The F4U-7, built for the French Navy, completed the venerable Corsair line. Essentially the same as an F4U-4 in an F4U-6 (AU-1) airframe, it was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney two-speed, two-stage engine (R-2800-18W), making it a high-altitude fighter.

The last Corsair model, the F4U-7, was procured specially for the French Aéronavale through the U.S. Mutual Assistance Program.

The French Aéronavale did indeed need a powerful carrier-born plane for the Arromanches, Bois-Belleau and Lafayette aircraft carriers, faced with the Indochina conflict since 1945. A version , the F4U-7 (dubbed "For French Only"), was specially developped to fulfill this need. It was equiped with a powerfull P and W R-2800-18W 2100hp engine, and made its first flight on July 2nd 1952. The French Aéronautique Navale ordered a total of 94 planes, which were delivered between mid-1952 and January 1953. In October 1952, several French pilots were sent to NAS Oceana (Virginia) to be trained on the plane. 14.F squadron (CO-ed by LV Pierre Ménetttier) was the first squadron to receive the F4U-7 at Karouba air base in Tunisia. From January 1953 to April 1954, pilots trained with a combat cruise in Indochina in mind. These pilots arrived at Tourane (Annam) on April 17th 1954, but without their planes. On the next day, the USS Saïpan delivered 25 AU-1 Corsairs which until then flew for the USMC's VMA-211 over Korea. The planes were in a pitiful state, and 24 of them are immediately declared unserviceable. Two days later, after a tremendous effort from French and US technicians, 16 planes were on the flightline. On April 23rd, these planes took-off from Tourane and headed for Bach Mai (Tonkin).

Combat sorties started on the 25th . Despite sub-human efforts from Corsair pilots, the Dien Bien Phu strongpoint fell on May 7th . Yet 14.F squadron continued its attacks against railways, bridges…etc until the ceasefire on July 20th 1954. The AU-1's results after only 11 weeks is very impressive: 959 sorties (1 235 hours ), 700t of bombs dropped, 300 rokets launched, and 70 000 20mm rounds shot. Unfortunately, the squadron also lost two pilots and six AU-1s. Eventually 69 Corsairs were used by the Aéronautique Navale from 1954 to 1964.

F4U-7s went into service with 12.F, 14.F, 15.F and 17.F squadrons, which operated from aircraft carriers Arromanches and Lafayette, but also from Naval Air Stations Hyères and Bizerte (Tunisia). 12.F squadron fielded the Corsair from June 10th 1953 to August 8th 1963; 14.F used it from January 15th 1953 to October 1st 1964 ; 15.F squadron used the F4U-7 from October 1953 to February 1962. 10.S flight, attached to the CEPA (Aeronautical Practical Studies Commission), used several Corsairs, two of which were lost when the Fréjus-Malpasset dam broke. Finally, 57.S flight, a training unit based at NAS Khouribga(Marocco), used a few planes. In the mid 50's, the Aéronavale received five more AU-1s because of combat losses and attritions.

Corsairs flying with 12.F, 14.F and 17.F squadrons flew combat missions during the Algerian war, from the Télergma, Oran and Bizerte air bases and from the sole available carrier, the Bois-Belleau (February and March 1958), until the end of combat operations in 1961. They mainly flew CAS, attack, recce and helicopter escort missions. 15,000 hours were flown over Algeria.

In 1956, all 36 Corsairs from 14.F and 15.F squadrons embarked on the Arromanches and Lafayette aircraft-carriers and participated to Operation Mousquetaire, the attack of the Suez canal. The operation started on November 1st 1956, and two days later 20 F4U-7s (6 from the Arromanches and 12 from the Lafayette) attacked the Cairo airfield. Unfortunately, LV Antoine Lancrenon and his plane (BuAer 133711) disappeared during the battle. Furthermore, LV Claude Nève crashed during a carrier landing. He escaped alive, but his plane (BuAer 133728) was lost. SM Karmann also damaged his plane (propeller and landing gear) on landing.

Corsairs from 12.F and 17.F squadrons finally participate to the Bizerte crisis in Tunisia in 1961. No planes were lost, but three were hit by AAA. At the time the Clemenceau and Foch carriers were entering service, and new carrier aircraft had jet engines. Corsairs only had a few years left to live. 12.F squadron kept its planes until October 1st 1964, which were replaced by Vought F-8E Crusaders on March 1st 1965. 14.F squadron withdrew its Corsairs in October 1964 and replaced them with Crusaders too at the same time as 12.F squadron. 15.F and 17.F squadrons retired their planes in February and April 1962. They were replaced by Etendard IVMs in June 1962 and June 1964. The last French Corsair flew on September 28th 1964 at Cuers with a flyby of 16 planes.
Below F4U-7 Brand new factory shot

Below General de Maricourt, commander of the air force in Algeria, reviews the flight crews and the Corsair F4U-7 aircraft of the naval air arm at Telergma air base.

Below taken on the aircraft carrier Bois Belleau early 1958.








Below Views of the aircraft carrier Le Bois-Belleau in the port of Algiers March 1958







Below the15th Naval Air Squadron at the Télergma operational air base.



































Specifications
General

Type: Shipborne Fighter
Crew: 1
Production: from 1953
Number built: 94
Powerplant
1 x Pratt and Whitney R-2800-43W 18-cyl engine, 2400 hp
Dimensions/Masses
Length: 10.16 m | Wingspan: 12.49 m | Height: 4.60 m
Wing area: 29.17 m² | Empty weight: 4073 kg
Loaded weight:: 5460 kg | Max takeoff weight: ? kg
Performances
Maximum speed: 722 km/h
Service ceiling: 10668 m | Range: 1609 km
Armament

4 x 20 mm M3T 31 gun
1632 kg of bombs or 10 x rockets