When the Nazis invaded Russia in June 1941 the Russian aircraft companies were anxious to get help and assistance to produce new planes to counterattack the enemy. While Vought was working in 1941 with the F3U, based on material from the IAR-Engineers, Lavochkin-technicians seeked contact with Vought for help to build a new airplane. In a joint-venture structure Vought people went immediately to Russia and helped to set up a new line for the F3U, it became the F3UL! In the autumn of 1941 the first planes rolledout from the factory.
When Roosevelt undertook a great helping plan for Europe and its Allies, Vought started to set up a line in the US for the F3UL, together with Lavochkin it started to deliver in the beginning of 1942 new F3UL-1's. They were shipped in a convoy to Russia, but due to the Wolfpack attacks, one of the convoys was dispersed and the F3UL's stranded in England. The RAF used some of them for squadrons in the desert-war against the Africa Korps. Here is one from 92 sqn. It is the one i send to the Desert warefare.
regards
Lauhof
The whole idea for this new line started when i saw a linedrawing from DEF from an IAR-80 with a lavochkin engine.
