Difference between revisions of "F6F Hellcat"
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| − | [[Image:F6F Hellcat.jpg|right]]The '''F6F Hellcat''' was the plane that turned the tide for [[America]] in [[World War II]]. It replaced the F4F Wildcat, and like its predecessor, had an air-cooled piston engine and six heavy machine guns. | + | [[Image:F6F Hellcat.jpg|right]]The '''F6F Hellcat''' was the plane that turned the tide for [[America]] in [[World War II]]. It replaced the F4F Wildcat, and like its predecessor, had an air-cooled piston engine and six heavy machine guns. First operational in 1943, this [[Grumman]] fighter plane gave [[air supremacy]] to U.S. forces in the [[Pacific]], shooting down over 5100 enemy aircraft for the loss of only 270 Hellcats in aerial combat. More [[Japanese]] planes were shot down by this model than by any other plane. The top scoring ace in the Hellcat was [[David McCampbell]], who scored 34 aerial victories in the Pacific theater while serving on board the USS ''Essex''.<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, 2000</ref> |
| − | The high point of the Hellcat's career was the [[Battle of the Phillippine Sea]], the first part of which was known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot". When Japanese carrier planes struck at American carriers covering the landings at [[Saipan]], defending Hellcats shot down over 350 of them, for the loss of only 17 Hellcats.<ref>''Clash of the Carriers: the True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II'', by Barrett Tillman, New American Library, 2005</ref> | + | The high point of the Hellcat's career was the [[Battle of the Phillippine Sea]], the first part of which was known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot". When Japanese carrier planes struck at American carriers covering the landings at [[Saipan]], defending Hellcats shot down over 350 of them, for the loss of only 17 Hellcats.<ref>''Clash of the Carriers: the True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II'', by Barrett Tillman, New American Library, 2005</ref> Most of the attackers never even came within sight of the American fleet. |
After World War II, the F6F's successor as the US Navy's frontline fighter was the Grumman [[F8F Bearcat]]. | After World War II, the F6F's successor as the US Navy's frontline fighter was the Grumman [[F8F Bearcat]]. | ||
Revision as of 22:23, August 7, 2008
The F6F Hellcat was the plane that turned the tide for America in World War II. It replaced the F4F Wildcat, and like its predecessor, had an air-cooled piston engine and six heavy machine guns. First operational in 1943, this Grumman fighter plane gave air supremacy to U.S. forces in the Pacific, shooting down over 5100 enemy aircraft for the loss of only 270 Hellcats in aerial combat. More Japanese planes were shot down by this model than by any other plane. The top scoring ace in the Hellcat was David McCampbell, who scored 34 aerial victories in the Pacific theater while serving on board the USS Essex.[1]
The high point of the Hellcat's career was the Battle of the Phillippine Sea, the first part of which was known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot". When Japanese carrier planes struck at American carriers covering the landings at Saipan, defending Hellcats shot down over 350 of them, for the loss of only 17 Hellcats.[2] Most of the attackers never even came within sight of the American fleet.
After World War II, the F6F's successor as the US Navy's frontline fighter was the Grumman F8F Bearcat.
References
Links
- F6F Hellcat
- Grumman F6F Hellcat at the Warbirds Resource Group
- Nighttime Dogfight for the F6F at YouTube
Further Reading
- Hellcat Aces of World War 2, by Barrett Tillman, Osprey Publishing, 1996