"Flintlock Disaster."

[Duggy009]

An F4U-1A Corsair assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 422 pictured hooked up to a catapult and ready for launch from the escort carrier Kalinin Bay (CVE 68) for a flight to Tarawa Atoll. Note the nickname "Marine Special" on the cowling. The day after this photograph was taken, 23 of 24 aircraft of VMF-422 took off from Tarawa bound for Funafuti. Not provided with an escort plane or accurate weather data, the pilots unwittingly flew into a storm, losing 22 aircraft and six pilots in an event known as the "Flintlock Disaster."

Today

SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY HERE -- https://vimeo.com/53437571

Regards Duggy

[Steve Nelson]

A sad story for sure. I recall something similar happened to a P-51 squadron flying out of Iwo Jima.

SN

[tom d. friedman]

just read a story about the corsair group disaster in 1 of the recent av mags.

[ALOHADAVE]

A whole Japanese squadron was also lost this way. Bad weather and navigation. The Pacific seas can be very unforgiving.