Chance Vought Corporation
F4U Corsair
The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a U.S.-designed, single-seat, carrier-capable fighter that combined the high power of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Double Wasp" engine with a large propeller and an aerodynamically distinctive inverted-gull wing. Total Corsair-family production is most consistently documented as 12,571 aircraft (1942–1953), across Vought plus licensed production by Goodyear (FG series) and Brewster (F3A series). Navy/Marine statistical compilations attribute to Corsairs 64,051 action sorties, 2,140 air-to-air victory claims, and 189 air-combat losses — an approximately 11:1 claim ratio.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Fighter
- Manufacturer
- Chance Vought Corporation
- Nation
- United States
- Era
- World War II
- Produced
- 12,571
- Combat Losses
- 189
12,571
Built
64,051
Action Sorties
2,140
Air Victories
189
Air-Combat Losses
~11:1
Kill Ratio
1
Crew
Aircraft Description
The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the most capable carrier-based fighter-bombers of World War II. Its distinctive inverted gull wing accommodated the largest propeller ever fitted to a fighter and gave it exceptional speed. Initially deemed unsuitable for carrier operations, it became the dominant fighter in the Pacific Theater with the US Marine Corps.
Engines & Armament
Powerplant
1x Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Double Wasp" 18-cylinder twin-row radial (variant-specific: R-2800-8 early, R-2800-8W/-18W/-32(E) later)
Armament
6x .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns (standard); F4U-1C: 4x 20 mm cannon; later variants: bombs, rockets, and external stores for fighter-bomber role
Design Features
Specifications
- Crew
- 1
- Length
- 10.26 m
- Wingspan
- 12.5 m
- Height
- 4.5 m
- Wing Area
- 29.17 m²
- Max Speed
- 717 km/h
Variants & Models
| Variant | Engines | Max Speed | Range | Ceiling | Armament | Built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4U-1 | 1x P&W R-2800-8, ~2,000 hp | — | — | — | 6x .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns | 2,814 |
| FG-1/FG-1D (Goodyear) | 1x P&W R-2800-8W | — | — | — | 6x .50 cal MG; FG-1D adds fighter-bomber stores | 4,006 |
| F3A-1/F3A-1D (Brewster) | 1x P&W R-2800-8 | — | — | — | 6x .50 cal MG | 735 |
| F4U-1C | 1x P&W R-2800-8 | — | — | — | 4x 20 mm cannon | 200 |
| F4U-1D | 1x P&W R-2800-8W | 684 km/h | — | — | 6x .50 cal MG + external stores (bombs/rockets) | 1,685 |
| F4U-4 | 1x P&W R-2800-18W, ~2,100 hp (with water injection) | 721 km/h | — | — | 6x .50 cal MG (common) / cannon fits (sub-variants) | 2,045 |
| F4U-5 series | 1x P&W R-2800-32(E) | 756 km/h | — | — | 20 mm cannon common in many summaries | 568 |
| AU-1 (F4U-6) | 1x P&W R-2800 (attack-tuned) | — | — | — | Attack-oriented armament fits | 111 |
| F4U-7 | 1x P&W R-2800 | — | — | — | 4x 20 mm cannon (French service standard) | 94 |
F4U-1
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-8, ~2,000 hp
- Built
- 2,814
- Armament
- 6x .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns
More details
ID Features: Early "birdcage" canopy vs later clearer canopy; three-blade propeller era
Notes: Aggregated early F4U-1 sub-variants (including -1A improved canopy). Vought-built. Core wartime fighter variant.
FG-1/FG-1D (Goodyear)
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-8W
- Built
- 4,006
- Armament
- 6x .50 cal MG; FG-1D adds fighter-bomber stores
More details
ID Features: "FG" is a paperwork designation; airframe broadly equivalent to F4U-1 family
Notes: Goodyear-built Corsairs. Largest single production block across all manufacturers.
F3A-1/F3A-1D (Brewster)
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-8
- Built
- 735
- Armament
- 6x .50 cal MG
More details
ID Features: "F3A" paperwork identifier; airframe comparable to same-era Corsairs; smallest production population
Notes: Brewster-built Corsairs. Often treated as 136 + 599 across 1943–44.
