Seversky F6N-3 "Sea Axe" ...

[SaxMan]

Wow. It's not even April 1st.

I don't think the Jug's weight would have been an issue, as it weighed roughly the same as an Avenger, IIRC. Which, when you consider that the Avenger was a torpedo bomber and the Jug was a fighter, that gives some degree of perspective on just how much of a tank the P-47s, er, excuse me, F6N, was.

[k5083]

Most Interesting...If plane existed, I wonder what the FN-1, F2N, F3N, F4N, and F5N looked like...More models please!

The FN-1 actually existed, it was a navalized P-35.

http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/seversky_nf-1.php

I expect that's where Mark got "N" as the manufacturer letter for Seversky but I don't know if there were a 2 through 5.

August

[Mark Allen M]

Not April 1st ... but these were USAAF Thunderbolts that were transferred over to the US Navy for 'carrier ops' modifications by Seversky. These P-47's required a reduction in gross weight and the addition of folding wings, slightly sturdier landing gear and tail hooks. The modifications were relatively minimal and US Navy pilots who took over these aircraft stated that although the new F6N's, as they were reclassified, were still a bit heavy and bulky but they performed quite well. Below you see 19th FS, 318th FG P-47's being loaded onto the USS Natoma Bay from Bellows field HI to be delivered to Ulithi where they would be taken over by the US Navy's VF-1 High Hat's.

[Mark Allen M]

[Mudge]

F6Ns incorrectly loaded aboard USS Yorktown:

Now that there's funny! I don't care who ya' are.

Mudge the

[tom d. friedman]

japan giving test models of a zeke to germany?? sounds far fetched, but I wonder if there is any myth to this model & the pic as to combat mileage, where Germany lacked. I would think the Luftwaffe would be to arrogant to request Japanese planes for testing. if there is any truth to this i'd like to see additional info. granted..... german aircraft were superior in most facets of aircraft technology, surely they must have gleaned some valuable info from japan re: the Emily flying boat was deemed the best of ww2 flying boat hands down, as well as the frank, Oscar, & tojo had their attributes as well. do not include light armor as a factor for combat mileage, that is old info already. Germany's sole carrier the graf zeppelin never made it off the dock, were any german planes deemed ok for carrier operations??

[Chris Brame]

Germany's sole carrier the Graf Zeppelin never made it off the dock

It did, but Spencer Tracy killed himself sinking it

were any German planes deemed ok for carrier operations??

Me109s and Stukas were reconfigured for carrier ops, and IIRC they had some biplane torpedo bomber?

[Triplane102]

So..is that a "Razor Back"?..or..a "Shark Back"?..

[lmritger]

F6Ns incorrectly loaded aboard USS Yorktown:

Now that there's funny! I don't care who ya' are.

Mudge the

Vlado, I just about choked from laughing... that is absolutely hilarious. And Mark, all leg-pulling aside, that's the most extensive collection of 318th pics aboard the jeep carriers that I've ever seen- I thought I'd seen all the pics there were to be found of that operation, but clearly I was WAY wrong. Thanks for posting all these!

Oh, and whomever came up with the sobriquet "Water Jug"... one internet high five to you, sir.

Lynn

[Mark Allen M]

Your welcome Lynn, I have a 318th FG folder with over 250 photos from this operation. Thought about posting all of them but .... What do some around here call it. Oh yah! "Photo bombing"

Leg pulling? Me? ...

[HMFischer]

The 318thFg P47s with the white band and numbers for ID are from the 73rd squadron. USS Manila Bay. (The unit my dad was in.) The bare metal cowling planes with letters for ID are 19 squadron. Being delivered to Saipan, June 1944. Dad was an A/C armorer and went ashore via cargo ship. I wish I knew which one. They arrived at IE Shima in the spring of '45 via the S Hall Young and were hit by a suicide plane.

[Matt Gunsch]

it looks like that carrier has a bit of a list to starboard, I hope they rearrange that deck.

[mlenoch]

Some follow on to the Sea Axe programs:

F-7C


COIN Tigercat


Turbo Tigercat


(images found on a google search)

[Clifford Bossie]

I would like to know how the bridle cable was attached to those 318th Jugs. I know where it was attached, I just want to know how it was rigged so that it disengaged after launch.

Attached to this red tow lug:



And dropped off allowing gear retraction:

[tom d. friedman]

cool tigercat configuration!! was this imagination running overtime for a model, or was this actually tested??