Mustang vs. Corsair; the Last Piston Engine Dogfight

On July 17, 1969, the day of the piston engine fighter aircraft finally past.
But it certainly went out fighting.
This is the story of Captain Soto of the Honduran Air Force, who scored three kills in a day in what would be the final piston engine dogfights.

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[valkrys]

I have seen that exact Honduran Corsair in person. That aircraft is on static display at the entrance to the Honduran air defense base at Tegucigalpa. Very cool aircraft.

[rahbaralhaq]

"I destroyed 40% of the enemies air force in a single day!" is one hell of a bragging right.

[bluephoenix]

F4U Corsair versus the Mustang. Who would have known? The last true aerial gunfight and between two machines that were on the same side in another time. Great story Ed. Thanks!

[tacitdionysus]

This is the sort of channel that makes Youtube worthwhile.

[asdf]

The longevity of the production run of the F4U (1942 – 53) meant there were airframes and spares in abundance for years to come, which made its ongoing use sensible for small nations who couldn't affford to buy more up to date equipment.

[eyesofisabelofficial]

Worth noting that if these where considered old at 25 years max (1945) then there are F-15 Eagles flying out of USAF bases here in the UK that are 1984 FY builds (37 years old). To put it another way that's the time span between the Wright Bros flight and the prototype of the XF-4U1.

[MrBluebeard]

Good one Ed: " destroyed 40% of the enemies air force" Don't think that'll ever get beaten!

[WAL_DC-B]

In June, 1975, I flew into the airport at San Pedro Sula, Honduras on a TAN Airlines (Honduran Airline) Boeing 737-200. As I was walking from the aircraft to the terminal I noticed at the end of the airport five Honduran Corsairs lined up in a row. I took out my camera and snapped off a shot of the vintage fighters. That was the only photo I was able to take as I could not get any closer to the F4Us and I'm lucky I got that one shot!

[justy]

On the other side off the world.. F-4 Phantoms were taking on Mig-21s in Vietnam at this time. Then this event or war in Central America and both American manufacturered aircraft dating from WW2. Crazy stuff.

[Spitfiresammons]

Well done on the history of the world last piston engine dogfight mark felton will be very pleased with you

[Wolfen]

Amazing story, warplanes from another time finishing the age of of piston warfare with over two decades after they entered service.

[brendonbewersdorf]

Thank you for covering this! This is a very underrated point in history

[gerhardris]

Ad Nashes brilliant history niche! Again thanks. Can't remember ever having heard of this war even. Let alone this gripping dogfight day.

[Cupnoodles-hn]

That exact Corsair is on display at my city’s Aeronautical Museum in Tegucigalpa, pretty lovely bird and also theres some gems at the Museum like some F86’s and a Northrop F5

[artbyvince]

Quite possibly one of the most exciting air combat stories I've ever come across.

[Zappy]

The Corsair and Mustang were both great fighters but I give the edge to the Corsair overall.

[Veritas]

Guess the infantry never got their air support.

[markaceves]

Nicely done Ed. I learned something today, thank you. I was aware of the "Football War" but had not heard or read details of arial combat during that short Central American conflict.

[markmorris]

Too bad Corsairs had to fight Corsairs but happily a good number of these Corsairs still fly today thanks to Bob Ferguson and Howard Pardue and others!

[steventhompson]

Very cool! Heard of this war before but not these WWII planes dogfighting, 3 kills so soon in that situation is something else