Corsair Aces of World War 2 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No. 8)

Guadalcanal debut -- More F4Us arrive -- Torokina and Munda -- The 'Black Sheep' squadron -- US Navy Corsairs -- Success in the South West -- British Corsairs -- The central Pacific The speed with which the Corsair was rushed into service as a land-based fighter obliged the pilots to learn on the job. The aircraft soon proved to be superior to the Japanese Zero and played a major part in the destruction of Japan’s elite air forces in the South Pacific. Later, in an effort to counter the Kamikaze threat, the Corsair was once again hurriedly pressed into service; this time in its originally intended role as a shipboard fighter. This versatile aircraft saw service with the US Navy and Marines, the British Fleet Air Arm and the RNZAF. Most of the 4FU pilots who recount their experiences within these pages considered it to be the best all-round fighter in the Pacific theatre

The speed with which the Corsair was rushed into service as a land-based fighter obliged the pilots to learn on the job. The aircraft soon proved to be superior to the Japanese Zero and played a major part in the destruction of Japan’s elite air forces in the South Pacific. Later, in an effort to counter the Kamikaze threat, the Corsair was once again hurriedly pressed into service; this time in its originally intended role as a shipboard fighter. This versatile aircraft saw service with the US Navy and Marines, the British Fleet Air Arm and the RNZAF. Most of the 4FU pilots who recount their experiences within these pages considered it to be the best all-round fighter in the Pacific theatre.

"The speed with which the Corsair was rushed into service as a land-based fighter obliged the pilots to learn on the job. The aircraft soon proved to be superior to the Japanese Zero and played a major part in the destruction of Japan's elite air forces in the South Pacific. Later, in an effort to counter the Kamikaze threat, the Corsair was one again hurriedly pressed into service; this time in its originally intended role as a shipboard fighter. This versatile aircraft saw service with the US Navy and Marines, the British Fleet Air Arm and the RNZAF. Most of the pilots who recount their experiences within these pages considered it to be the best all-round fighter in the Pacific theatre." --Back cover Over 50 US aces scored kills in this big, radial-engined fighter. Rushed into service as a land-based fighter, it proved superior to the Japanese Zero. This book details the plane and its pilots and also covers the successes of the Royal Navy Corsairs protecting Atlantic convoys. This detailed theatre map has been officially produced by the US Navy for its own publications, and clearly shows the central area of operations in and around the Solomons (reproduced courtesy of the US Navy's FPO office)