The Southern California
WIng of the Commemoraive Air Force has the F6F Hellcat "Minsi III" and
the F8F Bearcat. The F6F was designed using lessons learned from
fighting against the Japanese in the F4F Wildcat. From their first
action in September of 1943 until the end of WWII, the Helllcat saw
service in almost every major engagement in the Pacific. The Hellcat
produced 305 aces. Minsi III was the aircraft of Commander David
McCampbell, the US Navy's top scoring ace.
The F8F Bearcat was en
route to the Pacific when WWII ended. The climb rate of the Beacat was
6,000 feet per minute, an impressive rate for a piston aircraft that
outclimbed the early jets. The F8F went on to serve in Korea and with
the French in Indochina.
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