Vought V-65/V-92 Corsair

The Vought V-65, or O2U in US Navy service, was a biplane scout and observation aircraft that entered service in the late 1920s. It was very successful, with versions being exported to 13 different countries. The type saw action in numerous locations, including the Shanghai Incident of 1932 and the Colombia-Peru War. An improved model, the V-92 or O3U, followed. It was the first of several Vought designs to use the “Corsair” moniker.

The V-65 was powered by a Pratt &Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp engine, which could output 450hp. The fuselage was constructed of steel tubes with fabric covering, the wings were wooden with a similar fabric covering. The Corsair could be fitted with floats to turn it into a seaplane or an amphibian.

Corsairs were widely exported, with China importing 42 V-65Cs and 21 V-92Cs (C for China). These were used extensively to scout Japanese positions during the “China Incident”, and the Corsairs were often the victim of Japanese fighters. Thailand imported several V-93s (S for Siam) and used them during the Franco-Thai War of 1940-41, particular during the Battle of Ko Chang.