The unusual inverted gull wing design is the most identifiable trademark of the "F-4U Corsair". The gull wing design was developed to allow clearance for the large propeller while landing and taking off. Marines flew the airplane off land bases during the early part of WWII. In 1944 Marine and Navy pilots began flying these airplanes from carriers. The airplane was named the "Sweetheart of Okinawa" by Marine ground forces and the Japanese nick-named it "Whistling Death." The museum's Corsair served aboard the carrier Valley Forge during the Korean Conflict. It was twice damaged by small arms fire. The Corsair was the last propeller-driven fighter built in the United States.