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Grumman F6F Hellcat facts for kids

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F6F Hellcat
Hellcats F6F-3, May 1943.jpg
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats in tricolor camouflage
Role Carrier-based fighter aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 26 June 1942
Introduction 1943
Retired 1960 Uruguayan Navy
Primary users United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Royal Navy
French Navy
Produced 1942–45
Number built 12,275
Unit cost $35,000 in 1945

The F6F Hellcat was a United States Navy fighter aircraft made by Grumman during World War II. I t first flew in 1942 and was introduced in 1943. It was supposed to be a little bit better than the F4F Wildcat, but became a big improvement. It was more powerful and could turn better. It was made to fight the Japanese A6M Zero. It was able to take off of aircraft carriers. It was also used by the navy as a "night fighter", which means that a radar was put on it so it could fly at night. During the war, it had the most aces fly it. It was retired in 1954.

Notes

Images for kids

  • Grumman XF6F-1 Hellcat 1942

    Unpainted XF6F-1 prior to its first flight (1942)

  • Ray Wagner Collection Image (16156795450)

    F6F-3 aboard USS Yorktown has its "Sto-Wing" folding wings deployed for takeoff (circa 1943-44)

  • Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat of VF-1 in flight over California (USA), in 1943 (80-G-K-605)

    An early F6F-3 in blue-gray over light gull-gray (1943)

  • F6F-5 HVAR NOTS NAN4-2-45

    An early-production F6F-5 being tested with eight 5-inch HVAR rockets (circa 1944-45)

  • F6F5 VF82 CV20

    VF-82 Grumman F6F-5 ready for launch from USS Bennington off Okinawa in May 1945: Most of the F6F-5s built were painted overall glossy sea blue.

  • Hellcats 1840 NAS in flight 1944

    A section of Fleet Air Arm Hellcat F Mk.Is of 1840 Squadron in June 1944

  • F6F target drone

    Postwar service: A bright orange F6F-3K target drone

  • Grumman XF6F-2 Hellcat

    XF6F-2 showing the later R-2800-21 installation with Birman turbocharger (1943)

  • F6F-5N NAS Jax 1944-45

    F6F-5N night fighter with AN/APS-6 radar and 2 20mm M2 cannon (c. 1944/45)

  • Grumman F6F Hellcat, Chino, California

    Chino Warbirds' F6F-3 painted as a Fleet Air Arm Hellcat Mk. I (2007)

  • Air Zoo December 2019 091 (Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat)

    F6F-5 on display at the Air Zoo

  • Carrier Air Group 3 aircraft in flight 1946

    An F6F-5 flown by Air Group Commander (CAG), Cdr. Louis H. Bauer of Carrier Air Group 3 (CVG-3), leads a formation of CVG-3 aircraft (a Helldiver, Avenger and Bearcat) in 1946.

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