The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the most powerful aircraft to see service flying from aircraft carriers during World War II. They were very useful and successful so they continued in service with several air force well after that war.

The US Navy received its first F4U-1s in July 1942 but the ‘birdcage’ canopy and long nose made it difficult to use them on aircraft carriers.

As a result their first use was in ground based squadrons of the US Marine Corps.

They began entering service in February 1943 at Guadalcanal.

It took a little while for the Marines to develop tactics to defeat the Japanese Zero fighters and start demonstrating the F4U’s superiority over the Japanese fighters but the Marines in their F4Us had gained the upper hand by May that year.

This model represents a F4U-1 flown by first lieutenant Wilbur Thomas (18 Kills) of VMF-213 at Guadalcanal in June 1943. This F4U-1, No.10, belonged to ‘A’ squadron based at ‘Fighter 11′ strip.

Tamiya 1/48 kit with scratch built cloth seat belts painted with Model Master enamels, weathered and faded blue grey topsides, light grey undersides, fuselage mid wing areas and Dullcote lacquer overall. Completed by Wayne.