Greatest aircrat of WWII?

[Vrenn]

Except it was neither. One of the few designs from WWII that served on in later years, into the 1950-60s+. See USN and USMC use in the Korean War, especially from aircraft carrier decks.
...
The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft which saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts were given to Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG, and Brewster, designated F3A.

The Corsair was designed and operated as a carrier-based aircraft, and entered service in large numbers with the U.S. Navy in late 1944 and early 1945. It quickly became one of the most capable carrier-based fighter-bombers of World War II.[2] Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II and its naval aviators achieved an 11:1 kill ratio.[3][4] Early problems with carrier landings and logistics led to it being eclipsed as the dominant carrier-based fighter by the Grumman F6F Hellcat, powered by the same Double Wasp engine first flown on the Corsair's initial prototype in 1940.[5] Instead, the Corsair's early deployment was to land-based squadrons of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.[6]

The Corsair served almost exclusively as a fighter-bomber throughout the Korean War and during the French colonial wars in Indochina and Algeria.[7] In addition to its use by the U.S. and British, the Corsair was also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Naval Aviation, and other air forces until the 1960s.

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[8] in 16 separate models. Its 1942–1953 production run was the longest of any U.S. piston-engined fighter.[9][10][11]
....

Vought F4U Corsair - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But it wasn't a world beater carrier bird at first. It could have been installed on Carriers as early as late 1942 but it was deemed almost suicide landing on a carrier with it. The Brits had some mods on their own birds and it turned into the best piston engine Carrier Bird ever.
Vought F4U Corsair

 

[Stryder50]

But it wasn't a world beater carrier bird at first. It could have been installed on Carriers as early as late 1942 but it was deemed almost suicide landing on a carrier with it. The Brits had some mods on their own birds and it turned into the best piston engine Carrier Bird ever.
Vought F4U Corsair

It was just entering production and issue to units in about mid 1942. The carrier landing difficulties are why it first went to Marine air units for use on island bases.

Wasn't the bird itself but a matter of technique. Instead of coming straight at the deck of the CV, the pilot needed a curving approach to line up and at the last minute (seconds) point straight down the deck(runway)before the hook would grab, that long nose blocked the forward view.

After the Brits developed the above landing technique, the USN eventually followed suit. Another factor was that the F6F Hellcat cost about half as much as a Corsair and could be built quicker.

Grumman F6F Hellcat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Vrenn]

Wasn't the bird itself but a matter of technique. Instead of coming straight at the deck of the CV, the pilot needed a curving approach to line up and at the last minute (seconds) point straight down the deck(runway)before the hook would grab, that long nose blocked the forward view.

And the fact that the left wing stalled before the right wing which was suicidal on the slow landing on an AC carrier. Of course, that only took a simple piece of aluminum to allow the right wing to stall out sooner and match the left wing stall speed. And the bird was at fault (or the designers) for the view of the pilot. The Pilot sat too low and too far back. The Brits corrected that by raising the pilot at least 7 inches and installed the Malcom Hood for the Pilot to get head clearance.

 

[Vrenn]

After the Brits developed the above landing technique, the USN eventually followed suit. Another factor was that the F6F Hellcat cost about half as much as a Corsair and could be built quicker.

Grumman F6F Hellcat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But in the end, the F6F stopped production at the end of WWII while the F-4U continued production until 1953. As good as the F6F was, the F-4U soldiered on well into the 1970s in one form or another. Even as wonderful as the F8F was, it ceased production in 1948. After the end of WWII, the F6F was removed from service and completely replaced by the F4U and the Bearcat.

 

[Stryder50]

But in the end, the F6F stopped production at the end of WWII while the F-4U continued production until 1953. As good as the F6F was, the F-4U soldiered on well into the 1970s in one form or another. Even as wonderful as the F8F was, it ceased production in 1948. After the end of WWII, the F6F was removed from service and completely replaced by the F4U and the Bearcat.

Like many aircraft of the WWII era, the F6F was built to be short lived in expectation that better types/models would come along. The F4U was better built and had durable performance and better load carry and range than the F6F, hence it long service career both with USA and many other nations. Most examples still flying came from Central and South American air forces.

 

[Mushroom]

It was just entering production and issue to units in about mid 1942. The carrier landing difficulties are why it first went to Marine air units for use on island bases.

The Corsair was an interesting aircraft, and as you said it was given to the Marines for use because of the problems in landing them on the ships. The Navy did not start to use them for a year later, where they made a great fleet defense aircraft in a CAP role. But the Marines had already been using them for a year by that point, usually in HK groups as they were operating mostly from land bases so did not have the restrictions the Navy did in how to deploy them.

Most of the fame of Major "Pappy" Boyington came in the F4U. And although he was a Naval Pilot he and his squadron operated almost entirely from land bases. For those groups the carriers were only to move their aircraft from island to island, they did not really operate from them.

