Interview with Corsair pilot...

The Corsair and Thunderbolt were both still in use in Nam. And the gooks feared them as much as they did any of the jets.

The Japanese called the Corsair the "bent-wing widow maker". It far outclassed the Zero or any other plane they had.

From what I know of the Japanese who fought in WW@, from talking with some of them while with the USN in Tokyo, this attack upon a parachuting pilot was the exception rather than the rule. It occurred more often with the Nazis. But more than one British and more than one American pilot did the same thing at times.

Thanx for posting the link!

 

Thanks, KenH!! Reminds me of the famous WW2 ace, Richard Bong---who flew the P-38---the Japs called the P-38---The Twin Tailed Devil

Unfortunetly, Bong was killed during a test flight of the new jet fighter---I believe in the latter parts of '45

 

Germans. They called it the "Gabel-angebundener Teufel" (fork-tailed devil)

Japanese feared it mostly because it had a range that allowed it to turn up most anywhere.

It was a squadron of P-38s sent up to ambush Adm. Yamamoto when he was being ferried to a new command.

There were a lot of arguments about the best fighter, but how many other fighters could make it home with one engine out?

 

Yes---that was my oversight, Galatian---it was the German nickname for the Lightning.

Bong was quoted as saying though, that the P-38 could "climb like a homesick Angel!!"

And didn't the P-38 squadron "splash" Yamamoto's bomber?? It hasn't been that long ago that the wreckage that was identified as the bomber he was on was found--or was it???

 

The radial engined prop driven WWII P47 and Corsair were used in Vietnam?
I know the French used Corsairs back in 1954 in "their" Vietnam.
But I had never heard of either plane being used in the American phase of the war. Could someone give me more details, I would be fascinated?

 

The American forces in Vietnam made extensive use of the Douglas A-1 Skyraider---a propeller driven attack plane.

Try this site

www.skyraider.org

 

Thanks Blackbird.
I am very familiar with the A-1.

I was sure that the WWII Corsair and P47 were never used in Vietnam. Perhaps earlier posters mixed up references to the A7 "Corsair" Navy jet with the WWII Corsair.

But I thought, on the off chance, that the earlier posters may have had access to some obscure history that I was unaware of. That's why I was asking for further references.

 

I believe it was the Marines that called the F4U the "bent wing widow maker" and the Japanese called it "whistling death".

 

I believe it was the Marines that called the F4U the "bent wing widow maker" and the Japanese called it "whistling death". </font>[/QUOTE]I've been reading Vietnam war history for quiet some time and I do not recall ever reading of the WW2 vintage Corsair nor the Thunderbolt ever being used in that war's combat---in either an attack aircraft nor a fighter aircraft. The A-1 Skyraider DOES resemble the P-47 Thunderbolt somewhat, though