Vought’s F4U Corsair was one of the finest fighters ever built. Designed in 1938, the prototype flew on May 19, 1940. These early tests proved it could exceed 400 mph, making it the fastest American fighter of that time. With its instantly recognizable gull-wing shape and its long nose, great speed and firepower, the Corsair weaved a path of destruction across the Pacific in World War II, totally outclassing the much feared Japanese Zero.

This painting illustrates the F4U-1A “Big Hog” flown by Lt. Cdr. John T Blackburn, CO of VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” after gaining his fourth victory on November 11, 1943. VF-17 was a land-based unit operating out of Ondonga in the Solomon Islands arriving in October of 1943.