Royal Navy Hellcats ...

[RMAllnutt]

The Outer wing tips are replaceable, as the spar doesn't go all the way out to the end. It's a relatively straight forward change. I believe that the modifications for the former OFMC Corsair were done while she was in the UK, and she did wear RNZAF markings during her stay there. I have no idea why they repainted her to represent a US example when she went back to NZ... seems very odd.

Cheers,
Richard

[C VEICH]

I believe that the modifications for the former OFMC Corsair were done while she was in the UK, and she did wear RNZAF markings during her stay there.

It may or may not have had wing tips when it arrived in NZ but I'm almost certain I remember the clipped wing tips being on the airplane when it wa owned by Landry and flown as "Big Hog" back in the '80s.

Edited to add link to a photo which supports my statement above.

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=833122

[avenger2504]

The Outer wing tips are replaceable, as the spar doesn't go all the way out to the end. It's a relatively straight forward change. I believe that the modifications for the former OFMC Corsair were done while she was in the UK, and she did wear RNZAF markings during her stay there. I have no idea why they repainted her to represent a US example when she went back to NZ... seems very odd.

Cheers,
Richard

Really? I've been told they aren't and are part of the structure of the wing. But if they are replaceable I'd love to see them swapped for the correct tip. Great now I'm going to be peering at photos of Corsair wingtips!

[AirJimL2]

I'm almost certain I remember the clipped wing tips being on the airplane when it wa owned by Landry and flown as "Big Hog" back in the '80s.

Edited to add link to a photo which supports my statement above.

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=833122

Here is a really old one to back Chad up:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Vought-(Goodyear)-FG-1D/0138448/L/&sid=80f2f867b1b11a10f10f8a008920a9f4

What is really odd is they appear not to be standard FAA style tips. (For example the lights are in different locations.)

Interesting that the Helldiver still has its US delivery markings in place. For a few FAA Helldivers in Canada before delivery with Stars and Bars see:

http://ascalecanadian.blogspot.com/2009/05/canadian-built-faa-helldivers-in-us.html

Jim

[Dave Homewood]

The Helldiver in Royal Navy markings is fairly rare to see, you may not be aware but only one Fleet Air Arm squadron was equipped with the Helldiver, No. 1820 Squadron which formed in April 1944. They were land-based at Brunswick, USA, and in May 1944 they moved to Squantum. Then in July 1944 they went to Norfolk, Virginia. There they embarked on HMS Arbiter and were transported to Speke Aerodrome in England, and then went to Machrihanish in Scotland. From here they trained with the carrier HMS Speaker.

No. 1820 Squadron was equipped with nine Helldivers.

In fact in total only 26 examples of the Canadian-built Curtiss SBW-1B Helldiver were ever purchased by the Royal Navy.

The squadron and the FAA superiors were wholly unimpressed with the type and after operational training proved they aircraft were unsuitable, the decision was made to not use them in operations at all. The squadron was disbanded in December 1944.

On that squadron there were two New Zealanders, both pilots. I had the privilege of meeting one of them in person and on the same occasion the widow of the other, in 2009.

[DH82EH]

Thanks for that Dave. Very interesting, with a cool personal connection.

I think it's safe to say that Helldiver production in Fort William Ontario was plagued by problems throughout.

Andy Scott