Changing of the Bent Wing Guards
2 November 2007
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
A “new” Corsair arrived at Vintage Wings of Canada (VWC) in Gatineau, Quebec. Goodyear FG-1D BuNo 92106 c/r N106FG touched down in the afternoon of October 29th, 2007, with pilot Stuart Milson at the stick. Mr. Milson stayed in Ottawa less than 24 hours when he departed with F4U-4 BuNo 97359 c/r N240CA in the morning of the 30th, on a ferry flight to Doug Mathews who is taking charge of the airframe. For a brief period of time, overnight, the two Corsairs shared the VWC hangar. 92106 is a recent addition to the collection having been obtained from Provenance Fighter Sales. The crew is proud to have 92106 join the collection.
VWC will use the newest Corsair to memorialize Lieutenant Hampton Gray, VC, DSC RCNVR. Gray, born in Trail, British Columbia, in 1919 enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy as an officer candidate on loan to the Royal Navy. He transferred into the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and by September 1941 Gray was a naval pilot with the rank of Sub. Lieutenant. He flew with shore-based squadrons, spending nearly two years in Africa. In August 1944 Gray converted to the Vought Corsair which launched him into the segment of his career which he will be forever remembered. He joined 1841 Squadron aboard HMS Formidable, and took part in attacks against German battle ships including the famed 42,000+ ton Tirpitz. In these daring low-level attacks against German ship Gray’s Corsair received flak damage and he was recognized for his determination and leadership in the thick of the action. In April 1945 HMS Formidable joined Pacific Fleet, and again Gray was recognized for his skill and leadership in attacks which were this time directed at Japanese shipping. On the 9th of August 1945, the same day as the second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on Nagasaki, Gray led a flight of Corsairs in an attack against naval ships at Onagawa Bay. As the attack was made his Corsair was hit with cannon and machine gun fire. With his fighter on fire and one of the two 500 pound bombs shot off, Gray re-leveled the aircraft and pressed on his attack with the remaining bomb. When released it hit the escort vessel, Amakusa, and exploded in the ammunition locker blowing out the starboard side. Amakusa immediately rolled and sank. Gray’s Corsair continued to fly only for a few more seconds when it rolled over and impacted the bay at high speed. Gray died instantly.
92106 is currently conveniently painted in factory delivered blue. The plan is to cover the United States Navy markings with decals to represent the Corsair flown by Gray at Onagawa Bay. In addition VWC historians are currently researching markings of the Royal Navy Corsairs of the Atlantic campaign, specifically those flown by Gray during the Tirpitz raids. VWC plans to apply the new paint scheme after one or two years of operations in the current colours.
