QB-37
F4F/FM-2 Wildcat/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 Junker 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. This aircraft, operated by the Commemorative Air Force, is
painted in the scheme of a Royal Navy Martlett.
