P-51 Mustangs versus F4U Corsairs
Most people recognize that on the allied side, during World War II, the highest pinnacle of production fighter aircraft which fought in any numbers during the war came with the P-51 Mustang, predominantly flying in the European theater, and the F-4U Corsair, predominantly flying in the Pacific theater.
Both aircraft were high performance, capable fighters, and both could also perform ground attack. Both were very understandably feared by their opponents.
For decades quite a few air enthusiasts wondered what would have happened between the two had they ever met. Which one was truly "the best." Some bemoaned the fact that since both were US aircraft, that they never...outside of airshows perhaps...had the chance to meet in combat.
But most of those same people are not aware that they actually did.
Both aircraft flew on after the war. The F4U played a fairly significant role in Korea.
After their US service, both aircraft continued to fly with various nations' air forces. Many were sold, or transferred to allied nations of the US.
As a result, in 1969 the time for confrontation, in combat, between the two aircraft came.
Both Honduras and El Salvador had benefited from transfers and sales of vintage US aircraft over the years.
In 1969, the two fought a brief, but bloody war, sometimes called "the football war," because a couple of soccer matches (football in Central America) started riots that are said to have initiated the war. But, although the riots over those games may have been the spark, both nations had long standing disputes which the fighting was really about. The more normal name for that war has come to be the "100 hour war."
At the time Honduras had a more established air force, with 16 or 17 military-surplus Vought F4U-4, F4U-5, and F4U-5N Corsair aircraft.
Honduran F4U Corsair aircraft in flight
Honduran F4U Corsair aircraft in flight
El Salvador had several Corsairs too, but they were Goodyear built aircraft (the Corsair was produced by several factories during World War II) called FG-1Ds and they had not been as well cared for. I believe four or five of these aircraft were active in the war. In 1968, in order to help upgrade their air force, El Salvador had also purchased six P-51 aircraft from Sarasota Aviation Corp (later Cavalier Aviation Corp). They were designated as F-51D, Cavalier Mustangs IIs, and I believe four of those were active during the war.
El Salvadoran FG-1D Corsair aircraft in flight
El Salvadoran F-51D Mustang II on the ground
It was these aircraft, Corsair on Corsair and Corsair on Mustang, that met in combat over Central America in 1969.
Now, we must grant that the Honduran air force was probably better trained. And the El Salvadoran air force and only had their Mustangs a few months. That must be taken into account.
There were only two dogfights in the war involving these aircraft, and only one actually involved Honduran Corsairs versus El Salvadoran Mustangs.
Interested in what happened?
Let me quote from an article in the Smithsonian Air and space Museum entitled:
Fernando Soto stands proudly on his Corsair with the markings of the aircraft he downed
Most people recognize that on the allied side, during World War II, the highest pinnacle of production fighter aircraft which fought in any numbers during the war came with the P-51 Mustang, predominantly flying in the European theater, and the F-4U Corsair, predominantly flying in the Pacific theater.
Both aircraft were high performance, capable fighters, and both could also perform ground attack. Both were very understandably feared by their opponents.
For decades quite a few air enthusiasts wondered what would have happened between the two had they ever met. Which one was truly "the best." Some bemoaned the fact that since both were US aircraft, that they never...outside of airshows perhaps...had the chance to meet in combat.
But most of those same people are not aware that they actually did.
Both aircraft flew on after the war. The F4U played a fairly significant role in Korea.
After their US service, both aircraft continued to fly with various nations' air forces. Many were sold, or transferred to allied nations of the US.
As a result, in 1969 the time for confrontation, in combat, between the two aircraft came.
Both Honduras and El Salvador had benefited from transfers and sales of vintage US aircraft over the years.
In 1969, the two fought a brief, but bloody war, sometimes called "the football war," because a couple of soccer matches (football in Central America) started riots that are said to have initiated the war. But, although the riots over those games may have been the spark, both nations had long standing disputes which the fighting was really about. The more normal name for that war has come to be the "100 hour war."
At the time Honduras had a more established air force, with 16 or 17 military-surplus Vought F4U-4, F4U-5, and F4U-5N Corsair aircraft.
Honduran F4U Corsair aircraft in flight
Honduran F4U Corsair aircraft in flight
El Salvador had several Corsairs too, but they were Goodyear built aircraft (the Corsair was produced by several factories during World War II) called FG-1Ds and they had not been as well cared for. I believe four or five of these aircraft were active in the war. In 1968, in order to help upgrade their air force, El Salvador had also purchased six P-51 aircraft from Sarasota Aviation Corp (later Cavalier Aviation Corp). They were designated as F-51D, Cavalier Mustangs IIs, and I believe four of those were active during the war.
El Salvadoran FG-1D Corsair aircraft in flight
El Salvadoran F-51D Mustang II on the ground
Now, we must grant that the Honduran air force was probably better trained. And the El Salvadoran air force and only had their Mustangs a few months. That must be taken into account.
There were only two dogfights in the war involving these aircraft, and only one actually involved Honduran Corsairs versus El Salvadoran Mustangs.
Interested in what happened?
Let me quote from an article in the Smithsonian Air and space Museum entitled:
Smithsonian Article said:
Fernando Soto stands proudly on his Corsair with the markings of the aircraft he downed
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