Vought F4U Corsair

A fighter in the shipping strike

On 7 April 1945, Huntington’s F4U-1D flew from Bennington with a 500-pound general-purpose bomb. The aircraft action report identifies both the variant and the load. Neither entry should be stretched into a specification for every Corsair, or even every Corsair sortie that day. YT-Y03

The narrative explains why this was an unusually small Marine contribution to the formation: other Corsairs intended for the strike remained in the hangar during the hurried launch. Huntington flew among the carrier’s other aircraft.

Through the clouds

The report describes a bombing run against a cruiser identified as Agano class. Huntington began his run from about 6,000 feet and reported releasing at 1,500 feet. The attack table calls the technique bombing; the narrative describes a dive of about 45 degrees. These are reported details of this run, not recommended operating limits for the aircraft. YT-Y03

The form records no enemy aircraft encountered. It does record intense medium and light anti-aircraft fire. Absence of an aerial opponent did not make the approach undefended.

The view after release

Huntington reported an effect near the cruiser’s forward turret and saw a torpedo running towards the ship. His report therefore places bomb and torpedo attacks close together in the pilot’s experience. It does not establish which weapon caused a particular internal failure. YT-Y03

The claims about ships sinking elsewhere in the formation are less secure than the entries for his own aircraft. Recognising that difference lets us use a vivid first-hand report without treating every distant observation as a confirmed result.

Return to Under Carrier Attack or follow the weapons profile for the distinction between a carried bomb, a reported hit and demonstrated damage.

Across the stories

Bombs in the Yamato strike

The different bomb loads recorded by Bennington’s Corsair and Helldiver reports on 7 April 1945.

Grumman TBF‑1 Avenger

The new torpedo bomber’s Midway debut, the island detachment of VT-8 and the limits of better equipment.

USS Bennington (CV-20)

The Essex-class carrier whose aircraft attacked the Japanese surface force on 7 April 1945.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)

The carrier whose Corsairs and Avengers attacked Yamato on 7 April 1945, seen through two squadron reports.

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

The later carrier dive bomber present in Bennington’s strike against Yamato’s force.

TBM-3 Avenger

Bennington’s torpedo aircraft on 7 April 1945, their long flight and the decision to attack Yamato’s escorts.

Yahagi

The light cruiser that sailed with Yamato, and the difference between her place in the Japanese plan and her appearance in American attack reports.

Yamato

The battleship at the centre of the Okinawa surface operation, seen through orders, fuel evidence and survivor testimony.

Appears in

Examine the sources ↓

Sources for this page

Open a note for the passage, inspection status and limits. Source records link to the available documents.

YT-Y03Bennington aircraft action report 67-45

Contemporary aircraft report · facsimile

Passage: Aircraft Action Report 67-45, sheets 1–5, especially own-aircraft table and attack narrative

Kenneth E. Huntington’s F4U-1D sortie, reported bomb load and target.

Checked: All five retained original report sheets visually rechecked on 20 October 2026: one own aircraft, bomb load, target class, release height and narrative claims.

Limits: One pilot’s report. Target identifications, hit and loss claims are not adopted as verified outcomes; the reported load is not a fleet-wide specification.

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