F4U Corsair

RE: F4U Corsair

The original Corsair V166B prototype was fitted with ten small “bomblets” located in miniature bomb bays in the under surfaces of the outer wing panels. By design these were meant to be dropped on bomber formations! Apparently the small window was to be used in accordance with the bomblet tactics.

The “bomblet” idea was scrapped prior to the first production Corsairs rolling off the line, but the window was obviously retained. I guess in an aircraft with poor visibility like the Corsair (especially the early F4U-1’s) the psychology was to leave the window in place to increase whatever visibilty could be had. In practice the lower fuselage windows proved to be basically useless, and they were deleted while the -1A series was still in production.

Here’s a shot of Ray Dieckman’s FG-1D “Marine’s Dream” with the window in place.

RE: F4U Corsair

Where did you see this window fitted?Is it in a old photo or on

***a modern warbird?***

Good call Ant this would make sense if it was a modern warbird as a lot of pilots make this mod for u/c position and other reasons.

Merlin

RE: F4U Corsair

Hi munnst,
I’ve had a good look through various books etc,and I can’t find referance to any Corsairs that were built with clear panels in the floor.On the basis of this,my guess would be that it was some sort of field modification,perhaps for the dive bombing role,which the Corsair did quite a bit of.
Other than that,it’s possible it was used for visual confirmation of the landing gear position or maybe to check the stores pylons.
Where did you see this window fitted?Is it in a old photo or on a modern warbird?

RE: F4U Corsair

I would guess that a window in the floor of a carrier based aircraft would be to help with carrier deck landings. Especially in the early days when landings were a bit dicey.

Merlin

RE: F4U Corsair

Incidentally.

re: Reminds me of a kid at Newark asking the guide “whats that glass bit for?”, pointing to the nose of the Anson. “A window. its to look out of” the guide replied.

I guess you could have said it was also used for navigation and bomb aiming practice.

RE: F4U Corsair

Yawn.

Okay, I’ll be more specific.
What is that particular window used for, dive bombing, carrier landings etc.

I don’t think that a small window in the floor of a fighter was standard amongst US fighters so I would imagine it was placed there for a specific purpose?

RE: F4U Corsair

Reminds me of a kid at Newark asking the guide “whats that glass bit for?”, pointing to the nose of the Anson. “A window. its to look out of” the guide replied.