This is the second of the two Corsairs that I have constructed. This holds rather special meaning to me.

For those model enthusiasts and Military buffs out there, you will be familiar with the following, at least with the subject material.

This model represents a Corsair IV KD658 115-X of 1841 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Formidable, August 1945. It was piloted by Robert Hampton ‘Hammy’ Gray on the 9  August, 1945, on a raid on intended Japanese airfield targets on the island of Honshu. However, due to bad weather and cloud cover, opportunist targets were selected, one being shipping in Onagawa Bay, a Japanese relay station. The destroyer Amakusa and the rest of the Onagawa Defence Squadron was at anchor in the bay which consisted of minesweepers, subchasers and auxiliary craft.

Robert Hampton Gray was born in Trail, British Columbia, November 2 1917. After a promising University education, he joined up as a Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve(RCNVR) in July 1940. He, along with his group of 75, was transported to England for training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. By the wars end, 23 of them were decorated and 18 never to return.

‘Hammy’ began his flying training in January 1941 at HMS St. Vincent in Gosport, Southampton. After Elementary Flying Training School, he was sent back to Canada for further training in Kingston, Ontario. In September 1941 Hammy attained his ‘wings’, graduating as a Naval pilot and returned to England for advanced training. In March 1942 he was at HMS Kestrel in Winchester with 757 squadron flying Skuas for advanced training when the news of the death of his younger brother reached him.

Jack Gray, aged 21, was a wireless operator on a Wellington with 144 Squadron near Doncaster. On 27^th February 1942, after a minelaying mission, his aircraft was circling the airfield in a queue when it ran out of fuel. The Wellington crashed killing all the crew. Jack Gray is buried in Rose Hill cemetery in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.

In May 1942 Hammy was posted overseas to South Africa. In August he was assigned to 795 NAS squadron flying Fulmars and Martlets. In September he was transferred to 803 NAS flying Fulmars from Tanga. In December 1942 the squadron was reassigned to carrier duties aboard HMS Illustrious and on December 31^st he was promoted to Lieutenant. Two months later he was assigned to 877 NAS flying sea Hurricanes from Tanga. Back in Africa with the rainy season operations were slow. His time with 877 NAS was dull and frustrating as there was virtually no action. In December 1943 the squadron was formerly disbanded. Hammy was reassigned to Canada and given 10 weeks leave which he made full use of.

In March 1944 a new RN Squadron, 1841 NAS, was raised with Corsairs in Maine commanded by Richard Bigg-Wither RN, a veteran pilot since 1939. In June 1944 Hammy attended a refresher course at HMS Heron with 748 NAS with familiarisation in Hellcats, Seafires and Corsairs. He chose to transfer to the Corsair at this time. The aircraft became the prime Fleet Air Arm fighter with 2000 eventually being ordered by the FAA. It was fast, nimble, robust with excellent firepower and 2,000lb of payload, eventually equipping 19 NAS squadrons by the end of 1944. The type was to fly more operational sorties than any FAA fighter and destroy more enemy aircraft than any other type.

After four years of training and dull operational postings, Hammy joined 1841 NAS on 6^th August 1944 aboard HMS Formidable just in time for Operation Goodwood, the last attack by carrier fleet on the Tirpitz. On August 24, 1944, 18 Corsairs of 1841 NAS and 16 Barracudas of 826 and 848 NAS took off from HMS Formidable. Hammy led his flight on strafing runs on Anti-Aircraft batteries but the smoke screen was heavy causing the Barracudas to bomb blind. The losses were heavy. On August 29 another attack was launched from Formidable, this time with 14 Barracudas armed with 1,600lb bombs and 17 Corsairs. Again, Hammy’s flight performed low level strafing runs on the supporting ships and the Tirpitz. On debrief the pilots of 1841 Squadron were shown their gun camera footage of the attack. Hammy had extreme close-up images with flak and gunfire surrounding him as he pushed home his attack. He was ‘mentioned in dispatches’ for this action. Just one example of his determination, aggression and bravery in the face of enemy fire.

The carrier HMS Formidable was to join the British Pacific Fleet and in September she set sail for the Far East with her new squadrons aboard. 1841 and 1842 NAS with 18 Corsairs each and 848 NAS equipped with 21 recently acquired Grumman Avenger to replace the ageing Barracudas. However, the ship came to a halt when the main 45-ton gear wheel stripped itself. After months of repairs the ship finally left Gibraltar in January 1945. On February 8^th the ship arrived in Columbo, and the new Corsair IVs were flown in with the new Midnight Blue colour scheme standardised for all Allied Naval fighter aircraft from now on. HMS Formidable arrived in Sydney on March 10 for ten days respite before sailing for Leyte on March 21 to join the BPF on April 14^th , 1945. The BPF consisted of HMS Indomitable, HMS Implacable, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Illustrious and HMS Victorious with supporting battleships and escort ships. HMS Formidable took the place of Illustrious as she was badly in need of refitting and maintenance.

After many weeks of operations, including a kamikaze attack on the Fleet with Formidable and Indomitable being severely damaged, the BPF put into Sydney for repairs and replenishment. Formidable had only 11 serviceable Corsairs and four Avengers, the rest were destroyed and ditched. On 28^th June the BPF resumed operations having undergone repairs and replenishment of stores. Only Victorious, Implacable and Formidable were able to sail with a total strength of 190 aircraft between them.

Hammy engaged in his missions with his usual hard, determined, undaunted courage directing his flight and achieving numerous successes on enemy shipping and installations being recommended for the DSC after one particular mission, by Admiral Vial himself.

However, on August 9^th, 1945, Hammy and his flight of eight aircraft took off for a mission escorting Avengers on a bombing run. He was flying a different aircraft as his usual plane 119-X was boxed in on the hangar deck and couldn’t be used. So, at 0800 he was assigned 115-X. The primary target was obscured as was the secondary, therefore they were to seek out targets of opportunity instead. The flight came in two waves low over the bay where the Amakusa was anchored. Hammy led the first wave. All aircraft were armed with two 500lb bombs. Hammy drew intense fire from three sides as he made his approach square on to the destroyer. The port side bomb was shot away from its pylon, but he struck home his attack firing his six .50 Browning guns at the target before pulling up just short of the ship releasing his remaining bomb at the same time. At that point his plane was hit multiple times. Eye-witness accounts say the plane listed to the right in flames before plummeting into the bay. A Japanese crew member is said to have observed the pilot slumped forward in the cockpit as the aircraft passed over the ship. The Amakusa exploded and sank moments later. The bomb had penetrated amid ships possibly igniting the magazine.

Hammys luck had run out. He was awarded a posthumous VC for his actions. The last Canadian casualty of WW2, there is a memorial to his honour overlooking Onagawa Bay.