Grumman F4F Wildcat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids F4F Wildcat |
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| F4F-3 in non-reflective blue-gray over light gray scheme from early 1942 | |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| First flight | 2 September 1937 |
| Introduction | December 1940 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary users | United States Navy United States Marine Corps Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy |
| Number built | 7,885 |
The F4F Wildcat was a strong fighter aircraft. It was built by the Grumman company. This plane first flew in 1937 and began service in 1940. It played a big role in the early years of World War II. The Wildcat was mostly used in the Pacific region.
A special thing about the Wildcat was its ability to take off and land on aircraft carriers. These are like floating airfields at sea. During the war, the Wildcat often fought against the Japanese A6M Zero plane.
Later, a new plane called the F6F Hellcat was made. It was designed to be even better than the Wildcat. But the Wildcat still flew missions where the Hellcat was too large. The F4F Wildcat was retired from service in 1945.
Images for kids
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The XF4F-3 in 1939; it was written off in a fatal accident on 16 December 1940
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An early F4F-3 with prop spinner and cowl guns
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A Fleet Air Arm Wildcat in 1944, showing "invasion stripes"
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F4F-4s on Guadalcanal, 1942
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F4F-3s of VF-5, 1941
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The F4F-3S "Wildcatfish", a floatplane version of the F4F-3. Edo Aircraft fitted one F4F-3 with twin floats.
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One of the main features of the F4F-4 were the Sto-Wing-design folding wings, a Grumman patented design
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FM-2s from White Plains, in June 1944, with 58 gallon drop tanks
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A G-36A at Grumman, 1940
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A Martlet II from HMS Formidable, 1942
See also
In Spanish: Grumman F4F Wildcat para niños
