RN CORSAIR or HELLCAT ACES?

hello wha about William “Bill” Henry Isaac Atkinson, D.S.C., M.I.D, RCNVR

Interesting; the link above though lists his score as 3 confirmed, 1 shared (not sure what that means exactly) and 1 probable, w/ 11 FAA aces altogether. Sources seem to differ. I wonder if there’s an authoritative reference for FAA pilots’ scores like Frank Olynyk’s privately published lists for US pilots.

Joe

hello wha about William “Bill” Henry Isaac Atkinson, D.S.C., M.I.D, RCNVR

Naval Museum of Manitoba website

Very interrsting story………………………also 16 FAA Aces during WWII?

hello wha about William “Bill” Henry Isaac Atkinson, D.S.C., M.I.D, RCNVR

Naval Museum of Manitoba website

I was looking for Royal Navy pilots that scored 5+ victorys in either Hellcats and/or Crosairs?

Then just Sheppard.

Joe

I was looking for Royal Navy pilots that scored 5+ victorys in either Hellcats and/or Crosairs?

Cork would seem to have flown Corsairs but not scored any of his victories in a Corsair. Do we define “Hellcat or Corsair ace” as 5+ victories in type, some in type and 5+ total, or just 5+ total and flew one of those types in combat?

Another not mentioned in the archive link is Major R.C. Hay Royal Marines, credited with 3 JAAF fighters in the Meridian raids in January 1945 against the Pladjoe refinery in Sumatra, one of those three is half credit for a pair claimed with Sheppard, coincidentally, to add to 2 victories earlier in the war in Skua’s and Fulmars (source: Tillman, “Corsair”).

Per Tillman, Sheppard’s victories were a pair of Oscars claimed January 4 1945 in the raid on the Pangkalan Brandan refinery, a Tojo January 24 in Meridian One, half credit for a Tojo and an Oscar downed with Hay the 29th in Meridian Two, and a Judy claimed May 4th defending the task force. But Shores in “Air War Over Burma” lists the Jan 24th claim as only a probable, and the 29th’s claims a pair of Tojo’s.

Shores’ summary of total claims and losses in the Jan 45 combats: FAA claimed 9 Oscars for no loss Jan 4: two pilots of the independent 71st Chutai were killed, total plane losses unknown. January 24 FAA claimed 13 aircraft for the loss of 6 Corsairs a Hellcat and 2 Avengers, some to AA: the 87th Sentai (Tojo) lost 8 planes, the 21st (Nick) 2 pilots, 26th (Oscar) 3 pilots. January 29th the FAA claimed 9 a/c for the loss of 10 Avengers and a Firefly two of the Avengers to barrage balloons. The 87th Sentai lost 4 pilots and 33rd Sentai (Oscar) lost 2 (not incl claims and losses in the Japanese counterattack against the carriers).

Joe

I would have thought that Dickie Cork would have been a likely contender?
Fleet Air Arm archive

Scooter,
try here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hampton_Gray

There’s a brief biog and the date of award etc.
Andy

Thanks for the link…………truely a hero! 😮

Havent read it in ages but would recommend ” Carrier Pilot” by Norman Hanson if you havent already come across it..Thye might not all have been Aces but heroes to a man.

Scooter,
try here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hampton_Gray

There’s a brief biog and the date of award etc.
Andy

I don’t know if this makes him an ‘ace’ (horrible word) or not but Lieutenant Robert Gray ( RCNVR ) of 841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm won the Victoria Cross while flying a Corsair.

Yes, I believe I remember him? Wasn’t he killed attacking Japanese Shipping near the end of the War? Truely, the RCAF and RCN produced some of the worlds finest fighter pilots! :rolleyes: I glad they are on our side! 😀

FLY NAVY 😎

I don’t know if this makes him an ‘ace’ (horrible word) or not but Lieutenant Robert Gray ( RCNVR ) of 841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm won the Victoria Cross while flying a Corsair.

Sub.Lt Donald Sheppard RCNVR

1836 squadron FAA HMS Victorious.

Sound familar? Do you know how many and what type?

Sub.Lt Donald Sheppard RCNVR

1836 squadron FAA HMS Victorious.