Warbird Information Exchange

Vintage Wings of Canada Press Release
Changing of the Bent Wing Guards
2 November 2007
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A “new” Corsair arrived at Vintage Wings of Canada (VWC) in Gatineau, Quebec. Goodyear FG-1D BuNo 92106 c/r N106FG touched down in the afternoon of October 29th, 2007, with pilot Stuart Milson at the stick. Mr. Milson stayed in Ottawa less than 24 hours when he departed with F4U-4 BuNo 97359 c/r N240CA in the morning of the 30th, on a ferry flight to Doug Mathews who is taking charge of the airframe. For a brief period of time, overnight, the two Corsairs shared the VWC hangar. 92106 is a recent addition to the collection having been obtained from Provenance Fighter Sales. The crew is proud to have 92106 join the collection.

VWC will use the newest Corsair to memorialize Lieutenant Hampton Gray, VC, DSC RCNVR. Gray, born in Trail, British Columbia, in 1919 enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy as an officer candidate on loan to the Royal Navy. He transferred into the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and by September 1941 Gray was a naval pilot with the rank of Sub. Lieutenant. He flew with shore-based squadrons, spending nearly two years in Africa. In August 1944 Gray converted to the Vought Corsair which launched him into the segment of his career which he will be forever remembered. He joined 1841 Squadron aboard HMS Formidable, and took part in attacks against German battle ships including the famed 42,000+ ton Tirpitz. In these daring low-level attacks against German ship Gray’s Corsair received flak damage and he was recognized for his determination and leadership in the thick of the action. In April 1945 HMS Formidable joined Pacific Fleet, and again Gray was recognized for his skill and leadership in attacks which were this time directed at Japanese shipping. On the 9th of August 1945, the same day as the second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on Nagasaki, Gray led a flight of Corsairs in an attack against naval ships at Onagawa Bay. As the attack was made his Corsair was hit with cannon and machine gun fire. With his fighter on fire and one of the two 500 pound bombs shot off, Gray re-leveled the aircraft and pressed on his attack with the remaining bomb. When released it hit the escort vessel, Amakusa, and exploded in the ammunition locker blowing out the starboard side. Amakusa immediately rolled and sank. Gray’s Corsair continued to fly only for a few more seconds when it rolled over and impacted the bay at high speed. Gray died instantly.

92106 is currently conveniently painted in factory delivered blue. The plan is to cover the United States Navy markings with decals to represent the Corsair flown by Gray at Onagawa Bay. In addition VWC historians are currently researching markings of the Royal Navy Corsairs of the Atlantic campaign, specifically those flown by Gray during the Tirpitz raids. VWC plans to apply the new paint scheme after one or two years of operations in the current colours.

Mike Henniger

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
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No surprises there, then!

Great to see one flying in those colours, well done to all concerned

Mike,

We tried to hold onto 92106 as long as we could, but in the end Stuart decided that you guys had waited long enough.



Stuart about to start the long trip north.


Julian

Mike

Do you know if Doug Mathews is taking charge of N240CA in Georgia and is it on it's way back to Georgia?

Steve

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

Great to see it going to a good home. Sounds like they have an interesting paint scheme in mind.

On the other hand, I'm a little sad that it will no longer be painted the way it is. It was just kind of nice to see a Corsair look the way it did when it rolled off the assembly lines a few miles from my house!

(I know, its selfish , but I know it is someone else's turn now )

Photo by Marcy Sykes

No not really. It is hard not to recognized a story and accomplishments like that. However, VWoC is not trying to recognize the man, but rather the dedication to service servicemen like Gray gave.







I don't know, and I don't know if there are plans to display it anywhere. Then annual is done though. I'll see if I can find out where it will be based.



I don't think they are in a particular hurry to change the markings immediately. The people involved are quite busy, and I don't think it is at the top of the list. People may have a chance to see it at an open house or an airshow before it gets the "115" Pacific markings. As mentioned in the press release it may be a few years before it receives the Atlantic colours.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

I unfortunately have no memory of the CWH Corsair as my passion for aviation began the year after it was sold, so it will be great to see one in the same markings fly someday. Just a little tidbit of info for those that didn't know, the idea was to have a sort of Victoria Cross flight, the Mynarski Lanc, the PBY which is dedicated to David Hornell VC and the Corsair which was in the colours of Hampton Grey, however this never happened, the PBY was still in fire bomber colours when the Corsair was there. It'd be a thrill if Mr. Potter could fly his corsair with the museum's planes at least once!

Mike, is it possible to arrange a group visit to Vintage Wings during a weekend in the winter? I'm trying to get a few people in my course (Aircraft Maintenance) to go, I've never had the chance to visit yet, but I really want to!

Oh, and glad to see you guys got the new Corsair!!

That sounds like a good idea. Send me an email with a date and the numbers and I will forward it onto the hangar manager. I would be happy to do the tour myself. Perhaps a post tour visit to a pub?

Mike
mrhenniger at hotmail.com

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Is the Atlantic campaign colors are green and gray like The Fighter Collection Wildcat and Shuttleworth Collection Sea Hurricane?

Yes, they are in the same style.

Cheers,
Richard

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Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com