The F4U-4 Corsair is one of the most renowned aircraft in aviator history. Vought, Brewster, and Goodyear produced more than 12,500 over 10 years, earning the Corsair the longest production period of any World War II fighter.
The first Corsair flew in 1940 and entered combat in 1943. The distinctive gull-wing design and powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine allowed it to reach speeds over 400mph, making it one of the fastest propellor planes of its time.
When cutting through the air, the wind passing through the R-2800 Double Wasp engine vents made a unique, high-pitched sound. This caused the Japanese to nickname the Corsair the “Whistling Death.”
Primarily flown by United States Naval and Marine Corps pilots, the Corsair tallied 2,140 Japanese aircraft in WWII. The United States continued to use the Corsair during the Korean War, where Marine Captain Jesse Folmar became the first pilot to take down a MiG-15 jet.
The Corsair's speed, power, and agility in dogfights and ground-attack missions played a critical role in military aviation history.
