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European service, foreign service, refs.
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.
Two squadrons of Hellcats saw action in Europe as well, supporting the Allied landings in southern France in August ([[Operation Anvil]]). The Hellcats, flying from the carriers ''Kasaan Bay'' and ''Tulagi'', performed close air support, interdiction, and gunnery spotting duties, in addition to scoring eight aerial victories (five bombers and three Ju-52 transports). Eleven F6Fs were lost to all causes, with at least one pilot killed.<ref>''Hellcat Aces of World War 2'', by Barrett Tillman, Osprey Publishing, 1996</ref>
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]].
==Foreign Users==
The [[Royal Navy]] acquired 250 Hellcats via [[Lend-Lease]] starting in late 1943, and they saw action over occupied [[Norway]], in the Mediterranean, and in the Far East.
France also bought F6Fs after the war, many of which saw action in the [[First Indochina War]].<ref>''The Illustrated Guide to Naval Aircraft'', by Francis Grosby, Anness Publishing, 2008</ref>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
*[http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/NARG/hellcat.html Grumman F6F Hellcat] at the Warbirds Resource Group
*[http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/NARG/hellcat.html Grumman F6F Hellcat] at the Warbirds Resource Group
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDH_qFOZHE8 Nighttime Dogfight for the F6F] at YouTube
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDH_qFOZHE8 Nighttime Dogfight for the F6F] at YouTube
[[Category:Aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft]]
[[Category:United States Navy]]
[[Category:United States Navy]]
[[Category:World War II]]
[[Category:World War II]]