Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the finest carrier-based fighters of WWII, recognizable by its distinctive inverted gull wing designed to accommodate the massive propeller while keeping the landing gear short for carrier operations. Initially rejected by the Navy for carrier use due to poor visibility on approach, it first saw action with the Marines from island bases. The Corsair eventually proved itself aboard carriers and achieved an 11:1 kill ratio against Japanese aircraft. It served in Korea as a ground-attack aircraft and remained in production until 1953. Some air forces flew Corsairs into the late 1960s, making it one of the longest-serving piston-engine fighters in history.