Whistling death The F4U

[Fox Mike]

How the Corsair got it's name. Watch this and listen. Make sure you go 'full screen'. Love that aircraft!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBUKiKvl29Q

 

[Sin6Sec63451022]

Dang! I was borned too late.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Awesome aircraft. Thanks for posting that. I love all the WW II fighter planes.

 

[Scout943]

Neat stuff love WW II fighters !

 

[Ethang]

I grew up watching Ba Ba Blacksheep with my old man and came to love the Corsair. We spent many winter hours in the basement together building Corsair models. Thanks for posting this video.

 

[GunnyGene]

VMF-214 squadron patch (now VMA-214). This was Pappy Boyington's outfit during WWII. The Black Sheep, who flew the Corsair. They downed 94 Japanese - Pappy accounted for 22 of them - and had 7 aces besides Pappy (who was awarded the MoH as well as other decorations).

A little about them: http://acepilots.com/aces214.html

And a pic of the WWII squadron personnel from the book I have.

 

[Heliman]

Back in the late 60's I was stationed at China Lake, CA. I was attached to VX-5. Our CO actually owned an F4 Corsair. I remember when it first showed up it was painted British Racing Green. Looked terrible..... In a matter of a few months the Airframe shop paint guys restored the paint to it's original color configuration. What a beautiful aircraft. It's a toss up for me whether the Mustang or Corsair is my favorite looking aircraft.

Dave

 

[Colonialgirl]

Was out in Hawaii on Ford Island 1946-1948 and use to see the Corsairs in the sky all the time; When they added water injection there was NOTHING in the air to match it. Use to see them too when in the 4th/5th grade in Jacksonville, FL and selling papers in the hangers on the Naval air station South of Jacksonville.
A BEAUTIFUL aircraft in my opinion.

 

[Bob Wright]

Somewhere there is a photo of a flight of Corsairs, and identified among the pilots are John Glenn and Ed McMahon. This a Korean era photo.

There are two WW II era fighters that are beautiful because of their "brutal" look, as I call it: The Corsair and the Thunderbolt.


Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

It never actually happened, but someone built a model of a Corsair but had it painted up and marked in Eighth Air Force colors.


Bob Wright

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Hey How do I get this thing started :D :D
I look pretty COOL for an old fat guy :wink:
Now who can tell me the history of the name on the side??
Lt. Jessie Brown is on the other side (For a clue)
Yea this is a test or you can read the book.

Damn Kids,

 

[Snake45]

Somewhere there is a photo of a flight of Corsairs, and identified among the pilots are John Glenn and Ed McMahon. This a Korean era photo.

Bob Wright

Both flew Corsairs, but I've never heard they flew them together. Ed McMahon flew Stinson artillery spotters in Korea, and I think he flew Corsairs in the Reserves later.

 

[Snake45]

Hey I do I get this thing started :D :D
I look pretty COOL for an old fat guy :wink:
Now who can tell me the history of the name on the side??
Lt. Jessie Brown is on the other side (For a clue)
Yea this is a test or you can read the book.

Damn Kids,

Hudner was MoH for trying to save Brown, the USN's first Black aviator. Sadly, he was unsuccessful. Is that enough points for the win? :wink:

 

[GunnyGene]

Somewhere there is a photo of a flight of Corsairs, and identified among the pilots are John Glenn and Ed McMahon. This a Korean era photo.

Bob Wright

Both flew Corsairs, but I've never heard they flew them together. Ed McMahon flew Stinson artillery spotters in Korea, and I think he flew Corsairs in the Reserves later.

McMahon also flew the F8 Crusader occasionally to get his hours in. Met him briefly once at El Toro in '64.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Hudner was MoH for trying to save Brown, the USN's first Black aviator. Sadly, he was unsuccessful. Is that enough points for the win? :wink:

No A Historian should have known this. It was a test for some that were interested to look up. :wink:

During the battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War . . . hit by anti-aircraft fire while supporting the Marines, Ens. Jesse Brown, the Navy's first African-American aviator, crashed behind enemy lines. His squadron mates from VF-32 thought Brown was dead until they saw him slide back his canopy and wave. But, Brown did not climb free - he was pinned in his Corsair's burning wreckage. While his comrades called for a rescue helicopter and circled to ward off any enemy troops, Brown's wingman, Lt. Thomas Hudner, intentionally crash-landed in that treacherous terrain to try to save his friend.

