Chance Vought F4U Corsair – The Legendary WWII Fighter That Dominated the Sky
Video from the channel @EverlyTales-d8s about Vought F4U Corsair, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 7:31. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.
What it's about
An explainer piece on the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, the American World War II naval fighter, covering its design, combat use and long service life.
Historical background
The Corsair first flew in 1940 with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, an 18-cylinder engine of over 2,000 hp, and was the first American single-engine fighter to exceed 400 mph. Its inverted gull wings allowed a large propeller to be fitted with a short, sturdy landing gear. At first, the Navy considered it dangerous to operate from carriers because of poor forward visibility and bouncing on deck landings, so it handed it over to the Marine Corps, which flew it from land bases in the Pacific.
Key facts
From 1943 onward it faced the Japanese Zero with a kill ratio of 11 to 1, according to the video. The Japanese called it "whistling death" for the sound of air through its intakes. It was armed with six .50-calibre Browning M2 machine guns and could carry bombs and rockets. The Black Sheep squadron, led by Gregory Boyington, who received the Medal of Honor, contributed to its fame. In the Korean War it served as a ground-attack aircraft. More than 12,500 units were built.