Aircraft wreckage retrieved

KOCHI, MARCH 9.The wreckage of a small aircraft that was reported by the fishing boat `Hans-Antony' off the Kollam coast was retrieved at the Shakthikulangara beach today and has been identified by naval experts from the INS Garuda as that of a VOUGHT F4U Corsair aircraft.

This aircraft is of World War II vintage and is presumed to have been dumped at sea by the Royal Navy. Naval experts are of the opinion that many more catches of this nature can be expected off the Kochi coast in years to come.

The Vought F4U Corsair aricraft of the Royal Navy was manufactured by the United Aircraft Corporation of the US and operated from the Royal Navy's aircraft HMS Ilustrous in 1944. They formed part of the consignment that was brought to HMS Kalugu, Kochi, for disposal at sea.

The wreckage is a testimony to the glorious heritage of Kochi from the point of view of naval aviation which dates back to the years of World War II. With the fall of Singapore in February 1942, and subsequent air strikes by the Japanese on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in April 1942, the British launched a massive programme for creating naval aviation facilities in India. The main Royal Naval Air Station established were at Peelamedu (Coimbatore), Tambaram (Chennai) and Kochi.

The Vought F4U Corsair aircraft had a maximum speed of 320 mph at sea level and 392 mph at 24,000 ft. It is capable of carrying six 0-5 in colt Browning N-2 machine guns plus F4U ID two 1000 lbs bombs. The oleos, that is, legs of the aircrafts are still intact on the wreckage. Also seen are the well-preserved two steel hooks used for launching the aircraft from an aircraft carrier.

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