F4U-1C
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-8
- Built
- 200
- Armament
- 4x 20 mm cannon
More details
ID Features: Four 20 mm cannon rather than six .50 cal; subtle wing armament differences
Notes: Cannon-armed sub-variant; limited production of 200 units.
F4U-1D
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-8W
- Max Speed
- 684 km/h
- Built
- 1,685
- Armament
- 6x .50 cal MG + external stores (bombs/rockets)
More details
ID Features: External stores emphasis: permanent racks/pylons for fighter-bomber configuration; late-war strike profile
Notes: Key fighter-bomber variant. Strongly reflected in Navy strike-heavy target categories.
F4U-4
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-18W, ~2,100 hp (with water injection)
- Max Speed
- 721 km/h
- Built
- 2,045
- Armament
- 6x .50 cal MG (common) / cannon fits (sub-variants)
More details
ID Features: Four-blade propeller is the defining quick-ID cue for the -4 generation; late/postwar refinements
Notes: Vought-built. Grouped with F4U-4C. Additional sub-types: -4B (297), -4P (9), -4N (1).
F4U-5 series
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800-32(E)
- Max Speed
- 756 km/h
- Built
- 568
- Armament
- 20 mm cannon common in many summaries
More details
ID Features: "Postwar look": modernized systems; all-metal wing; four-blade propeller
Notes: Includes F4U-5 (223), F4U-5N night fighter (214), F4U-5NL winterized (101), F4U-5P recon (30). Substantial night-fighter subgroup.
AU-1 (F4U-6)
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800 (attack-tuned)
- Built
- 111
- Armament
- Attack-oriented armament fits
More details
ID Features: Extra armor and attack-oriented fit; optimized for low-altitude strike profiles
Notes: Armored close-air-support "mudfighter" concept. Speed sacrificed for survivability and load capacity.
F4U-7
- Engines
- 1x P&W R-2800
- Built
- 94
- Armament
- 4x 20 mm cannon (French service standard)
More details
ID Features: Final production Corsair; broadly AU-1-derived; French service markings are common identifiers
Notes: Built exclusively for French naval aviation. The last Corsair ever produced. Served in Indochina, Suez, and Algeria.
Production & Service
- Number Built
- 12,571
- First Service
- 1942
- Last Built
- 1953
- Retired
- 1979
- Combat Losses
- 189
- Status
- Retired
Development & Operational Timeline
U.S. Navy Carrier-Fighter Requirement
The U.S. Navy issues a high-performance carrier-fighter requirement that drives the Corsair program—fit very high engine power and a large-diameter propeller into a carrier fighter without unacceptable penalties.
XF4U-1 Prototype First Flight
The XF4U-1 prototype makes its maiden flight, demonstrating the viability of the inverted-gull wing design paired with the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine.
Production Deliveries Begin
Corsair production deliveries and early service acceptance commence. The aircraft enters Navy inventory.
First USMC Combat in Solomon Islands
United States Marine Corps squadrons introduce the Corsair to sustained combat in the Solomon Islands, operating from land bases rather than carrier decks—the beginning of the Corsair's distinctive land-based fighting emphasis.
Fleet Air Arm Carrier Operations Expand
The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm works through deck-handling challenges and expands Corsair carrier operations from British carriers, including HMS Illustrious in Indian Ocean and Pacific operations.
U.S. Carrier Re-Adoption Grows
U.S. Navy carrier-based Corsair operations grow as procedures and modifications mature, overcoming the early deck-handling and visibility issues that had initially restricted the type to land-based use.
Late-War Peak and F4U-4 Fleet Presence
Corsair operations reach late-war peak across the Pacific. The F4U-4 family, with its four-blade propeller and improved R-2800-18W engine, begins fleet presence.
Korean War: Hudner Medal of Honor Action
Lt. Thomas Hudner crash-lands his F4U-4 Corsair in a deliberate wheels-up landing near the Chosin Reservoir to attempt the rescue of Ensign Jesse L. Brown. Hudner received the Medal of Honor for this action.
Final Corsair Production: AU-1 and F4U-7
AU-1 armored attack variant and F4U-7 (built for France) production concludes. The F4U-7 is the final production Corsair, ending a production run spanning 1942–1953.
