A History of Aircraft Carriers

 

A VF-113 Vought F4U-4B Corsair catches the wire on the USS Philippine Sea after an attack against targets in
Korea IMAGES COURTESY NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND UNLESS NOTED

PART 2

When North Korean troops crossed into their southern neighbour on June 25, 1950, the US Navy had fewer than 300 ships available to sail. Budget cuts in favour of the USAF did not help and at the time of the invasion there was only one US carrier in the Pacific that was suitably placed to provide combat support. As North Korean troops pushed further south, United Nations (UN) forces faced the prospect of defeat, prompting the Americans to utilise USS Valley Forge, equipped with Vought F4U Corsairs, Douglas AD-1 Skyraiders and Grumman F9F Panthers of Air Group 5. These were immediately put to use, providing Close Air Support (CAS).

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