Brian Smith returning to the flightline after a spirited display. BuAerNo.88297 served with USN Marine Air Wing 2 at Guam in the closing months of WWII and is currently representing Corsair IV KD345, No.1850 Squadron, HMS Vengeance, December 1945.
On 31st May 1940, P/O Kenneth McGlashen of No.245 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge, belly-landed P2902 on a beach near Dunkirk after being damaged in a fight with a Bf 109 of JG 26. The pilot safely returned to England. P2902 was recovered in 1988.
On 28th September 1940, P/O Everett Bryan Rogers of No.501 Squadron, RAF Kenley, was attacked by Bf 109s over Deal. Rogers baled out unhurt, V7497 crashed near East Sutton. The wreck was recovered in the 1990s.
Piloted here by Baptiste Salis, BuAerNo.124724 was one of 101 Corsairs ‘winterised’ to F4U-5NL standard, allowing the night fighter to operate in severe climates. F-AZEG is lacking the AN/APS-19 radar pod on the starboard wing.