The engine was so massive and produced so much energy that a Hamilton Standard 13 feet 4 inch propeller, the largest of WWII, was required. The F4U was the first American fighter aircraft to exceed 400 MPH. The Corsair was referred to by the Japanese as “Whistling Death” and became a legend in its own time. This aircraft was one of the most distinctive designs with it bent wings making it an icon.

Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr. (August 31, 1924 – November 13, 2017) was an officer of the United States Navy and a naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.  Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Hudner attended Phillips Academy and the United States Naval Academy. Initially uninterested in aviation, he eventually took up flying and joined Fighter Squadron 32, flying the F4U Corsair at the outbreak of the Korean War. Arriving near Korea in October 1950, he flew support missions from the aircraft carrier USS Leyte. 

On 4 December 1950, Hudner and Brown were among a group of pilots on patrol near the Chosin Reservoir when Brown's Corsair was struck by ground fire from Chinese troops and crashed. In an attempt to save Brown from his burning aircraft, Hudner intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain in freezing temperatures to help Brown. In spite of these efforts, Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to evacuate, having also been injured in the landing.  Following the incident, Hudner held positions aboard several U.S. Navy ships and with a number of aviation units, including a brief stint as executive officer of USS Kitty Hawk during a tour in the Vietnam War, before retiring in 1973. In subsequent years, he worked for various veterans' organizations in the United States. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner is named for him.

Specifications for Corsair F4U-4 Production - 1944 to 1947

• Number produced – 2,050
• During production life time the F4U-4 saw new 4-blade propeller, chin scoop, flat bullet-proof windscreen, canopy revisions, an armored seat and improved instrument panel.
• Crew: 1

Dimensions

• Length – 33 ft 2.8 in
• Wingspan – 40 ft 11.7 in
• Height – 14 ft 9 in Weights
• Empty – 9,343 lb
• Maximum – 14,532 lb

Performance

• Power Plant - 1 X 2,350 hp P&W R-2800-18W
• Climb Rate – 4,770 ft/min @ Sea Level
• Service Ceiling – 38, 400 ft
• Range – 1,005 miles @ 214 mph @ 15,000 ft.
• Maximum Speed – 425 mph

Armament

• 6 X .50 machine guns, 3 per wing
• Up to 2,000 lbs. of bombs under fuselage
• 8 X 5 in rockets under wings

Info:    F4U-4 Corsair "Medal of Honor" White 205, flown by LTJG Thomas (Lou) Hudner, VF-32, USS Leyte, 4th December 1950