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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. 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>
[[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 [[Flying ace|ace]] in the Hellcat was [[David McCampbell]], who scored 34 aerial victories in the Pacific theater while serving on board the [[USS Essex (CV-9)|USS ''Essex'']].<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, 2000</ref>
The high point of the Hellcat's career was the [[Battle of the Philippine 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.
The high point of the Hellcat's career was the [[Battle of the Philippine 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.
A few Hellcats saw action in Europe as well, supporting Allied landings in southern France (Operation Anvil).
A few Hellcats saw action in Europe as well, supporting Allied landings in southern France ([[Operation Anvil]]).
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]].