The nickname of those Corsairs were "Killer Bees" because of the livery.
Also, the French Corsairs were F4U-7. The last Corsairs built. The Americans used to call them the "FFO Corsairs" (For French Only).
They were used in Algeria against the arabian rebels and against the arabs in Egypt during the Suez Crisis.
The Suez Crisis was pretty interesting. In 1952, a young Gamal Abdel Nasser took the power and after
threating the Brits and the French (and buying lots of armament from the Russians - we were in Cold War),
Nasser decided to take by force the Suez canal. He wanted to fund his army by the taxes from the canal
(at this time, Israelians were not allowed to use the Suez canal by the Egyptians).
The Brits were in charge of the Canal before the takeover by Nasser's army. The Frenchs feared an Egyptian
military help to the Algerians rebels and finally Israel feared for its own security (Nasser said he would attack Israel in the future).
Then the Brits, the French and the Israelians made a coalition. The plan was to let Israel attack the Egyptian and soonafter
to send Brits and French troops to restore peace (and of course, secure the canal).
The 29 october, the Israelian troops led by Moshe Dayan made a storm attck on the Sinaï and dispite intense fightings,
defeated badly the Egyptians. 8000 Egyptian warriors were let shot dead on the battlefield.
Soonafter, the Brits and the French sent the Camberras, Venoms, Valiants and F-84F jets to destroy all Egyptian airfields and airforce.
It was called "Operation Mousquetaire". On a second step, Red berets of the 3rd Paratroopers took the Gamil airfield and the French
2nd Commando Paratroopers took all the bridges on Port-Fouad.
All the Nasser's planes, mostly MIG-17 Fresco, MIG-15 Fagot and Ilyushin Beagle were shot down or destroyed.
First operation of the French Corsairs took place in the beginning of november. The aircraft carriers "Arromanches" and "La Fayette"
launched 18 F4U-7 of the 14F squadron and 18 F4U-7 of the 15F squadron. They neutralised the Alexandria airport with 500Lbs bombs.
A few bombs were also dropped on Port-Saïd and on Egyptian Marine ships.
On a fun note, as they were permanently four Dash-7 flying around each carrier for protection, Some of them shot several
T-10 rockets on an unidentified submarine spotted close to the coast. The submarine was the French "La Creole" on a secret
spying mission... Pilots failed to identify the target.
The submarine made a dive and wasn't damaged.
In the meantime, 14F & 15F destroyed Alzama airport (Cairo airport). One plane and one pilot were lost bacause of the DCA.
Intelligence reports said the pilot succeded to open his parachute but was beaten with stones by Egyptian people and killed.
The Dash-7 were also used as close air support for paratroopers in straffing and bombing the ennemies with much success.
The F4U-7 was a great airplane for anti-guerilla warfare.
Note :
- "Flotille" means "Squadron" in the "Marine" world.
- 12F Dash-7 had their nosecones painted sky blue.
- 14F Dash-7 had their nosecones painted white.
- 15F Dash-7 had their nosecones painted black.
- 17F Dash-7 had their nosecones painted red.
(sidenote, 17F was used during the Algerian war. Today they are bombing Afghan and Pakistanis Talibans over
A-stan using SEM - Super Etendard Modernises - look here :
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=00ilAlRRUnQ
or here for the first bombing mission over A-stan, "Mission Heracles" :
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GWmBoXjcUxg).
94 F4U-7 were built. The plane was an hybrid of a AU-1 with a F4U-4 engine (P&W R-2800-43W)
Here are a few documents. Click to see full size.
14F and 12F "Killer Bees" :
15F & 14F :
Note the HVAR rockets armpoints :
This picture was taken in Algeria :
)
