Veteran of the Month for February 2025
Update from the Stratford Veterans Museum
This month we proudly salute Lawrence F. Lazaro, who attained the rank of E-4 in 1960, and we thank him for his service.
STRATFORD’S OWN: THE VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR
By Joe Koripsky
In May of 2005, the Connecticut State Legislature unanimously named the Corsair as Connecticut’s State Aircraft. Here in Stratford during World War II, Stratford employees at the Vought factory worked around the clock to meet the demand for this much needed combat aircraft. During World War II the Vought F4U Corsair played a major role in achieving victory in the Pacific.
Some 7,829 Corsairs were built on Main Street Stratford at what is presently known as “AVCO”, or the “Army engine plant”. At peak of production in 1944, one Corsair was built every 82 minutes! In addition, research, development, plus experimental and production test fights all happened in Stratford.
During World War II the Vought F4U Corsair played a major role in achieving victory in the Pacific. America faced an enemy who fought like fanatical savages, and who did not believe in surrender.
At the time, our Navy, Marines and Army were in a terrible fight on land, air and sea… above, on and around Guadalcanal and elsewhere in the Solomon Islands. The tide of battle was precarious.
The Japanese Zero was the enemy’s best fighter. It outmatched our aircraft in significant ways; a replacement for our aging F4F Wildcats, and our other obsolescent aircraft was desperately needed. The Empire of Japan came ready; America needed a fighter to take-on the Zero.
The solution to the problem was Stratford’s F4U Corsair. The Corsair was the first single-engine fighter of the war to exceed 400 mph in level flight. It had a range of
around 1000 miles. It could carry 4000 lbs of ordnance, and it packed six .50 cal. machine guns. At least one pilot claimed that it could handle battle damage like a Mack-truck. It could take-off and land on dirt fields or carrier decks. Japanese pilots called it “whistling death.” Wind passing through engine vents made a high-pitched noise at high speeds. The other part of the nickname needs no explanation.
The first 24 Stratford Corsairs reached the Marines at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands on February 12, 1943. About an hour after arrival, the young inexperienced Marine pilots flew their first combat mission. Most of the pilots were in their 20’s. Many never returned. Month after month more U.S. Marine Corsair squadrons reached the Solomon Islands.
Now in February of 2025, the wrecking ball is hanging over the factory that produced this historic legend. February 12 would be an appropriate day to reflect upon the history of that property, the men and women of the Greatest Generation who built the Corsair, and especially our courageous pilots who flew them in the Pacific, starting on February 12, 1943. Failure was not an option.
