American+Aviation+In+WWII

= = = = = American Aviation in WWII By: Michael McKenzie and Travis Phillips  =

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__**Table of Contents**__: 1. F4U Corsair 2. B-29 SuperFortress 3. American Pilot Spotlight 4. Works Cited


 * First came off of assembly lines in September of 1942
 * Used a “bent wing” design
 * The “Bent Wing” design improved the aerodynamics of the intersection of the plane which led to a higher top speed
 * The corsair’s wheels swivel back 90 degrees and go inside the wings to allow fore a smoother flight
 * Used mostly by marines for land-based missions where it had an outstanding combat record
 * Known as the “Whistling Death” to the Japanese because of the distinctive sound that it made while in flight
 * Used by the U.S.A., Great Britain, France, New Zealand, and Australia during WWII



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[|__B-29 SuperFortress__]
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 * Developed in 1940 - 1st “Strategic Bomber”
 * Began shipping to Air Force in 1943
 * Could carry 20,000 lbs. of bombs
 * Used for transport over the Pacific Ocean and to Japan from China.
 * 8 remotely controlled .50 caliber machine guns located on top and bottom of the fuselage
 * 2.50 caliber machine guns and one 20 mm cannon in tail
 * General Curtis E. LeMay ordered all turrents and ammo to be removed from B-29’s, in order to fly lower, faster, and save fuel.
 * Carried Atomic Bomb (Fat Man and The Little Boy)
 * Dropped atomic bomb on Japan (Bockscar and Enola Gay)
 * [|Click here] for more info.



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David McCampbell

 * Born on Jan. 16, 1910 in Bessemer, Alabama
 * Graduated the US naval academy in 1933
 * Won Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit,and the Distinguished Flying Cross
 * shot down 34 Japanese fighter pilots
 * shot down 9 planes during one morning’s dogfight with the Japanese. Unparalleled achievement in aviation history
 * Hellcat pilot and Commander of Air Group Fifteen (CAG-15) on USS Essex
 * For more information on David McCampbell, [|click here.]

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