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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. |
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Peter Stickney wrote:
snip of loads of good info 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? Ok, thanks Peter, I do appreciate it...I guess I got confused and thought that he had flown P2V's in Canada...then I noticed that you mentioned 'P2V's in the Navy' and knowing that Canada's Navy didn't have them...thought I'd check. Thanks much sir, you're a veritable warehouse of info!. ![]() -- -Gord. (use gordon in email) |
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