The Second World War resulted in the deaths of around 85 million people. Additionally, tens of millions more people were displaced. However, amid all the carnage people demonstrated remarkable courage, fortitude, compassion, mercy and sacrifice. We would like to honour and celebrate all of those people. In the War Years Blog, we examine the extraordinary experiences of individual service personnel. We also review military history books, events, and museums. And we look at the history of unique World War Two artefacts, medals, and anything else of interest.
The Fleet Air Arm’s Solution to the Corsair’s Problem
The Vought F4U Corsair's journey from a flawed carrier-based fighter to a WWII ace offers powerful lessons for businesses facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Through innovative thinking, adaptability, and focusing on process changes rather than expensive redesigns, the Corsair's transformation demonstrates how companies can turn potential failures into remarkable successes.
Vought F4U Corsair, IWM Duxford, Flying Legends 2018
The story of the Vought F4U Corsair’s development and eventual success provides valuable insights for businesses facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Initially designed as a carrier-based fighter, the Corsair’s long nose and consequent poor forward visibility made it notoriously difficult to land on aircraft carriers, leading to several accidents.
Why did Britain use the American F4U Corsairs? The complete story
This situation mirrors a common business scenario: a product designed for a specific purpose that fails to meet critical requirements in real-world application. Many companies might have scrapped the project or invested heavily in redesigning the aircraft or modifying carriers - both expensive and time-consuming solutions.
However, the British Fleet Air Arm developed an innovative approach that transformed the Corsair’s fortunes without significant modifications to either the plane or the carriers. They introduced a new landing technique, a wide curving approach, which compensated for the limited visibility. The British also made several small technical modifications to the aircraft, such as raising the pilots' seat and a new canopy that provided better visibility.
These creative solutions offer several key lessons for businesses:
1. Innovation doesn’t always require starting from scratch. Sometimes, the most effective solutions involve changing processes or approaches rather than the product itself.
2. Cross-functional collaboration can lead to breakthrough solutions. The British solution came from operational experience rather than engineering, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives in problem-solving.
3. Customer feedback and real-world testing are crucial. The Corsair’s issues only became apparent in actual carrier operations, underscoring the importance of thorough, real-world product testing.
4. Adaptability is key to success. Rather than abandoning the Corsair as a carrier-borne aircraft, the British found ways to adapt its used to overcome its limitations.
5. Sometimes, the most cost-effective solutions are the simplest. The British approach avoided expensive redesigns or modifications, offering a cost-effective solution to a complex problem.
6. Training and skill development can overcome product limitations. By focusing on pilot training and developing new techniques, the British turned a liability into an asset.
The Corsair’s journey from problematic design to successful deployment demonstrates that, with innovative thinking, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt, businesses can overcome significant challenges and turn potential failures into successes. It's a powerful reminder that the solution to a problem may not always lie in changing the product, but in changing how we use it.
Businesses can gain valuable insights from military history that can enhance their strategic planning and operational efficiency. Lessons learned from past conflicts highlight the importance of adaptability, leadership, and the effective allocation of resources. By understanding how military strategies and tactics can be applied to the corporate world, organisations can improve decision-making, strengthen team cohesion, and navigate challenges more effectively. If your business is interested in exploring these lessons further, please reach out for a consultation.
Contact me to learn more about how military history can inform your business strategy.
The Ghosts of Tangmere
In this blog post, we visit Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, once a frontline RAF fighter base during the Battle of Britain and home to the UK's airspeed records.
What to do on a cold, wet, windy November day? Well, you could take a trip back in time to the Battle of Britain or the post-war golden age of aviation. Once a frontline RAF base and home of the world airspeed record, the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is situated just outside Chichester off the A27. Admission is currently £9.00 for adults, £3.00 for children, £7.00 for seniors and a family ticket (two adults, two children) £21.00. There are also discounted rates for service personnel and groups – see the website for more information.
Planning Your Visit
On arrival, one of the museum’s friendly volunteers furnished me with a map and briefly explained the layout. The museum is organised into a number of halls plus the NAAFI cafeteria, memorial garden and outside exhibits. Ask reception to book your ride in the English Electric flight simulator. I started my tour in the Battle of Britain Hall, which contains a large collection of artefacts, documents, photographs and paintings. The hall is somewhat dominated by the excavated remains of Sergeant Dennis Noble’s Hawker Hurricane fighter. You can listen to a recording of James Nicolson, the only RAF fighter pilot to win the Victoria Cross during World War Two, telling his story. Moving onto Middle Hall, you will find a varied collection of items including a chunk of the Mohne Dam, famously breached by the Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron (Dambusters) back in 1943.
Airspeed Records
Making your way back towards the main reception area, you enter Merston Hall, which houses two world airspeed record-holding aircraft. In 1946, Edward Donaldson clocked up 615.78mph in the Gloster Meteor. In 1953, Neville Duke achieved 727.6mph in the bright red Hawker Hunter. The Merston Hall also contains a Supermarine Swift, Canberra cockpit, replica Spitfire prototype and Hawker Hurricane. Next door, in the Meryl Hansed Memorial Hall you will find an English Electric Lightning and Mk 5 Hawker Hunter.
The Tangmere Hall, as the name suggests, tells the story of the airfield from 1917 to 1970. There are exhibits on the SOE (Special Operations Executive) and Lysanders that delivered agents into occupied Europe, the Royal Flying Corps (forerunner of the RAF), Bomber Command, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). The abysmal November weather meant that I didn’t get a chance to tour the memorial garden or air raid shelter.
Blue Phantom
Outside, you will find a McDonnell Douglas Phantom, a couple of Harriers, a de Havilland Sea Vixen, Lockheed T-33A, Gloster Meteor and a Westland Wessex helicopter. In the covered shed, currently being restored, is a de Havilland Vampire. Additional facilities include a small military aviation library and Neville Duke Hall, available for group lunches. The museum is a charitable trust, staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Ghosts
During my visit, I noticed one of the volunteers taking a group of Scouts around the museum. Each time the volunteer asked the group a question, a sullen chorus of “Don’t know” was the response. The Scouts reminded me of Harry Enfield’s sulky comedy creations, Kevin and Perry. These gloomy, apathetic children made me bristle. However, I guess all they saw were the dusty ghosts of a lost generation, and ruins of a once mighty aircraft industry. To be honest, I don’t envy them. After all, they have inherited a country that has been in terminal decline since the war. Let us hope, the lessons of our history can still inspire them to build something better.
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