Wading through snow and subzero temperatures, Hudner reached Brown's plane and tried to pull him free, but the snow denied him any footing. Brown remained calm, inspiring Hudner. Hudner gave Brown his hat and gloves then used snow, shoveled with his bare hands, to snuff out the fire. When the rescue helicopter arrived, its pilot joined Hudner. Even working together, they could not free Brown, whose leg was pinned and who was in shock. As daylight faded, with Hudner at his side, Jesse Brown passed away. The rescue helo lifted Hudner, exhausted, from the scene.

Four months later, President Truman summoned Hudner and Jesse Brown's widow, Daisy, to the White House where he awarded Hudner the Medal of Honor. That day, they all remembered Jesse Brown, a hero who did not die alone.

Now a real historian would have read the book and have the signed picture of Lt Hudner landing in the snow. :wink:
Like this one that hangs in my Son's office. :D

Jessie trapped in his F4U

 

[Heliman]

Thanks for sharing that inspiring story of courage! Several heroes on that day. God bless them.

Dave

 

[Rick Courtright]

What a beautiful aircraft. It's a toss up for me whether the Mustang or Corsair is my favorite looking aircraft.

Hi,

That's a tough one, Dave, but my vote goes to the Corsair. Probably influenced by the fact my BIL's Dad flew 'em for the Marines in the South Pacific. He's been gone almost 25 years, and I'm just now hearing some of the stories he didn't tell his own family until later in his own life.

Rick C

 

[Heliman]

Lotsa good looking aircraft from that era. Can't argue with the Corsair as far as USN/Marine aircraft are concerned.

Dave

 

[Fox Mike]

. It's a toss up for me whether the Mustang or Corsair is my favorite looking aircraft.
Dave

I would have to add one more to the 'which is the best looking' category and that would be the Spitfire. All three were the class of prop driven fighters when it came to 'looks'.

 

[Bob Wright]

. It's a toss up for me whether the Mustang or Corsair is my favorite looking aircraft.
Dave

I would have to add one more to the 'which is the best looking' category and that would be the Spitfire. All three were the class of prop driven fighters when it came to 'looks'.

Well, yeah. Of course the Spitfire. And the FW-190 wasn't too bad in the looks department, unless you were on the wrong end.


Bob Wright

 

[Wyandot Jim]

You could ask a Marine that was at the "Frozen Chosin " what his favorite plane is. I'm sure the answer would be F4U.
In reality from what I have read and been told the F4U was as good or better Fighter than the 51 especially above 25,000' P-47 also performed better at the higher altitudes than the 51. The F4U could go faster, climb faster, turn sharper, and it was a much more responsive plane to fly. The 51s ailerons are very stiff at speed and makes it a two handed plane to fly while the F4U is a two finger one.
The owner of the F4U in my post also has a P-51D and he says that the F4U is the better all-round of the two. What made the 51 is the fantastic long range it has. The F4U had a boat to haul it around so it's 1000 mi rage is good enough. Also the 51 got the glory because it was in Europe and not the Pacific as much except for mostly escort. The long range P-47N also did a very good job in the Pacific with it's 2,350 mile range. The P-47N gave excellent service in the Pacific in the final year of the war, particularly in escorting B-29 bombers in raids on the Japanese mainland. They were able to escort bombers all the way from Saipan to Japan and on many other long overwater flights.

Now as far as a Fighter Bomber there was no match between the F4U and the P-51 and A-36. It could carry 4000# of bombs some models could carry up to 6000#when needed. It also had a steeper dive angle than the SBD. The steeper dive angle allows for more bombs on target.
Another plus it could do all of this on land or from a Carrier :D Must be why it had the longest production run of any US Propeller Fighter :wink:

Originally designed as a carrier-based fighter, the Corsair's difficult handling and landing characteristics caused the Navy to rely on the Grumman Hellcat instead. The Marine Corps benefited from this policy change, and its land-based units eagerly adopted the "Bent-wing Bird." The famous Jolly Rogers, the Navy's VF-17, also flew the Corsair during its tour in the Solomons. Late in the war, as the handling problems were resolved, both Marine and Navy pilots operated F4U's from carrier decks.

