Did you know…
What tactic let the Corsair beat the Zero without turning with it?
Short answer
The tactic was to dive from above: a high-speed pass, a short burst, and a quick climb back to altitude. Engaging a Zero in a classic turning dogfight could be fatal, given its extreme agility. The F4U beat it in everything except low-speed maneuverability and climb, so pilots avoided slowing down.
The rule: don't turn with it
Given its extreme agility, engaging a Zero in a traditional turning dogfight had a high chance of proving fatal. It was better to dive from above in a high-speed pass, fire a short burst, and climb back quickly to the starting altitude. A brief burst from heavy machine guns or cannon was often enough to destroy the Zero, provided some hits ruptured the fuel tanks.
Altitude ruled
In the accounts of Corsair pilots, altitude was paramount: whoever held it dictated the terms of the fight, and the Zero pilot could do nothing to change that. Altitude was paramount and whoever held it set the terms of the fight. The F4U outperformed the Zero in every respect except low-speed maneuverability and low-speed climb rate, so the rule was not to slow down when fighting it.
The Zero's limits at high speed
The Zero's controls were very light at 200 mph (320 km/h), but stiffened above 216 mph (348 km/h). Its low never-exceed speed (VNE) made it vulnerable in a dive.
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