F4U's protective head plate?

[Kazaa]

Was this a standard feature in WW2? It really does narrows down the field of view; most of the corsair photo's I've seen of don't have this protective head plating either.

[Brooke]

I'm not sure of its purpose.  I don't think it's armor.  Most of the WWII pics of Corsairs with the bubble canopy I've seen do have that.

[SgtPappy]

It's not armor at all.

It was built there as support for the canopy glass to prevent that glass from cracking as the canopy slid back.

Kazaa, you may be looking at later, post-war F4U's. In 1945, F4U-4's and even F4U-1D's were getting rid of that canopy cap, and by post-war times, F4U's no longer had them at all. No Korean War F4U's you find will have them. I have a feeling you may be looking at Korean War Corsairs as the majority of F4U's had the cap in WWII.

[Saxman]

I have a feeling you may be looking at Korean War Corsairs as the majority of F4U's had the cap in WWII.

Only a handful of F4U-4s had that plate. Most--including those that were used in WWII--didn't have it, so it really SHOULD be removed from the F4U-4 mesh.

[Kazaa]

If I was an F4U pilot during WW2, I would have remove the canopy support on day one.

Thanks for the info guys. <S>

[Ruah]

its a major reason i don't fly the F4U

[whiteman]

just give the rudder a little kick every once in awhile and you can see who's behind you.

[SgtPappy]

If you adjust your views right, you're not going to have a problem.

[caldera]

If you adjust your views right, you're not going to have a problem.

Exactly.  The rear view is not obscured at all.  Try taking up a Hellcat or P-39.  Both have huge blind spots.

[curry1]

[Motherland]

(Image removed from quote.)

The roundel with a red stripe through the white was introduced after WWII.

[fbWldcat]

If you set your sights right it isn't a problem. F4U is a great bird, I wouldn't let a little problem like this stop you from flying it. It ia s real pleasure to fly once you get the hang of it a bit. You also get used to not having the best rear view capability.

A little off topic but is that an early copter by the wheelhouse/tower?

[RufusLeaking]

(Image removed from quote.)

The roundel with a red stripe through the white was introduced after WWII.

There is a chopper over the carrier, and the planes on what would be the front catapults(?) look like jets.

[AWwrgwy]

There is a chopper over the carrier, and the planes on what would be the front catapults(?) look like jets.

So, the picture confirms:

...by post-war times, F4U's no longer had them at all. No Korean War F4U's you find will have them. I have a feeling you may be looking at Korean War Corsairs as the majority of F4U's had the cap in WWII.

 


wrongway

[GtoRA2]

(Image removed from quote.)

That image is probably from some time in 1950, it is for SURE well after WW2.