The Vought F4U Corsair began life in 1940 as a radical new U.S. Navy fighter built around the most powerful engine then available, the 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp. To absorb its power, engineers fitted a massive propeller, which required unusually long landing gear. The solution was the Corsair’s distinctive inverted gull wing, which shortened the struts and reduced drag. This feature, combined with advanced aerodynamics and all-metal construction, gave the Corsair remarkable speed and power for its day. The prototype first flew in May 1940 and quickly proved faster than any Navy fighter then in service. From the outset, however, the Corsair faced technical obstacles. The large nose and rear-set cockpit created poor visibility during landings, while its long landing gear caused dangerous bouncing on carrier decks. In addition, one wing tended to stall suddenly at low speeds, sometimes flipping the aircraft. These problems delayed carrier approval, especially as the more forgiving Grumman F6F Hellcat entered service. As a result, the Navy assigned the Corsair primarily to Marine squadrons operating from land bases. British modifications later helped address many of the landing issues, paving the way for U.S. carrier deployment from late 1944. The first production F4U-1 incorporated changes from the prototype, including six .50 caliber machine guns mounted in the wings, armor protection, and a self-sealing fuel tank positioned ahead of the cockpit. This required moving the cockpit further aft, worsening visibility but balancing the aircraft. Later models expanded its ground-attack role, adding rockets and bombs, while some versions carried four 20 mm cannon instead of machine guns. With heavy firepower, strong armor, and a rugged frame, the Corsair proved highly versatile as both a fighter and a fighter-bomber. In combat, the Corsair’s speed and climb made it one of the most formidable Allied aircraft of the war. It outpaced the F6F Hellcat and rivaled the P-47 Thunderbolt, though its performance peaked at lower altitudes due to reliance on a mechanical supercharger. U.S. Marine and Navy pilots used it to devastating effect in the Pacific, achieving an estimated 11:1 kill ratio against Japanese aircraft. The Corsair became equally feared in ground-attack missions, capable of carrying up to 4,000 pounds of bombs or eight rockets. By the time production ended in 1953, a total of 12,571 Corsairs had been built, more than any other U.S. naval fighter. The Corsair remained in frontline service long after World War II. It flew as a fighter-bomber during the Korean War, supporting U.S. forces in close air support missions, and served with allied air arms, including those of Britain, New Zealand, and France. The French Navy used it in conflicts in Indochina and Algeria into the 1960s. Despite its rocky introduction, the Corsair ultimately became one of the most successful and longest-serving piston-engine fighters ever built.