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The F4U Corsair is regarded by many as one of the greatest combat aircraft in history, and was in production for longer than any U.S. fighter other than the F4 Phantom. As conceived, it mounted the most powerful engine and biggest propeller of any fighter in existence, and the prototype was the first U.S. combat aircraft to exceed 400 mph.
Early on, the Corsair proved to dangerous for carrier-based operations. It was instead provided under Lend-Lease to the British Fleet Air Arm.
The U.S. Navy finally adopted the F4U as a shipboard fighter-bomber in 1944 and by early 1945 large numbers were operating from the fast carriers of the Pacific Fleet .
By the end of hostilities in the Pacific War, it had established a kill ratio of 11:1 against Japanese aircraft.
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