The Corsair’s Final Evolution: The Piston Fighter That Fought the Jets

Born After the War

The story of the Corsair didn’t end with Japan’s surrender in 1945. Early jets were thirsty, unreliable, and ill-suited for carrier decks. The U.S. Navy still needed a proven piston fighter, and Vought answered with the F4U-5 Corsair—a redesign of the wartime F4U-4, built to squeeze every ounce of performance out of the legendary airframe. Its prototype, a converted F4U-4, first flew on December 21, 1945, just as the jet age was dawning.

A True Refinement

The F4U-5 wasn’t just an upgrade—it was the Corsair perfected. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-32W engine delivering 2,459 horsepower, it could reach 470 mph, outpacing its predecessor by 20 mph. Engineers gave it an automatic turbo supercharger, modernized cockpit, improved canopy visibility, and even all-metal wings—the first Corsair to have them.

Firepower got a major boost as well. Four 20mm M3 cannons replaced the old .50 cals, backed by rockets, bombs, napalm, and drop tanks. Handling improved with spring tabs on the controls, while automatic cowl flaps, intercooler doors, and oil cooling kept the big radial running at peak power. For pilots, this wasn’t just a fighter—it was the ultimate piston-driven machine.

Combat Proven in Korea

The F4U-5 went on to prove itself in the Korean War, where it carried bombs, rockets, and napalm in grueling close-air support missions. Though only 223 were built, the -5 was the most advanced Corsair ever fielded. It served until 1956, marking the end of the line for U.S. Navy piston fighters.

Legacy of the Last Corsair

The F4U-5 stands today as both a relic and a masterpiece. It was the Corsair’s final chapter—faster, stronger, and deadlier than any before it. While jets quickly overshadowed it, this bent-wing bird carried the Corsair’s legend into a new war, proving that piston power still had a place in the skies.