Cable Airshow 2012
Grumman F4F Martlett
The Grumman F4F Wildcat
was the frontline fighter of the US Navy at the beginning of WWII. What
is interesting is that the first 95 aircraft were built and exported,
five went to Canada and 90 went to the British. The F4F Wildcat was the
first American-made aircraft to shoot down a German aircraft. On
December 25, 1940, 2 "Martletts" from the Royal Navy's 804 squadron
shot down a Junkers Ju-88 near Scapa Flow. In US Navy service, the
Wildcat performed well. Joe Foss is the leading Wildcat ace with 26
victories. Despite being inferior in multiple aspects to the Mitsubishi
Zero, the US Navy pilots were able to hold there own. Development of
the "Thach Weave" and other strategies paid off for this rugged
fighter.
General Motors also built the Grumman F4F Wildcat while Grumman
concentrated on building the new F6F Hellcat.
The is one of the General
Motors built Wildcats (N5833). As a GM built aircraft, it's designation
was FM-2. It is painted in Royal Navy markings. The Royal Navy called
the F4F/FM-2 the Martlett.