French Naval Corsair Combat Employment
French naval aviation employs AU-1 and F4U-7 Corsairs in Indochina, the Suez Crisis (Operation Musketeer), and Algeria. French Corsair service ends in September 1964.
Football War: Last Piston-Fighter Shootdowns
During the Honduras–El Salvador conflict ("Football War"), a Honduran F4U Corsair (FAH-609) scores air-to-air victories widely described as the last confirmed shootdowns by piston-engined fighters.
Combat History
WWII Overall Statistical Record
1942-1945Navy/Marine statistical compilations attribute to Corsairs (F4U/FG) a wartime record spanning the full spectrum of naval air missions: fleet defense, fighter sweeps, strike escort, close air support, shipping attack, and night combat.
The highest claim ratio of any major U.S. Navy/Marine fighter type. Target categories were dominated by military targets, enemy airfields, and shipping/transportation, reflecting the Corsair's transformation into a leading fighter-bomber.
Solomon Islands Campaign (USMC Land-Based)
1943USMC squadrons introduced the Corsair to sustained combat in the Solomon Islands, operating from land bases. This was the beginning of the Corsair's distinctive combat story—emphasizing land-based fighting while carrier suitability matured through engineering changes and procedures.
Defined the Corsair's early operational identity: a carrier-designed fighter that initially proved itself from land strips, building the combat reputation that would carry through the war.
Korean War Close Air Support
1950-1953Corsairs served extensively in Korea for close-air-support and interdiction. Lt. Thomas Hudner's Medal of Honor action—crash-landing his F4U-4 to attempt rescue of Ensign Jesse L. Brown near the Chosin Reservoir—encapsulates the type's reputation for ruggedness and the human stakes of low-altitude combat support.
Proved the Corsair's continued relevance in the jet age for ground-attack roles. The Hudner-Brown episode became one of the most documented acts of valor associated with the type.
Honduras–El Salvador "Football War"
July 1969During the brief Honduras–El Salvador conflict, Honduran Air Force F4U Corsairs (notably FAH-609) engaged in air-to-air combat against Salvadoran aircraft, scoring victories widely described as the last confirmed piston-engined fighter-vs-fighter shootdowns in history.
A remarkable late chapter in Corsair history—the type remained militarily active into the late 1970s in Central America, decades after its WWII origins.
Where to See One
F-AZVJ
S/N: 97264
Variant: F4U-4
France
France-based airworthy Corsair; earlier registration N5218V
G-FGID (The Fighter Collection)
S/N: 88297
Variant: FG-1D
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Duxford, United Kingdom
The Fighter Collection
Based with The Fighter Collection; documented history chain
N240CA
S/N: 97359
Variant: F4U-4B
USA
Notable for film/warbird history and long restoration chain
N62290 (Ex-El Salvador)
S/N: 92629
Variant: FG-1D
USA
Ex-El Salvador chain-of-custody; warbird circuit history
Sky Boss (N83JC)
S/N: 67089
Variant: FG-1D
USA
Long U.S. civil registration history; warbird name "Sky Boss"
ZK-COR (RNZAF Heritage)
S/N: 88391
Variant: FG-1D
New Zealand
Documented RNZAF service identity; earlier registrations include N55JP and G-BXUL
BuNo 92050 (Warbird Heritage)
S/N: 92050
Variant: FG-1D
USA
Warbird Heritage Foundation
Restoration to airworthy noted in registry
BuNo 97382
S/N: 97382
Variant: F4U-4
USA
Long-running airworthy restoration efforts after Central American service
FAH-609
S/N: 124715
Variant: F4U-5N
Museo del Aire de Honduras
Honduras
Honduran Air Force Museum
Central artifact of the 1969 "Football War" piston-fighter combat narrative; the aircraft credited with the last piston-fighter air-to-air victories
KD431 (Fleet Air Arm Corsair)
S/N: 14862
Variant: Corsair Mk IV (FG-1D)
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Yeovilton, United Kingdom
Fleet Air Arm Museum
One of the best-documented Fleet Air Arm Corsairs; long chain-of-custody documentation
