Boeing
F4B-4
The Boeing F4B‑4 was a transitional fighter built in the late 1930s as part of a joint Navy‑Army program to replace aging biplanes with all‑metal monoplanes. First rolled out in 1938, the prototype incorporated a semi‑monocoque fuselage, retractable landing gear and a powerful 850 hp Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 radial engine. Production was limited to 128 units, each equipped with a twin‑machine‑gun armament and provisions for up to 200 lb of external stores. The aircraft’s wing featured a tapered, all‑metal structure with leading‑edge slats that gave the F4B‑4 superior low‑speed handling and a top speed of 290 mph, high for its class at the time. Operational service began with the United States Navy’s VF‑2 squadron, where the type excelled in carrier‑based interception and close‑air support during early World War II operations in the Pacific. Although quickly superseded by newer monoplane fighters such as the F4F Wildcat, the F4B‑4 demonstrated the effectiveness of integrated aerodynamic and power‑plant advances, influencing Boeing’s subsequent fighter designs. Its brief but impactful career helped bridge the gap between biplane heritage and modern carrier aviation, marking a pivotal step in the evolution of U.S. naval air power.
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