The USS Midway Museum on Friday opened a new exhibit featuring a famous historical military aircraft, an F4U-4 Corsair.
The World War II and Korean War era fighter-bomber was craned aboard the retired aircraft carrier on Wednesday.
The 78-year-old aircraft, manufactured by the Chance Vought Corporation, was flown by both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The F4U was one of the best known Vought aircraft and was credited with helping win the naval aviation battle over the skies of the Pacific.
In the later stages of World War II, pilots in the fighter had an 11-to-1 victory ratio over enemy aircraft.
Built in 1946, Midway’s new F4U flew in multiple U.S. Marine Corps squadrons until 1953.
Over the past 70 years, the Corsair has been on display at the National Museum of Marine Corps Aviation near Quantico Marine Corp Base in Virginia, the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson and at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla.
The Midway is receiving the F4U-4 on a long term-loan from the Naval Aviation Museum.
The aircraft is currently on display on Midway’s hangar deck near other World War II aircraft and is painted to reflect its service with the Marines.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $32 if purchased online.
