Q&A · 2:59:25-3:00:38

Fleet Air Arm aircraft in attacks on Tirpitz

A correction on which Fleet Air Arm aircraft appeared in the operations against Tirpitz.

Question

Were Corsairs used in attacks on Tirpitz?

Short answer

Yes. Hellcats appeared in Operation Tungsten, while Corsairs were used in later operations including Goodwood; earlier attacks also used Albacores.

Notes

The answer begins cautiously and checks the operational record before confirming the aircraft types. Albacore torpedo bombers appear in an earlier 1942 strike associated with Victorious. Hellcats then appear among the fighters supporting Operation Tungsten and in another later operation. Corsairs also took part in subsequent attacks, including Goodwood, so they were indeed used against Tirpitz. The Fleet Air Arm combined British strike aircraft with several American fighter types across a series of operations rather than relying on one fixed air group.