 

[Stryder50]

The Corsair was an interesting aircraft, and as you said it was given to the Marines for use because of the problems in landing them on the ships. The Navy did not start to use them for a year later, where they made a great fleet defense aircraft in a CAP role. But the Marines had already been using them for a year by that point, usually in HK groups as they were operating mostly from land bases so did not have the restrictions the Navy did in how to deploy them.

Most of the fame of Major "Pappy" Boyington came in the F4U. And although he was a Naval Pilot he and his squadron operated almost entirely from land bases. For those groups the carriers were only to move their aircraft from island to island, they did not really operate from them.

Boyington started his combat career with the 1st AVG ~ Flying Tigers. Shot down a few Japanese aircraft during that time, and also displayed his "problem personality" as well.

 

[Zincwarrior]

Sort of an aircraft, so will include it. Behold, the humble WACO.

Waco CG-4 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

You need to get some jeeps in to recon the Germans? Need to bring in some 75mm artillery so Ridgeway doesn't get his men stuffed? Its time for the WACO.

 

[Mushroom]

Boyington started his combat career with the 1st AVG ~ Flying Tigers. Shot down a few Japanese aircraft during that time, and also displayed his "problem personality" as well.

Oh, his problems were known even before then. He was on the verge of getting kicked out of the Marines when he instead resigned and went to China.

And his main reason for resigning from the AVG appears to be that he did not want to return to the Army, as word was already circulating that the AVG would be disbanded and reformed as an AAC fighter squadron. So he resigned and found a way to get back to the US where he then used a loophole to rejoin the Marines.

 

[Stryder50]

Oh, his problems were known even before then. He was on the verge of getting kicked out of the Marines when he instead resigned and went to China.

And his main reason for resigning from the AVG appears to be that he did not want to return to the Army, as word was already circulating that the AVG would be disbanded and reformed as an AAC fighter squadron. So he resigned and found a way to get back to the US where he then used a loophole to rejoin the Marines.

Actually, since the AVG was a Group with three squadrons, it was "drafted" into the USAAC/USAAF about July 1942 and became the 23rd Pursuit Group, which was a seed for what would become the 14th Air Force. Rumors/talk of this happening began circulating shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. For that matter, the first combat encounter of the AVG was a couple weeks after PH, about Dec. 21, 1941.

One of the more interesting facets of the AVG saga is this;

The Lady and the Tigers: The Story of the Remarkable Woman Who Served with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China, 1941-1942​

Olga Greenlaw kept the War Diary of the American Volunteer Group--the Flying Tigers--while those gallant mercenaries defended Burma and China from Japanese aggression during the opening months of the Pacific War. ...
Amazon product

Reportedly, Boyington was one of those whom enjoyed her favors.

 

[whitehall]

The bombers were drones and the fighters were designed for a specific mission. The Army's P-38's were the most versatile air weapons available when Intelligence determined that Yamamoto would be visiting a Japanese base which was about 500 miles from Guadalcanal. It was the P-38 that was the only plane that could make the attack and have a reasonable expectation of returning.

 

[AZrailwhale]

The bombers were drones and the fighters were designed for a specific mission. The Army's P-38's were the most versatile air weapons available when Intelligence determined that Yamamoto would be visiting a Japanese base which was about 500 miles from Guadalcanal. It was the P-38 that was the only plane that could make the attack and have a reasonable expectation of returning.

The only ALLIED plane. The Zero operated routinely at those ranges.

 

[Failzero]

ME 262

 

[Oddball]

ME 262

Could've been a contendah, if Hitler hadn't initially demanded that it be used in an offensive capacity.

 

[Vrenn]

The bombers were drones and the fighters were designed for a specific mission. The Army's P-38's were the most versatile air weapons available when Intelligence determined that Yamamoto would be visiting a Japanese base which was about 500 miles from Guadalcanal. It was the P-38 that was the only plane that could make the attack and have a reasonable expectation of returning.

Had you left off the first sentence I would agree with you but calling a flight of B-17s and B-24s drones is a bit stupid.

 

[Mushroom]

The only ALLIED plane. The Zero operated routinely at those ranges.

Only because they quite often left on one-way trips where the pilot was not expected to return.

The range of the A6M2 was half that of the P-38.

Heck, the Mustang could almost do that, it had a range almost 50% more than the Zero.

 

[Deadstick]

Mine would be the Mosquito, it carried out many very low level attacks on the Germans, including the Phillips factory in Eindhoven the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen and the Amiens prison in France where French resistace fighters were,and many more, it was constructed from Wood.

 

[AZrailwhale]

ME 262

The Me-262 was a waste of effort. It was a jump in tech that the Germans couldn't quite pull off. The mean time between failure for its engines was twenty hours. That means a complete replacement of BOTH engines every three sorties or so. It was anything but a great aircraft.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

ME 262

Nuki Sushi

The Enola Gay.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

The Me-262 was a waste of effort. It was a jump in tech that the Germans couldn't quite pull off. The mean time between failure for its engines was twenty hours. That means a complete replacement of BOTH engines every three sorties or so. It was anything but a great aircraft.

Wolfgang Science