Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the most effective fighters of World War II, instantly recognizable by its inverted gull wing and long nose housing a powerful Pratt & Whitney radial engine. First flown in 1940, it entered service in 1942, initially flying from land bases with the Marine Corps before its carrier-handling problems were resolved. Fast, rugged, and heavily armed, the Corsair excelled in both air combat and ground attack, achieving a high kill-to-loss ratio against Japanese aircraft in the Pacific.

It later saw extensive service in the Korean War as a fighter-bomber. With production continuing into the early 1950s and service stretching into the 1960s with some air forces, the Corsair had one of the longest production runs of any American piston fighter.