19.07.2009, 13:41
From my research on the Corsair (more than 30 years and counting) I feel pretty confident with these dates of service with combat units in the Pacific theater.
F4U-1: February 1943 to March 1944
F4U-1A: August 1943 to April 1945
F4U-1C: April 1945 to VJ Day
F4U-1D: September 1944 to VJ Day
F4U-4: June 1945 to VJ Day
All of the F4U-1's combat operations were in the Solomon Islands.
The F4U-1A entered the Solomon Islands combat area in August 1943 as replacement aircraft, the first unit to deploy equipped entirely with F4U-1A's was VF-17 in October, 1943. VMF-214 during both tours in the Solomons used a mix of F4U-1 and F4U-1A Corsairs as did many other squadrons that served from August 1943 through March 1944. In their first tour with the Corsair, VMF-214 had only five or six F4U-1A's, most of their aircraft were F4U-1's. In their second tour, they had only five or six F4U-1's and most of their aircraft were F4U-1A's.
Squadrons sharing the same airfield would also share aircraft, leading to the use of the last three digits of the aircraft's bureau number used as it's side number. It was confusing to have three or four squadrons all using single or double digit numbers, a pilot might have been assigned number 18 for a mission and could find two or three Corsairs with a side number of 18.
I know the F4U-1C did not see combat in the Solomon Islands, it was used in the skies over Okinawa and for ground attacks against Japan. The F4U-1C lacked heating equipment for its cannons, thus it was restricted to low altitude combat operations.
The F4U-1D first saw combat in the Marshall Islands campaign in September 1944. I do not think the F4U-1D flew combat in the Solomon Islands as that campaign was drawing to a close for the Navy and Marines and operations were turned over to the Army, Australian and New Zealand forces.
Hope that answers some questions.
F4U-1: February 1943 to March 1944
F4U-1A: August 1943 to April 1945
F4U-1C: April 1945 to VJ Day
F4U-1D: September 1944 to VJ Day
F4U-4: June 1945 to VJ Day
All of the F4U-1's combat operations were in the Solomon Islands.
The F4U-1A entered the Solomon Islands combat area in August 1943 as replacement aircraft, the first unit to deploy equipped entirely with F4U-1A's was VF-17 in October, 1943. VMF-214 during both tours in the Solomons used a mix of F4U-1 and F4U-1A Corsairs as did many other squadrons that served from August 1943 through March 1944. In their first tour with the Corsair, VMF-214 had only five or six F4U-1A's, most of their aircraft were F4U-1's. In their second tour, they had only five or six F4U-1's and most of their aircraft were F4U-1A's.
Squadrons sharing the same airfield would also share aircraft, leading to the use of the last three digits of the aircraft's bureau number used as it's side number. It was confusing to have three or four squadrons all using single or double digit numbers, a pilot might have been assigned number 18 for a mission and could find two or three Corsairs with a side number of 18.
I know the F4U-1C did not see combat in the Solomon Islands, it was used in the skies over Okinawa and for ground attacks against Japan. The F4U-1C lacked heating equipment for its cannons, thus it was restricted to low altitude combat operations.
The F4U-1D first saw combat in the Marshall Islands campaign in September 1944. I do not think the F4U-1D flew combat in the Solomon Islands as that campaign was drawing to a close for the Navy and Marines and operations were turned over to the Army, Australian and New Zealand forces.
Hope that answers some questions.