But its speed, firepower, maneuverability, and ruggedness cause many to rate it with the Mustang as the best fighter plane of World War Two.
http://acepilots.com/planes/f4u_corsair.html

How sad, These belonged to Hudner and Brown's Squadron
A good one now sells for 4 Million+

 

[bogus bill]

I recall talking to a old World War 2 pilot that worked at Lockheed. He was used to flying P-38`s. He said he switched to P-51`s and damn near broke his arm in his first turn, as it was so responsive more than what he was used to.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I recall talking to a old World War 2 pilot that worked at Lockheed. He was used to flying P-38`s. He said he switched to P-51`s and damn near broke his arm in his first turn, as it was so responsive more than what he was used to.

Sorry not so. A 51 is not light on ailerons. :wink: Now how it compares to a 38 with a wheel rather than a stick no idea. Really the whole statement is BS.
I have flown planes with heavy controls and REAL light Never came close to breaking my arm. :D :D

 

[Snake45]

The long range P-47N also did a very good job in the Pacific with it's 2,350 mile range. The P-47N gave excellent service in the Pacific in the final year of the war, particularly in escorting B-29 bombers in raids on the Japanese mainland. They were able to escort bombers all the way from Saipan to Japan and on many other long overwater flights.

I've been studying this "hypothetical" pretty seriously for 20+ years and have come to the conclusion that the P-47N was probably the best all-around fighter of WWII. All the range of a Mustang, with all the ruggedness, survivability and load-carrying ability of a Corsair or Hellcat. A single rifle-caliber bullet in the cooling system would doom a Mustang (or Spitfire) to a slow but inevitable death, but T-Bolts (and I presume Corsairs and Hellcats as well) got home with entire cylinders shot off their engines.
If some genius had had the idea to put the big wet wing on the Thunderbolt in 1942, the Mustang would have been unnecessary. And if a folding-wing version had been produced, all three US flying services could have gotten along quite well with one airplane.
Just my opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it. :wink:

 

[Jeepnik]

While the P-51, P-47, P-38, F4U were undoubtedly great aircraft, they weren't available when we entered into WWII. It was the P-40, which used many parts in common with the P-36 that was able to be quickly put into production. It was quickly outclassed by newer designs, but when it was needed it performed the job that needed doing.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

The long range P-47N also did a very good job in the Pacific with it's 2,350 mile range. The P-47N gave excellent service in the Pacific in the final year of the war, particularly in escorting B-29 bombers in raids on the Japanese mainland. They were able to escort bombers all the way from Saipan to Japan and on many other long overwater flights.

I've been studying this "hypothetical" pretty seriously for 20+ years and have come to the conclusion that the P-47N was probably the best all-around fighter of WWII. All the range of a Mustang, with all the ruggedness, survivability and load-carrying ability of a Corsair or Hellcat. A single rifle-caliber bullet in the cooling system would doom a Mustang (or Spitfire) to a slow but inevitable death, but T-Bolts (and I presume Corsairs and Hellcats as well) got home with entire cylinders shot off their engines.
If some genius had had the idea to put the big wet wing on the Thunderbolt in 1942, the Mustang would have been unnecessary. And if a folding-wing version had been produced, all three US flying services could have gotten along quite well with one airplane.
Just my opinion, worth exactly what you paid for it. :wink:

Snake,
I agree 100% The 47 was out there doing remarkable stuff before the 51 came along. The 56th Fighter Group led by Colonel Hubert A. "Hub" Zemke and his Wolf Pack did pretty good against the best the Germans had.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

While the P-51, P-47, P-38, F4U were undoubtedly great aircraft, they weren't available when we entered into WWII. It was the P-40, which used many parts in common with the P-36 that was able to be quickly put into production. It was quickly outclassed by newer designs, but when it was needed it performed the job that needed doing.

Yes the P-40 and the F4F/FM2 both did the job because that was all we had. Both fought from the beginning till the end. Nuff said for two great airplanes

 

[41 Magnum]

Totally awesome aircraft, & one of the most beautiful designs ever produced, along with the P-51 Mustang !!