Seeing as there are plenty of well read contributors on this forum, I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good book on the Corsair; particularly one written by a wartime USN/USMC pilot.
Whilst watching Pete Kynsey’s superb display last week at Woodchurch I had the urge to read about the Corsair’s wartime exploits.
All suggestions gratefully received.
By: Seafuryfan - 13th August 2006 at 21:31
Spooky 😀
Great minds? Or merely obsessed… 😀
I’ve just ‘Hansond’ on Google and there’s more material out there.
By: The Bump - 13th August 2006 at 21:24
Hmmm, two votes for Norman Hanson, could be worth a look.
I read a good write-up on the Corsair by the late great Frank Tallman in his book ‘Flying the Old Planes’…….the Corsair in question now belongs to TFC.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
By: Ant.H - 13th August 2006 at 20:30
Spooky 😀
By: Ant.H - 13th August 2006 at 20:29
One of the best aviation autobiographies I’ve ever read is ‘Carrier Pilot’ by Norman Hanson. He was an RN Fleet Air Arm pilot flying Corsairs with 1833sqn based on HMS Illustrious, and his book covers his eventful and compelling career from recruitment to de-mob. Possibly the best auto-biog written by a WWII FAA veteran.
Sadly, it doesn’t seem to have been reprinted recently and what copies there are available seem to be fetching respectable prices, anything up to £30 for a decent copy. Got mine a few years ago for 50p 🙂
By: Seafuryfan - 13th August 2006 at 20:25
Carrier Pilot
Hi The Bump,
I recommend ‘Carrier Pilot’ by Norman Hanson, published by Patrick Stephens, ISBN 0 85059 349 2. My edition is 1979, so it might be out of print (PM me if interested in borrowing it). It’s always been one of my favourite reads; the author describes his personal experiences of flying for the FAA in WWII. His combat flying took place on Corsairs of the 15th Naval Fighter Wing in the Far East. I found his writing on training and combat in this aircraft to be truly gripping.
Cheers
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August 13, 2006 at 8:15 pm