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  F4U Corsair    
USN or USMC or RNZAF

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Howard Sawyer 2006

Aircraft History
Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U Corsair bureau number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled.

Wartime History
This Corsair was assigned to either a U.S. Navy (USN) Fighting Squadron (VF) or U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) or Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) squadron.

During 1943 or 1944, this Corsair ditched off Munda on southern New Georgia. The pilot was likely rescued.

Wreckage
This Corsiar was discovered upright on a flat sandy seafloor at a depth of 54m / 177'. The propeller is missing and likely broke off when the plane ditched. The cockpit canopy is missing. The fabric surfaces on the flaps, ailerons and tail have rotted away. The upper surfaces of the plane has some soft coral growth. Since the discovery, this Corsair is only occasionally SCUBA dived by technical divers. The radio call sign or bureau number has not been located on the plane to date.

Ewan Stevenson adds:
"It is most likely going to be a Marine F4U and probably one of the few that ditched off Munda on returning with battle damage from raids on Rabaul or the Cherry Blossom Patrol. The problem we have is there was a number of F4Us that ditched off Munda! Canopy looks open, plane is in good condition. Must be controlled ditching and pilot exited the plane on the water. That narrows it down a little."

References
Thanks to Howard Sawyer and Ewan Stevenson for additional information

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Last Updated
December 10, 2022

 

Tech Info
F4U

Photos
Photo Archive

SCUBA
54m / 177'
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