The Chance-Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured by Chance-Vought, in 16 separate models, in the longest production run of any piston-engined fighter in U.S. history (1942-1953).
The Corsair served in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, as well as the French Navy Aeronavale and other, smaller, air forces until the 1960s. It quickly became the most capable carrier-based fighter-bomber of World War II. Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II, and the U.S. Navy counted an 11:1 kill ratio with the F4U Corsair.
Source: Wikipedia, "Vought F4U Corsair", available under the CC-BY-SA License.
As Described In
Aces of the Pacific: Tricky and dangerous to fly, the F4U killed a lot of young pilots. In the hands of a skilled pilot, the Corsair became a deadly weapon. It was the fastest USN fighter of the war.
1942 Pacific Air War: The Corsair is a forced marriage - the smallest airframe that can accommodate what was the most powerful radial engine in development at the time it was designed. It’s got great acceleration, but it’s heavy, so you won’t get the kind of climb rate you might expect. That engine gives out with some mighty torque, too, which is why the Navy avoids putting Corsairs on carriers. The difficulty of deck landings earned this plane its nickname - "The Ensign Eliminator". The maneuverability is mediocre, especially at low speeds, but her roll rate is great. Corsairs are tough and hard to kill, and they’ve got the firepower you want up there. Just treat it like a Hellcat; don’t close with a Zero, pull hit and run passes.