F4U-1A

[CJE]

Hi there!

Is this designation official?
I have never been able to read anything else than "F4U-1" on Corsairs equiped with the new all-round vision canopy.
Thanks.

Chris

[Revi16]

Yes, it's official. Not at home at the moment, but can probably provide BuNo's if needed.

F4U-1 - "birdcage canopy", http://www.largescaleplanes.com/arti...s/canopy04.jpg
F4U-1A - canopy with two braces over head, http://hsfeatures.com/features04/ima...U-1A_tb_49.jpg
F4U-1C - Four 20mm cannons
F4U-1D - canopy without braces, http://www.mobisux.com/album/data/50...air-canopy.jpg

FG-1
FG-1A
FG-1D

Mike

[CJE]

Hi Mike!

I'm not quite sure.
If you look carefully on some photographs (especially the well-known "29" of Kepford) you can read "F4U-1", while these aircraft have the new canopy.

[Pilot]

Maybe some production blocks miss letter after? There is variations in stencils

[Phil L.]

Hi,

As far as it is known, the suffix letter 'A' up to 1962 was is refering to:

Armament for unarmed aircraft
Arrester gear
Amphibian
LAnd-based
USAAF contract.

F4U-1A is not official, but F4U-1C is official as suffix 'C' refers to a cannon-version of a type.

All USN suffixes letters are available on many sites.

Phil

[CJE]

Hi Phil!

There was no reason to have a new designation just because the canopy was different (see the P-47D and the P-51D).
A new suffix, indicating a different variant/version, led to the printing of a new instruction book for mechanics. That was the case when changes concerned the engine, the armament or other essential parts of the aircraft.
"F4U-1A" is what I'd call a "comfort designation" for air historians.
This is part of the legend of the so-called "whispering death"!

Chris

[Revi16]

Some additional info here, "F4U Corsair, Combat, Developement, and Racing History of the Corsair", Nicholas A. Veronico with John M. and Donna Campbell.

[JACK COOK]

I owned the original data plate (until I was offered a obsene amount of $$ for it!) of F4U-1A #29 of VF-17 flown by Ike Kepford. It indeed does say F4U-1 not -1A.
The Brewster Corsair plate I has said F3A-1 and the Goodyear said FG-1 even though it was a -1D.

[CJE]

Considering the different manuals and handbooks available on the F4U-1, none of them specify the variant "A", while the variants "C" and "D" are duly recorded:

Flight Operating Handbook - F4U-1, 1C, 1D; FG-1, 1D; AN # 01-45HA-1 3/15/45 revised 12/1/52;

Maintenance Manual - F4U-1/-1C/-1D/F3A-1/FG-1/FG-1D (AN 01-45HA-2);

Even this:
Illustrated Parts Catalog - F4U-1/-1C/-1D/F3A-1/FG-1/FG-1D (AN 01-45HA-4).

To name but a few.

[Pilot]

Maybe the letter a is given by the industry or designers? I will take a look today on some selected images and to see register letters on this early machines.