F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 56039

USMC
MAG 12
VMF-215
"Fighting Corsairs"

Click For Enlargement
1943

 

Pilot  Lt. Robert Hanson
Crashed  February 3, 1944

AIrcraft History
Built by Vought.

Pilot History
Hanson was the highest scoring F4U ace, with 25 kills. He got 20 of thoes kills in just 17 days he first flew with VMF-214 but was transfered to VMF-215 where he got most of his kills based at Barakoma Airstrip. On November 1st 1943 flying fighter cover for the Empress Augusta Bay landings, he shot down three before defensive fire diabled his plane and he ditched in the sea, and was later picked up by a destroyer picked several hours later

Mission History
While straffing a targets at Cape Alexander, near Rabaul. He was hit by anti-aircraft fire and his fighter cartwheeled into the sea.

References
Thanks to Henry Sakaida and Robert Rocker for additional information.

Contribute Information

 

Tech Info
F4U

MIA
MIA

 

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