we count the modified P2Vs that the nuclear strike VC
squadrons
were to use? They did do a number of launches from the various
Midways (Which, I think, count as WW 2 ships).
Although they did have hooks, and performed FCLPs, according to
Holly Hills, who flew 'em after he returned to the Navy after flying
in the RCAF, they never could find a Carrier Skipper who'd let them
come aboard his ship in any manner other than a crane.

Pete, you know where, what and when Holly flew in the RCAF?

Let's see what my notes say -
He signed on with the RCAF in June 1940, and was inducted in September
'40. The Empire Air Training Scheme was slow getting started, so he
didn't report to #7 Elementary Flight Training School until January
'41. Primary was done on Fleet Finches. In March, he went to
Dauphin, Manitoba for the Service Flying Training School. Advanced
was in Harvards. He got his wings as a Sergeant Pilot on June 22,
1941.
He did a little horse trading, and was posted to England in August,
'41. He went through the Army Cooperation Command (Recce and
FIghter-Bombers, these days) OTU at Old Sarum, flying Lysanders and
Curtiss Tomahawks (P-40Bs) He was posted to RCAF 414 Squadron,
initially flying Tomahawks in the Air Cooperation Command.
414 Squadron transitioned to Mustangs Is in June '42. The first
combat missions for 414 were flown over Dieppe. During the course of
this, Holly shot down an Fw 190 - the first Mustang kill. They also
did a lot of low level recce and train busting. (Air Cooperation
Command Mustang Is were the first Allied fighters to penetrate German
airspace)

In November 1942, he transferred to the U.S. Navy, where he flew F2A
Buffalos and F4F Wildcats in transition and gunnery training. While
still a student, he spent 3 months instructing the instructors - He
was the only guy at the Miami Naval Air Station that had combat
experience. He then spent a year in the Pacific, flying F6F Hellcats
with VF-32, VF-150. and VF-97. He shot down 4 Zeros, and
participated in the Marianas Turkey Shoot.

--
Pete Stickney
Java Man knew nothing about coffee.