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F4U Corsair Trivia Quiz

As promised to a fellow FT'r, here is my Corsair quiz; as much for the aircraft as for those who flew it.

A multiple-choice quiz by Pat in Halifax. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Pat in Halifax

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
160,465

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3642

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (4/10), Guest 136 (8/10), Guest 47 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What aircraft company developed and built the F4U Corsair? Hint

Grumman

Vought

Lockheed

Douglas

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Because of its impressive combat prowess, the Japanese had a nickname for the Corsair. What was it? Hint

Fork Tailed Devil

Angel of Death

Whistling Death

Grim Reaper

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which engine powered the Corsair to speeds in excess of 400 mph? Hint

Pratt and Whitney R2800 double wasp 18 cylinder

Pratt and Whitney R1830 twin wasp 14 cylinder

Wright R2600 double cyclone 14 cylinder

Wright R1820 cyclone 9 cylinder

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Though initially designed as a carrier borne fighter, first deliveries of the Corsair were made to the United States Marine Corps. Why? Hint

Insufficient numbers of aircraft

Insufficient power at take off for carrier decks

Initial problems with rear folding landing gear collapsing

Insufficient visibility forward for carrier operations

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Because of high demand, two other companies were contracted to produce the Corsair under license. What were these two companies? Hint

Lockheed and Douglas

Brewster and Goodyear

North American and Curtis

Boeing and Republic

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Corsair racked up an impressive kill ratio against the Japanese. How many Japanese aircraft were shot down for every Corsair lost in combat? Hint

7. The TV series "Baa Baa Blacksheep" and later "Blacksheep Squadron", starring Robert Conrad among many other up-and-comers, loosely followed the experiences of which US Marine Corps Fighter Squadron? Hint

VF-17

VMF-44

VMF-214

VMF-311

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Flying his Corsair from the deck of HMS Formidiable, this Canadian pilot single-handedly sank a Japanese destroyer. Who was he? Hint

Johnny Johnstone

Robert Hampton Gray

Douglas Bader

George Richardson

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Question 9 of 10

9. The inverted gull wing design of the Corsair, though different in function, resembled a feared aircraft of the early European conflict in 1939-1940. Which? Hint

Focke Wulf FW190

Junkers Ju87

Focke Wulf FW152

Junkers Ju88

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The Corsair experienced the longest production run of any American piston-engined fighter.

True

False

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Dec 04 2024 : Guest 75: 4/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What aircraft company developed and built the F4U Corsair?

Answer: Vought

Initial developement began in 1938 by a team under Tex B Biesel and the Corsair made its maiden flight in May, 1940.

2. Because of its impressive combat prowess, the Japanese had a nickname for the Corsair. What was it?

Answer: Whistling Death

"Fork-tailed devil" was the nickname given by the Luftwaffe to the P-38 Lightning while the other 2 are ficticious. The "Whistling Death" monicker was applied by Japanese pilots during the Okinawa and Rabaul campaigns where Corsair pilots literally "ruled the skies".

3. Which engine powered the Corsair to speeds in excess of 400 mph?

Answer: Pratt and Whitney R2800 double wasp 18 cylinder

The Wright 2600 was fitted in the B-25 Mitchell. The P+W 1830 was fitted to the B-24 Liberator and the Wright 1820 to everyone's favorite, the B-17 Flying Fortress.

4. Though initially designed as a carrier borne fighter, first deliveries of the Corsair were made to the United States Marine Corps. Why?

Answer: Insufficient visibility forward for carrier operations

From prototype to first production, the cockpit of the Corsair was moved back almost three feet to accommodate more fuel tanks. This seriously hampered the pilots view over the nose of the aircraft. This was overcome in time due to the immense power available to the pilot on take off. Corsairs flew quite successfully from both US Navy and Royal Navy carriers.

5. Because of high demand, two other companies were contracted to produce the Corsair under license. What were these two companies?

Answer: Brewster and Goodyear

Brewster aircraft received the designation F3A-1, while those built by Goodyear were designated FG-1.

6. The Corsair racked up an impressive kill ratio against the Japanese. How many Japanese aircraft were shot down for every Corsair lost in combat?

Answer: 11

Serving primarily in the Pacific Theatre with the US Navy, US Marine Corps, Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Airforce, Corsairs flew 64,051 combat sorties destroying almost 3,000 Japanese aircraft with a loss of only 189 of their own!

Answer: VMF-214

Major Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington was shot down and taken prisoner by the Japanese on January 3rd, 1944 and was interned in various Japanese POW camps for the remainder of the war. Sadly, he passed away in 1988 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

8. Flying his Corsair from the deck of HMS Formidiable, this Canadian pilot single-handedly sank a Japanese destroyer. Who was he?

Answer: Robert Hampton Gray

He was killed in the attack on the Japanese destroyer Amakusa on April 9th, 1945, being awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. To this day, a memorial stands to commemorate Lt Gray's heroism overlooking Onagawa Bay on the Japanese island of Honchu, the only memorial to the Allies on the Japanese home islands.

9. The inverted gull wing design of the Corsair, though different in function, resembled a feared aircraft of the early European conflict in 1939-1940. Which?

Answer: Junkers Ju87

The famed Junkers Ju87 "Stuka" crank-winged dive-bombers terrorized Allied ground troops during the blitzkrieg stages of the war, often with pin-point accuracy

10. The Corsair experienced the longest production run of any American piston-engined fighter.

Answer: True

From production commencement in late 1941 until the last one roled off the line in December 1952 to supply French Forces in Indo-China, over 12,500 Corsairs were produced. More than 1,800 Corsairs flew alongside jets in Korea with US Forces.

Source: Author Pat in Halifax

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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