THE ROYAL TREATMENT
The Goodyear FG-1D Corsair presently owned and operated by Vintage Wings of Canada was acquired for only one reason - to tell the story of Canada's naval fighter pilots from the Second World War. There were many courageous and highly skilled Canadian flyers who served with Britain's Senior Service - the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Of these, two are especially renowned for their exploits and courage under fire flying Corsair fighter aircraft from fleet carriers in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. One survived, one did not.
The first and perhaps greatest of all was Sub-Lieutenant Don Sheppard, DSC of Toronto, a Corsair pilot with 1836 squadron aboard HMS Victorious. This remarkable aviator holds the unique distinction of being the only Corsair ace in the Royal Navy - with five kills to his credit in the Pacific theatre. Don Sheppard is a highly revered fighter pilot with an unequaled career who is regarded as one of the finest pilots to have ever flown the Corsair anywhere. Today, Sheppard lives in Aurora, Ontario.
The other widely known Canadian naval aviator from the Second World War is Lieutenant Robert Hampton “Hammie” Gray, VC, DSC, who was much loved by his 1841 Squadron mates aboard HMS Formidable and who was highly regarded as a flight commander and aggressive pilot. It was, however, the manner of his death that makes him so well known to Canadians. Gray died in the final few days of the war when the Corsair he was flying was shot down as he was attacking a Japanese warship in Japanese home waters. The facts are well known and yet still the focus of speculation and interest more than sixty years after his death.
Because of his compelling story, ultimate sacrifice and because he was the last Royal Navy pilot and last Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, we selected Robert Hampton Gray as the pilot to be honoured with our Corsair. But in fact it is all Royal Navy pilots, Canadian and others who we honour with this flying tribute.
The Vintage Wings of Canada Corsair spent the winter months being checked out and readied for the 2008 flying season. During all that time she wore the “stars and bars” of the United States Navy/Marine Corps. With great respect and admiration for our American colleagues, it was not the story we wanted to tell and she stood out like a Bald Eagle among Canada Geese. There has been much discussion over the past year concerning the final paint scheme to be applied to our Corsair but for the 2008 flying season it was decided that at the very least we should alter the existing US paint scheme to make her a Royal Navy Corsair.
This turned out to be quite easy to do given the fact that the Corsair was an almost blank canvas in blue. Royal Navy roundels were created to cover the star centres of the US markings and the rest was history - Royal Navy history. The application of these roundels and markings was so successful that for the foreseeable future, she will remain in this spectacular scheme.