lockheed-martini:

Difference between US and Japanese warplanes. This Corsair was flown back to base in June 1945. The Corsair itself was made largely out of a semi-armoured aluminium alloy, “duralumin” or “dural” designed to deflect 7.7mm and 12.7mm rounds at reasonable angles encountered in combat.

Here’s a quote from the pilot, Alson Frazer:

“I began to notice that my left wing was disintegrating. I heard no shots, I heard no gunfire. But became visually aware that my left wing was coming apart. So I realised that i had been hit, so I broke off my left turn and rolled out and pitched over and commenced to dive. I remember being quite frightened. My adrenaline was undoubtedly very high but my mental capacities were good. I just felt that I’ve been hit, OK, he won, I lost, now let’s go home!”