Vought F4U Corsair

During 1938 the United States Navy Bureau of Aeronautics requested proposals for single and twin-engined fighters. Responding to the single-engined fighter request Rex Beisel and his design team worked on two designs. One was the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp powered V-166A, whilst the second was the 1,805-hp Pratt & Whitney XR-2800 Double Wasp powered V-166B. The 8th April 1938 saw both these designs put forward to the Bureau of Aeronautics, and it was the V-166B which was chosen, and on the 11th June 1938 a single prototype of the new aircraft, now designated XF4U-1, was ordered.

The prototype made its maiden flight on the 29th May 1940, piloted by Lyman A. Bullard, Jr., but when the aircraft reached 21,500 ft it lost around 400-hp compared to its take-off horsepower. However, the XF4U-1 showed outstanding performance from the very first test, and on the 1st October 1940 during a flight from Stratford to Hartford, Connecticut the aircraft became the first US fighter to fly faster than 400 mph during level flight when it achieved a speed of 404 mph. The United States Navy placed an order for 584 F4U-1s on the 30th June 1941.

The 25th June 1942 saw the first production F4U-1 fly. The first United States Navy aircraft to feature a fully retractable landing gear, it featured a few modifications to the aircraft, including a bullet-proof windscreen, more armour and a brand new engine, the 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 Double Wasp. This gave the aircraft a top speed of 417 mph, range of 1,000 miles and a service ceiling of 36,900 ft. Armament consisted of six 0.50-in machine-guns. Just over a month later on the 31st July 1942 the first F4U-1s were handed over to the United States Navy. It would not be until the 28th December 1942 that the F4U-1 would enter service when United States Marine Corps Squadron VMF-124 was declared operational.

It was the United States Marine Corps who would take the aircraft into action via its land based squadrons, when on the 13th February 1943 USMC Squadron VMF-124 was involved in operations at Guadalcanal, with its first air-to-air combat occurring the following day, losing two of its aircraft. Whilst all this was going on Vought had orders for a large number of Corsairs to be produced and so to speed up production two more production lines were set-up. One at Brewster, these would be designated F3A-1, and the second production line was at Goodyear with these aircraft being designated FG-1.

Vought had started work on a night fighter version which was to be designated F4U-2 however only one XF4U-2 was built due to existing commitments meaning that Vought was unable to produce the aircraft. F4U-1s were instead to be modified by the Naval Aircraft Factory with Airborne Interception radar installed at the expense of two guns and a radome placed on the starboard wing tip, these would be designated F4U-2 and on the 7th January 1943 the first modified example flew. The top speed of the aircraft was 425 mph with a range of 1,015 miles and a service ceiling of 37,000 ft. Armament was four 0.50-in machine-guns.

Designed as a high altitude interceptor the XF4U-3 never went into production. So it was the F4U-4 which was to be the final production Corsair built during the Second World War (1939 - 1945), and the 19th April 1944 saw the prototype XF4U-4 fly for the first time. Powered by the 2,100-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18W engine it had a top speed of 446 mph, range of 1,560 miles with a service ceiling of 41,500 ft. Armament was six 0.50-in machine-guns and 2,000lb bombs or rocket projectiles could also be carried and this entered service with the United States Navy on the 31st October 1944. A number of designated F4U-4Bs had been due to serve with the Fleet Air Arm, however these would be kept by the United States for their use.

The post-war years saw the XF4U-5 prototype appear, flying for the first time on the 3rd July 1946. Powered by a 2,450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-32W engine, the F4U-5 had a top speed of 470 mph, range of 1,120 miles and a service ceiling of 41,400 ft. Armament was four 20mm cannons and either 5,000lb bombs or rocket projectiles.

The F4U-6 was the next variant, with a number of changes, including more armour protection and the ability to carry more weapons underwing. However, in service with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War (1950 - 1953) they were renamed AU-1. Top speed was 389 mph, range 1,120 miles with a service ceiling of 41,400 ft. Armament was four 20mm cannons and 4,600lb bombs or rocket projectiles.

The last production variant was the F4U-7, like the AU-1, but with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18W engine giving the aircraft a top speed of 446 mph, range of 1,005 miles with a service ceiling of 41,500 ft. Armament consisted of four 20mm cannons and either 1,000lb bombs or rocket projectiles. These would serve with the French Aeronavale before being retired in 1964.

Under the Lend-Lease agreement Corsairs were delivered to the Fleet Air Arm during June 1943. The Fleet Air Arm received both the F4U-1 and the F4U-1A which they renamed Corsair Mk I and Corsair Mk II respectively. Forming on the 1st June 1943 at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, No. 1830 Naval Air Squadron would be the first to receive this new type. Working under United States Navy supervision they familiarised themselves with the Corsair before being shipped to the UK aboard an escort carrier. More squadrons became operational in this manner during 1943 whether at Naval Air Station Quonset Point or Naval Air Station Brunswick, and by the time the Second World War ended nineteen squadrons had been formed in this way.

Whilst Corsair Mk Is were able to enter Fleet Air Arm service with minimal changes the same could not be said for the Corsair Mk II, with 8 inches taken off each wing to enable below deck storage and fittings to enable a drop tank to be fitted and wing mounted rockets were added. A bulged canopy was also fitted to allow the pilot to get a better forward view by raising his seat 7 inches. The Brewster built F3A-1D and Goodyear built FG-1D would also see service with the Fleet Air Arm being designated Corsair Mk III and Corsair Mk IV respectively.

It would be No. 1834 Naval Air Squadron operating Corsair Mk IIs off HMS Victorious (R38) who would use the aircraft operationally for the first time with the Fleet Air Arm when on the 3rd April 1944 they escorted the carrier's Fairey Barracudas when they attacked the German battleship Tirpitz at Kaafjord, Norway as part of Operation Tungsten.

By the time the last production F4U-7 rolled off the line a total of 12,571 Vought F4U Corsairs had been built between 1942 and December 1953.