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Message: [QUOTE="Goldbricker, post: 10613719, member: 43095"] The USN kept the F4U off the carriers for several reasons, one logistical, one of teething problems which was fixed by VF12 and Voughts engineers. The issues being of Oleos being too stiff (causing bounce), the oil leaks from the cowl flaps impairing vision on landing and torque stall, an the birdcage canopy(Fixed with the -1) and was fully qualified, VF17 also qualified, and did make deck landings on 11 Nov 43 for refueling during the Rabaul raid where it flew top cover for the hellcats and bombers. The Logistical issue was to keep spares for 1 fighter (the F6F Hellcat), massively simplifying logistics (The SB2C and TBM were to replace the SBD, ). The night fighter detachments flying F4U-2's of VF(N)-75, VF(N)-101. aboard several carriers at this time had handbuilt radar sets and operated in blacked out combat conditions. Even the Guadalcanal/Solomons based VMF's could find no spares closer than the USA until the USMC loggies set up a separate system. A blown F4U tire grounded aircraft for weeks until spares could be brought in before that. A totally different issue was groundcrew never trained on the F4U or the use of Seabees as ground crew with no aircraft maintenance training at Munda. [/QUOTE]