Vought F4U Corsair Volume 1
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Authors: Tomasz Szlagor & Leszek A Wieliczko
Publisher: Kagero
ISBN: 978-83-62878-73-4
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 104
There are few aircraft more recognizable than the Vought F4U Corsair. Its long nose and bent wings makes it an easy one to pick out of a photograph, and the skill of the pilots flying it has guaranteed its place in the history books. This latest title from Kagero begins a new series covering the famous Vought fighter in detail.
The book begins with the origins and development of the plane, followed by production and testing. The Corsair was a departure from traditional designs, and it required additional testing to ensure that it was strong enough for the harsh Navy operational environment. With the origins out of the way, the book then goes on to describe the variants. This book covers the F4U-1, F4U-1A, F4U-1D, F4U-1C, F3A-1, FG-1/FG-1A/FG-1D, F4U-2, and the XF4U-3/FG-3. The Corsair went on beyond these variants, and the next volume will undoubtedly cover those types.
As this book is focusing on the early types of Corsair, the photo coverage tends to show the early camouflage schemes worn by the type. These are well documented in the photo presentation, but the book punctuates them with a handful of color profile illustrations. These form a great backdrop for the operational history, which again focuses solely on these early variants. There are no scale drawings, so hopefully those will appear in the second volume.
This is a great start to a thorough history of the F4U Corsair, and I am looking forward to seeing the second volume. My thanks to Casemate Publishers for the review copy.