Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters is thrilled to present one of the most impressive and visually distinctive combat aircraft of the Second World War, the Chance-Vought 'Corsair'.
Image: Corsair - Photo by Gavin Conroy
The Corsair was designed as a carrier-based fighter for the US Navy and included the features of folding wings for storage in below-deck hangars and the arrestor hook for deck-landings. However, the Corsair was also highly successful as a land-based fighter, operating from Pacific Island bases initially by the US Marines, and also to great effect by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The RNZAF had built a proud record of aerial combat service within the Pacific Theatre, fighter duties being carried out in the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk until the highly potent Corsair appeared on the scene in 1944. New Zealand forces ultimately received 424 Corsairs which were allocated to 13 squadrons.
On the Saturday of this year’s air show we will pay tribute to the Corsair and her RNZAF pilots operating in the Pacific, with a special theatrical segment based on true events. Our props team have been working hard on this one, so you won’t want to miss it!
Following the end of WW-II most of the surviving Corsairs, Kittyhawks, Ventura bombers and others were retired to a large field at Rukuhia, Hamilton for scrapping. The magnificent aircraft you will see at Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters is an extremely rare survivor of that scrapping initiative, having enjoyed a stay of execution that later saw it refurbished to taxiing condition before being sold overseas and restored to flying condition in Washington, USA. It went on to be based in the UK with legendary Kiwi display pilot Ray Hanna, and visited many continental European airshows before coming full circle to return to New Zealand.
After being displayed in US markings for many years the Corsair went into storage for a period. More recently, it was purchased by current owner Mike Jones who undertook to have the aircraft returned to its full RNZAF livery prior to making its triumphant return to the Kiwi airshow circuit. Needless to say, this remarkable return to her proud roots makes us doubly proud to bring this magnificent Kiwi icon to Omaka for this year's airshow.
Image: Corsair - Photo by Gavin Conroy
About Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.
