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The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was a fighter aircraft that saw service in World War II and the Korean War.

When flown in 1940, the XF4U-1 became the first U.S. single-engine production aircraft capable of 400 mph in level flight. It was a remarkable achievement for Vought, as carrier aircraft were necessarily heavier than their land-based counterparts to withstand the rigors of deck landings.

However, numerous technical problems had to be solved before the Corsair entered service. Carrier suitability was especially troublesome, leading to changes of the landing gear, tailwheel, and tailhook . Additionally, a small spoiler was added to the leading edge of the port wing to reduce adverse stall characteristics.

Because of the teething problems, Corsairs were largely barred from carrier service until the end of 1944. But Marine Corps squadrons readily took to the radical new fighter. From February 1943 onward, the "U-Bird" was increasingly the leathernecks' favorite mount, flying from Guadalcanal and ultimately other bases in the Solomon Islands. Corsairs also served well as fighter-bombers in the Central Pacific and the Philippines. Night-fighter versions were produced, equipping Navy and Marine units ashore and afloat. At war's end, Corsairs were ashore on Okinawa combating the KamikazeKamikaze ( from kami meaning "god" and kaze meaning "wind") is a Japanese word — usually translated as divine wind — which came into being as the name of a typhoon that saved Japan from a 1281 Mongol invasion fleet led by Kublai Khan. However, when used is and flying from fleet and escort carriers.

During the war, Corsair production expanded beyond Vought to include BrewsterBrewster is the name of some places in the United States: Brewster, Florida Brewster, Kansas Brewster, Massachusetts Brewster, New York Brewster, Ohio Brewster is also a common surname, and less common first name: Benjamin H. Brewster, American attorney, (F3A) and GoodyearGoodyear may relate to: Charles Goodyear ( 1800 1860) Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. (FG) models. Allied nations flying the bent-wing bird included the Royal NavyThe Royal Navy is the navy of the United Kingdom. It operates a number of aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, fifteen nuclear submarines, and various other ships, as well as aircraft and Britain's amphibious forces, the Royal Marines. The Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force or RNZAF is the air operations arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. History of the RNZAF New Zealand's military aviation began in 1913 when the New Zealand Army was presented with a Bleriot monoplane by the United Kingdom..

The F4U-4 and -5 logged combat in Korea between 1950This is a list of aviation-related events from 1950: Events Arrow Air is founded March March 20 Royal Air Force Avro Lincoln bombers are sent to Singapore to be used against the Communist guerillas of Malaya in the Malayan Emergency. June June 1 BEA comme and 1953This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the world's airlines carried more than 50 million people ( ICAO statement, 29 December) January January 26 The first meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes while the "dash seven" model flew with the French NavyThe French Navy Marine Nationale is the second-largest Western European navy (the largest being the Royal Navy). It operates a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, one aircraft carrier (at present) and strategic missile sub during the same period. Corsairs flew their final combat missions during the 1969 " Football War" between Honduras and El Salvador.

The AU Corsair was a ground-attack version produced for the Korean War. The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine, while it was supercharged, was not as highly "blown" as on the F4U.