How did the Royal Navy get its first Corsairs?

Short answer

The first British Corsairs arrived in mid-1943 through the Lend-Lease program: an initial batch of 95 F4U-1s designated Corsair Mk I. The squadrons were formed and trained on the US East Coast before crossing the Atlantic. The pioneer was 1830 Naval Air Squadron, formed on 1 June 1943.

Published: October 31, 2026 · Updated: October 31, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How did the Royal Navy get its first Corsairs?

F4U at 2023 Oshkosh

An Initial Batch Under Lend-Lease

The Royal Navy received its first batch under the Lend-Lease program in mid-1943. These were 95 Vought F4U-1s, given the designation "Corsair Mk I". The first squadrons were formed and trained on the US East Coast before embarking to cross the Atlantic. The units had been formed at USNAS Quonset Point and initially received ten aircraft per squadron; from August 1943 the station at Brunswick began receiving Corsair squadrons for working up. The pioneering unit was 1830 Naval Air Squadron, formed on 1 June 1943 and operating from HMS Illustrious. The Royal Navy put the Corsair into carrier operations straight away.

Modifications for the Flight Deck

Many Corsairs had 8 in (200 mm) clipped from their outer wings so they would clear the hangar roof. The clipping increased the rate of descent and reduced the F4U's tendency to "float" during the final stage of landing. Another modification was a bulged canopy, similar to the Malcolm Hood, which raised the pilot's seat by 7 in (180 mm). For landing, the curved approach already used with the Seafire was adopted, so the flight deck stayed in view for as long as possible.

The Following Batches

Vought later delivered 510 bulged-canopy F4U-1A/-1Ds, designated Corsair Mk II. Britain also received 430 Corsairs built by Brewster — 334 F3A-1s and 96 F3A-1Ds — designated Corsair Mk III.