Air running through those slots at high speeds gave the aircraft a very distinctive sound, and the Japanese tagged the fighter with the moniker, “ Whistling Death .” The facts and figures surrounding the Corsair's service at war's end were staggering.
What made the F4U Corsair whistle?
The Corsair's distinctive sound, which earned it among the Japanese the nick-name of “Whistling Death”, partly because of the engine sound, that was caused by the wing-root inlets for engine air . Shown above is Maj. Gregory Boyington's F4U from VMF-214.
Why did the F4U Corsair whistle?
The nickname “Ensign Eliminator” came from the fact that inexperienced pilots could have accidents with the F4U Corsairs due to the powerful engine. The nickname “Whistling Death” was reportedly given to the F4U Corsair because of the destinctive sound that the aircraft made in flight .
What was the F4U Corsair nickname?
It was at Okinawa the Corsair was given the nickname “Angels of Okinawa” due to their success against Japanese aircraft. By the end of the war, the Corsair flew over 64,000 sorties, shot down over 2,000 enemy aircraft, and only lost 189 planes in action to the enemy.
What does the U stand for in F4U Corsair?
The U in F4U means that it was made by Chance Vought .
Why did they call the Corsair Whistling Death?
The nickname “Ensign Eliminator” came from the fact that inexperienced pilots could have accidents with the F4U Corsairs due to the powerful engine. The nickname “Whistling Death” was reportedly given to the F4U Corsair because of the destinctive sound that the aircraft made in flight .
Why did the Stuka have bent wings?
Inverted gull wing
It was chiefly used on single engine military aircraft with increasingly powerful engines. ... Another reason for having an inverted gull wing is to permit clearance for a large external bomb load , as on the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.
Which plane shot down the most planes in WW2?
While serving in Germany's Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 , enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?
What was the best fighter of World War II?
- 1 De Havilland Mosquito – Ultimate Multi-Role Aircraft.
- 2 North American P51 Mustang – Best Allied Fighter. ...
- 3 Avro Lancaster – Best Heavy Bomber. ...
- 4 Supermarine Spitfire – Best British Fighter. ...
- 5 Boeing B29 Superfortress – Best Long-Range Bomber. ...
- 6 Focke-Wulf FW-190 – Best Fighter. ...
What was the most famous plane in WW2?
The US North American P-51 Mustang , which is the most celebrated US fighter plan of WWII. While America entered the war rather late, only after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the P-51 Mustang was flown by British pilots from May that same year.
Why was Corsair faster than Hellcat?
The reason the Corsair was faster in the main stage blower was that its engine and carburetor were provided with ram air coming in directly from the forward facing wing duct , whereas the Hellcat had the carburetor air coming in from the accessory compartment of the fuselage just behind the engine, with no ram air ...
What engine was in the P 51 Mustang?
The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66 , and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns.
Was the f4 Corsair a good plane?
The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the best planes that took to the air during World War II . It also saw action in the Korean War and in the 1969 Soccer War. ... The Grumman F6F Hellcat had almost as good performance – and it was a much more docile plane. So, the Navy passed the Corsair on to the Marine Corps.
Is Corsair hard to fly?
The F4U Corsair was one of the great fighters of World War II — one of those classics that captures everyone's imagination. But the Corsair was “a difficult airplane to fly ” said retired Marine Maj. Walter Attebery in a 2004 interview. “It demanded your constant attention, even when cruising in smooth air at altitude.
What replaced the F4U Corsair?
After the Korean War the F4U-5N was replaced by the F2H-3 Banshee . F4U-5N (BuNo 122189) was delivered to the U.S. Navy on November 8, 1948 and was assigned to Composite Squadron FOUR (VC-4) at NAS Atlantic City.
