Designed to operate from aircraft carriers and/or land-based facilities.  The Corsair became a major challenge to the Japanese during WW II, with 2,140 enemy aircraft destroyed in air combat with the loss of only 189 Corsairs.  Excluding service in reserve squadrons, the F4U’s operation with the U.S. Navy lasted over 13 years.  The seven nations that ultimately flew the bent wing birds employed them in virtually every mission, climate and type of combat possible for a fighter-bomber.  Corsairs were still in active service with foreign nations 38 years after the prototype first flew in 1940.

In March and April 1941, Vought and the U.S. Navy concluded contract negotiations, and on June 30th the F4U-1 was ordered into production.  Due to the pending world conditions many saw it as inevitable that the parent company could not provide as many of the new fighters as the Navy and the Marines could absorb.  Therefore, during November and December, two other manufacturers were brought into the Corsair program scheme.  These were Brewster Aeronautical (designated F3A-1) and Goodyear Aircraft (designated FG-1).