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. 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. 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. Instead, the Corsair's early deployment was to land-based squadrons of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.

The Corsair served almost exclusively as a fighter-bomber throughout the Korean War and during the French colonial wars in Indochina and Algeria. 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 in 16 separate models. Its 1942-1953 production run was the longest of any U.S. piston-engined fighter.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter that was piloted by Captain Edwin Olander and nicknamed "Marines Dream,", which was attached to VMF-214 "Black Sheep," then deployed to Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, during October 1943. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-inches
Length: 6-inches

Release Date: December 2025

Olander was a big fan of Greg "Pappy" Boyington and respected his inspirational leadership. On October 17th, 1943, Olander was chasing a Zero that had another Corsair right behind it. Unable to get a clear shot without risking hitting the friendly, Olander held his fire. When he reported this at base, Boyington chewed him out; he had been in the other Corsair, and wanted Olander to fire at the enemy regardless of the risk to himself. This reinforced Olander's dedication to Boyington's leadership. Perhaps he redeemed himself a little bit by shooting down a Zero the next day.

Olander also experienced the hazards of poor leadership on December 28th, when his division leader, J.C. Dustin, led his four planes into a gaggle of Zeros. The Japanese had the advantages of numbers, a sunward position, and altitude. But Dustin led his planes in speed-killing climb, right into the enemy's gunfire. Dustin and Red Bartl were killed, while Olander and Bruce Matheson escaped with heavily damaged airplanes. As Olander twisted away, one of the pursuing Zeros overran him, and he brought it down into the water.