O2U

From OnAirpower.org

O2U Corsair

Designation: O2U Manufacturer: Vought Nationality: American First Flight: 1926 Remarks: Biplane reconnaissance/light bomber operated by the US Navy starting in the late 1920s and by several export customers

[edit] Notes

A V-65 export variant of the O2U had the distinction of becoming the first combat aircraft operated by the Communist Chinese. The aircraft was originally operated by the Nationalist Chinese forces, but lost its position during a reconnaissance mission in February, 1930 and was forced to land in Communist-held territory. The Communists named the aircraft Lenin and used it for over two years, until the changing tide of war forced them to dismantle and hide the aircraft^[1]. Photos of a replica of the aircraft are available on the Scramble and Air Britain ("Vought 65-C1 Lenin Plane") websites.

[edit] Sources

• Wikipedia entry for O2U Corsair

• O2U  at VoughtAircraft.com

[edit] References

1. ↑ Red Wings Over the Yalu, pg. 19