F4U-1 ADI employment time.

[VooDoo]

Its said here:

http://www.f4ucorsair.com/tdata/history.htm

that

"An important change, from the 1550th aircraft, was the installation of the -8W engine with water injection, which allowed higher emergency power to be used at low altitude."

Any details about exact time of that 1550th ac production ? And when first combat units got ADI equipped planes ?

[Reschke]

I think that would be a hard point to nail down without specific information.

[Rafe35]

You mean Water- and alcohol injected to boost engine power if needed, during combat?

I believe F4U-1A was first one to use Water- and Alcohol injected.

You might wanna ask F4UDOA, because he good to know about the F4U Specific information and I'm just a F4U History fan.  

[F4UDOA]

I think I can give you a pretty good number on that.

Keep in mind that there were about 100 changes in the F4U-1 to -1A conversion (There was never really an official -1A designation).

The ADI was just part of many major modifications. The wing spoiled, raised tail wheel, elevator reinforcement and Prop change were all part of that mod. I can tell you for sure that in August of 1943 the Starboard wing spoiler was added in the factory and retrofitted. In fact only the first 800 F4U's produced were true -1's.

In AH our F4U-1 is a hybrid like many were in 1943.

Rafe, I think you beat me to my post!!

[VooDoo]

OK, F4UDOA, gimme that number . Question is very narrow - only about ADI system. When it get into production planes and when those planes get into the combat units. Even dont need exact date - plus or minus month is OK. And yes - I forgot A in the topic name - "F4U-1A ADI employment date". Sorry.

Rafe35

Yes, ADI = Anti Detonation Injection. Water-methanol in our case.

[Rafe35]

Voodoo,

I can find the Serial Number for F4U-1A ADI, but it take quite for little while to research and hardly sometime serial number can be true or false, but I won't able find Combat Unit(USN, USMC, RNZAF, FAA, and one USAAF).

Serial number is like 17392 to 57983, but some of them are Prototypes for F4U-1WM, XF4U-3A/B, and F4U-4AX/BX

Rafe

BTW F4UDOA, !

[VooDoo]

As I said its very narrow question. If you cant find serial of the first ADI-equipped F4U - dont search that exact serial . Just overall production statistic. When 1600+ planes were produced ? If it possible to find - it will be enough. As for combat units - same thing. Cant find exact plane history - dont waste your time. 1600th Corsair or 1700th - doesnt matter. Just basic idea about time period in which these planes were sent to the combat units. Lets move from simple to more difficult thing .

[Rafe35]

Finding F4U-1/-1A ADI is pretty much difficult to find, very difficult.

Quantities

F4U-1 = 2,814 in 1942

I can't tell you about how many F4U-1A were made because they are part of F4U-1, but big changes for -1A after -1 problems from US Navy and the numbers(Bu No or Serial Numbers) are all mixed up like mess up.

I have no idea If -1/-1A ADI ever see any combat nor training role, but I could tell you that one of them will might go for XF4U-3A(One -1)/XF4U-3B(2 -1A) for High Alttuide testing or i could be totally wrong about that.

VF-12 and VMF-124 were the first Corsair Squadron in early/late 1942.

[Rafe35]

Three Bu No for -1A has been found, Voodoo.

In search of a feature that could be used for a few minutes to provide emergency power in a combat situation a Water/alcohol injection first appeared in the form of the R-2800-8W engine on F4U-1A, BuNo. 55910, FG-1 A, BuNo. 13992, and F3A-1 A, BuNo. 11208.

[F4UDOA]

I can't find it.

FYI I don't think there were 2,000 F4U's built until late 1943 at the earliest.

BTW, Great job Rafe!!

[VooDoo]

Wow... WTG !

Looks like it was truly a standart for all Corsair producing plants. Its good. Any info about production time ?

From Baugher site:
F4U-1A

55828 (VMF-214) overturned in emergency landing Sep 23, 1943.
55876 (VMF-214) damaged by enemy action Sep 26, 1943 and crashlanded
55889 (VMF-214) lost to enemy action Oct 17, 1943.
56016 (VMF-214) lost Sep 27, 1943 to enemy action.  Pilot MIA

Id say - summer-autumn '43 as combat deployment time. Solomons or leased to RN...

[Rafe35]

Thanks, Fellas

Voodoo,

I have been Jeremy Baugher website where he has TONS of Military aircraft Serial Number/Bu No and it was excellent when I found this website in last year summer.  

Now, I'm sure that 100 -1A ADI didn't see combat over pacific and I probably think that they were use for testing(Like Prototype), but i'll find out more later.

I will find out more soon as possible(If I can!).  

[VooDoo]

100 first ADI equipped F4U-1A ? Maybe. It make sense.

But:
55944/55968 to Royal Navy as JT331/JT35

Its from those first 100.

[Rafe35]

Originally posted by VooDoo
100 first ADI equipped F4U-1A ? Maybe. It make sense.

But:
55944/55968 to Royal Navy as JT331/JT35

Its from those first 100.

Hmmm, What about Goodyear FG-1A and Brewster F3A-1A then?  Making me all wonder about them instead Vought F4U-1A.

[VooDoo]

FG-1 A, BuNo. 13992

Known nearest numbers.

13927 (VMF-523) did not pull out during dive MCAS Parris Island, SC 8/11/1944.  Pilot killed.

13931 (VF, OTU#5) in midair with 13751 4/28/1944. Pilot bailed out OK.

14014 (VMF-112) ditched near MCAS Goleta, CA 8/10/1944. Pilot OK.

14034 (VF,OTU#4) ground-looped on landing 7/26/1944. Pilot OK.


and F3A-1 A, BuNo. 11208

11294/11646 cancelled.  Some were F3A-1D
11067/11152 to Royal Navy as JS803/JS888
11153/11162 to Royal Navy as JS963/JS972

No further info.