Corsair: The F4U in World War II and Korea

by Barrett Tillman

This is the remarkable story of an airplane that became a legend--with a sleek silhouette and bent wings, it doubled as a day and night fighter, could fly off carriers or from land, and served both as a dive bomber and reconnaissance plane. Filled with facts and figures, this fast-paced history begins with the nerve-wracking test flights of the 1940s and concludes with the F4Us that were active thirty-eight years later. Placed skillfully in between are the stories that gave birth to the legend: the exploits of the aces, including the Medal of Honor recipient who shot down twenty-five enemy planes, and the details of the combat missions of Charles A. Lindbergh. During thirty months of combat in World War II with the U.S. Navy and Marines, the Corsair shot down more than two thousand Japanese planes. In Korea the U-bird, as it was called, was credited with ten aerial victories. A trip down memory lane for anyone who has followed the career of this Cadillac of the props, this new paperback edition of a book first published in hardcover in 1979 offers fine historical aviation reading that presents a riveting picture of the men and machine that helped win two wars.

Genres: Aviation, History, Military History, Military Fiction, World War II, Naval History

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Born a fourth-generation Oregonian, descended from American pioneers, Revolutionary War Patriots, Pilgrims (e.g. Priscilla Alden) and Pocahontas, Tillman was raised on the family wheat and cattle ranch. His younger brothers include a breeder of exotic animals and a Rhodes Scholar. In high school he was an Eagle Scout[citation needed], won two state titles as a rudimental drummer, and was a champion speaker and debater. Tillman was first published in 1964 at age 15 and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Like his father, a Navy trained pilot in World War II, Tillman developed an early passion for aviation and learned to fly at age 16. Over the next several years he flew a variety of vintage and historic aircraft, including a pre-WW II Navy trainer and a restored dive-bomber. The latter became the subject of his first book, The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II, published in 1976. It established the format for many subsequent books, operational histories of U.S. Navy aircraft.

After college Tillman worked as a freelance writer until 1982 when he founded Champlin Fighter Museum Press in Mesa, Arizona, publishing out-of-print and new titles on military aviation.

In 1986 he moved to San Diego to become managing editor of The Hook, quarterly journal of the Tailhook Association. He remained in that position for three years before deciding to focus full time to writing fiction. His first novel was published in June 1990. Warriors[1] depicted a Mideast air war and became an immediate best seller when Iraq invaded Kuwait two months later.

Tillman's next two novels appeared in 1992: The Sixth Battle, (written with his brother John) which captured a wide following among computer war gamers; and Dauntless, intended as the first in a trilogy. It was followed by Hellcats, nominated as military novel of the year in 1996. He has also published original fiction in the Stephen Coonts anthologies, Combat and Victory.

Tillman remains active as a magazine writer. He is a regular contributor to The Hook, Flight Journal, and several firearms publications. He has also reported from Africa for Soldier of Fortune magazine.

Tillman is a former executive secretary of the American Fighter Aces Association.[2]

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_...

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tillman has written a number of aviation histories of planes - this is his history of the Corsair. It clocks in at about 200 pages, typical for a Tillman book.
Tillman provides an overview of the Corsair's origin, development, operational usage, and highlights different pilots in different roles. This includes a discussion of why the Corsair started with the Marines prior to deployment on US Navy carriers. He also covers Corsair usage with British and Commonwealth forces, and its usage post-WW2 (in Korea, with the French, and in Central America).
A nice overview of the history of the Corsair.

[Ron Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

the operational history of the Corsair

A book for serious fans of the F4U Corsair from its conception through its land and carrier based roles in the Pacific and its operations in the Korean War, Suez, and Central and South America. Clearly written. The aircraft did not begin its carrier mission til well into WW2. It’s mission as a ground based fighter distinguished its early history before carrier ops found it essential-especially against kamikazes.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept wanting to drop to a 4 star, then something new and exciting popped up. Yes too many Corsair Books, Mr. G's Biography one of the best. Mr. B's well only a small part of his long Navy.
Night Fighters, Marines, This plane has seen a lot and still flying at Virginia Beach VA.

[Bill Macaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

An inthralling history of the evolution of a highly successful WWII military aircraft and the men of a number of nations that flew it.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book. I am a former Marline and in aviation so I was familiar with a lot of the abbreviations the author used. I feel for a non aviator that would be a stumbling block. Several of the squadrons and MAG's were familiar to me and that heightened the aprecation for me of this book. I was far behind the time frame of the book but it did not diminish the enjoyment for me of this fine book about a great airplane of WW II.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tillman's Corsair was a joy to read. His history of the aircraft goes from its troubled inception to being a museum piece. Tillman's writing style was easy to read and showed great knowledge of aviation and of the Corsair. He picked only the most significant actions corsairs were used to present a balanced but not plodding. Tillman shows a clear bias for the corsair but gives credit to other designs being American or foreign.

The appendices in the back alone are worth looking at for the evolution of the aircraft through line drawings. These drawings are much better than my old battered copy of the Squadron publishing F4U history.

Corsair is a must read for anyone who loves the F-4U Corsair. It is recommended for anyone who grew up becoming enamored with the corsair watching the flawed TV series Black Sheep Squadron or who loves this classic aircraft.

[Gary Greenslade · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of a definitive WWII figher

This is a well written and interesting read in the context of the role this aircraft played in the Pacific War. I would have liked more information regarding the pilot's, without this the book lacks human interest.
Still, a comprehensive account of a superb aircraft and its vital role in the Second World War mainly.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good history of an excellent airplane. Covers development and much of it's action in the Pacific Theatre, Korea, etc. Great tribute to a legend!

[Michael Remington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

I enjoyed this more the Tillman's book on the SBD, and I liked that one. Lots of first person stories.