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  F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 55828 Code 828
USMC
MAG-11
VMF-214
"Black Sheep"


Pilot  1st Lt. Robert A. Alexander (survived) Davenport, IA
Crashed  September 23, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 55828. Fuselage code 828 (last three digits of the bureau number). Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214) "Black Sheep". No known markings or nickname.

Mission History
On September 23, 1943 took off from the Banika Airfield piloted 1st Lt. Robert A. Alexander on a mission to escort 24 SBD Dauntless dive bombers and TBF Avengers bombing anti-aircraft positions at Jakohima on southern Bougainville. The Corsairs rendezvous with the bombers over Munda and inbound, five escorts aboarted the mission.

Alexander experienced a bad cylinder, but decided to press ahead anyway. When his engine began to fail, he was ordered back to base, but several A6M Zeros attacked, causing him to dive to avoid their attack. During the dive, the engine stopped, but the Zeros did not close, and he was able to restart the engine and fly with lower power settings.

Turining for Barakoma Airfield and radioed ahead that he expected to make an emergency landing, before the runway had been completed. On arrival saw construction equipment still on the runway, and was forced to land on the side of the airfield, bounced on landing and swerve around construction vehicles before hitting a ditch that caused the F4U to overturn. Ground personnel rush to the crash and assisted him out of the crushed cockpit. He was surprised one of the rescuers was Seabee Ensign from his hometown in Davenport!

Fighter Command Intelligence New Georgia Air Force VMF-214 Squadron Report:
"He still had fairly good control, kicking rudder from one side to the other, missing trucks and bulldozers. Ship then hit a big ditch and he gave up the hopes of saving it - unsnapped his buckle, got down on the floor of the cockpit and hung on. Plane overturned crushing the canopy."

Later, Alexander was flown aboard a J2F Duck back to his squadron at Banika Airfield.

Wreckage
After the crash, this Corsair was written off.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 55828

"55828 (VMF-214) overturned in emergency landing Sep 23, 1943."
Fighter Command Intelligence New Georgia Air Force VMF-214 Squadron Report
The Davenport Democrat and Leader "Davenporter downs a Zero only to be rescued by a Davenporter in South Pacific" October 7, 1943
The Black Sheep (2000) pages 219-221, 226, 429
Air to Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 155-160 (September 23, 1943)

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Last Updated
December 24, 2022

Tech Info
F4U
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