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Did any British-built FAA WW2 aircraft operate from USN...

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Obi Wan Russell		#11	[-]
Posts: 219 (14-May-2008 14:58:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark E Horan wrote: Gents; I don't know if "Spitfires" (plural) did, but assuredly one RAF Spitfire, with engine problems, returned and landed on Wasp. During her sorties, a couple of ASW Swordfish (see photo refered to above) landed on her as well. Mark Must have had good brakes,- RAF Spitfires had no arrestor hook. Did it take the Barrier? Mind you a sqn of RAF Hurricanes was safely recovered aboard HMS Glorious in 1940 off Norway and also had no hooks. The ship steamed into wind as fast as she could (most likely generating wind over deck of up to 50-60 knots) and the Hurricanes stopped on deck using only their brakes. Quite a feat, though it was overshadowed by the loss of the ship to gunfire from the German Battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenhau before she could reach Britain. Some of the Hurricane pilots involved had previously served with FAA sqns so had some deck landing experience.
Admiral Beez		#12	[-]
Posts: 4537 (14-May-2008 20:54:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I wonder how much damage a dozen Hurricanes could do to to a Scharnhorst-class ship if they'd had the IIC version with 4x20mm cannon and two 500 lb or 250 lb bombs. Unfortunately however the IIC didn't enter service until the year after Glorious was lost. Had they been available, I think twelve aircrafr pumping your bridge and soft areas with thousands of 20mm rounds, plus bombs would have forced the risk-adverse Germans to flee. Of course, had four or five Stringbags been torp armed and ready on deck, along with two Stringbags in the air on recon, Glorious would have escaped unscathed and at least one of the Germans would be limping home.
NewGolconda		#13	[-]
Posts: 3342 (15-May-2008 04:45:52) Commonwealth Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"that might've made sense" That is being too hard on yourself, compared to many other of your threads, this one is quite sensible.
robertf2		#14	[-]
Posts: 320 (15-May-2008 08:45:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Obi Wan Russell wrote: Mark E Horan wrote: Gents; I don't know if "Spitfires" (plural) did, but assuredly one RAF Spitfire, with engine problems, returned and landed on Wasp. During her sorties, a couple of ASW Swordfish (see photo refered to above) landed on her as well. Mark Must have had good brakes,- RAF Spitfires had no arrestor hook. Did it take the Barrier? Mind you a sqn of RAF Hurricanes was safely recovered aboard HMS Glorious in 1940 off Norway and also had no hooks. The ship steamed into wind as fast as she could (most likely generating wind over deck of up to 50-60 knots) and the Hurricanes stopped on deck using only their brakes. Quite a feat, though it was overshadowed by the loss of the ship to gunfire from the German Battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenhau before she could reach Britain. Some of the Hurricane pilots involved had previously served with FAA sqns so had some deck landing experience. Read somewhere that the Hurricanes landing on Glorious had sandbag ballast put in rear compartment to assist preventing nose-over when braking and also the pressure of the tires was let down for more traction.
jlyons97		#15	[-]
Posts: 1483 (15-May-2008 21:28:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	StewartG wrote: I don't think they were all that embarassed; IIRC they knew before landing that the Essex's arrestors - set for much heavier Hellcats - would put far too sharp a pull on their Seafire airframes and pull out hooks / break the landing gear (which is what I think happened). The other example which comes to mind is Wasp's two loads of Spitfires for Malta. Not so sure this was a pilot issue. Arresting gear pull-outs, like catapult strokes, were adjustable for type. If Hellcats were bad, Avenger settings would have been worse not just for Seafires but for Hellcats as well. Imagine a fixed setting on a 1942 carrier operating both Wildcats and Avengers. Looks to me (without any other proof than so offered) like the arresting gear crew was not told what was afoot, or screwed up the setting, or both.

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