In mid-September 1943, following the successful completion of her "shakedown cruise", the new carrier BUNKER HILL with Air Group 17 aboard, headed west through the Panama Canal. After a brief stop at San Diego to pick up VF-18 as passengers, the BUNKER HILL proceeded into the Pacific. The Air Group's lighter squadron. VF-17, was one of the first Navy squadrons to be equipped with the new F4U-I Corsair. With Lt-Cdr John T. Blackburn as CO, and having adopted the "Jolly Roger" as the unit symbol, VF-17 was to become known as the "Skull and Crossbones Squadron" or alternatively as "Blackburn's Irregulars".
The poor deck landing characteristics of the F4U were to prevent VF-17 from becoming the first carrier-based Corsair squadron to see combat. Prior to reaching Pearl Harbor, VF-17 was informed that it would be detached from Air Group 17 and utilized as a land-based squadron. It was not until the following March that modifications resulted in the Corsair being officially accepted for carrier operations.
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The poor deck landing characteristics of the F4U were to prevent VF-17 from becoming the first carrier-based Corsair squadron to see combat. Prior to reaching Pearl Harbor, VF-17 was informed that it would be detached from Air Group 17 and utilized as a land-based squadron. It was not until the following March that modifications resulted in the Corsair being officially accepted for carrier operations.
Download (rapidshare.com)
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