The first US Navy unit to recieve the F4U was VF-12, commanded by Lt "Jumpin' Joe" Clifon, the squadron began to receive aeroplanes in October 1942. As the pilots trained in their new aircraft serious problems emerged that were to effect the operational deployment of the F4U. Trials abaord USS Sangamon showed that the aircraft, was at that time, ill-suited to carrier operations. The problems largely related to its deck landing and taxying characterisitics. The undercarriage legs were found to have overly sitff oleos and would require modifcation to eliminate the aircraft's tendency to boune on touchdown. There was also a tendency for a wing to drop on approach, this being due to torque tall. Bad visibility from the early "bird cage" canopy was further decreased by oil leaking from the hydraulically actuated cowl flaps. Modifications had to be quickly introduced on the Chance Vought producation line to alleviate these problem. Then later, VF-12 gave up their F4U and fly for Grumman F6F Hellcat.
Later, US Navy deicde to deploy to VF-17 Jolly Rogers as a land-based unit. They duly became only the second-Corsair equipped Navy squadron poerating in-theatre, following in the footsteps of Lt Cdr WJ "GUS" Widhelm's VF(N)-75, who had commenced operations with F4U-2 Corsair nightfighters from Munda on 11 September. This unit consisted of just six pilots, but all of these men had performed at least one prior combat tour.
- - The Blue Devils, US NAVY & US MARINES CORPS ACES OF WORLD WAR II
By Mark Styling & Barrett Tillman
