Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat VF-5 USS Saratoga Lt. James "Pug" Southerland, Guadalcanal invasion August 7, 1942
The Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific from 1941 to 1943. While the Wildcat was still outperformed by the faster, more maneuverable, and longer ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the F4F's ruggedness combined with effective US pilot's tactics made it more successful in combat. The first operational version, the F4F-3 had a fixed wing which limited the number a fleet aircraft carrier could operate to 18. Grumman had proposed incorporating a folding wing to the Wildcat in 1940 and the Navy had awarded a contract for the F4F-4 in 1941. The folding wings would allow the fleet carriers to operate 27 Wildcats. The Battle of the Coral Sea had proved the need for more fighters for CAP and escort, and the Navy rushed to replace the fixed wing F4F-3 with the new F4F-4 before the next inevitable carrier battle which turned out to be Midway. Navy and Marine pilots weren't thrilled with the F4F-4 as it was heavier, less maneuverable, and had added 2 more machine guns which reduced the ammunition to each and reduced the firing time. But it was what they had. They made the most of it that they could, and held the line through 1943.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tank, bomb rack, bomb, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
Shessi: Pilot figure.
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an F4F-3 version.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
The Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific from 1941 to 1943. While the Wildcat was still outperformed by the faster, more maneuverable, and longer ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the F4F's ruggedness combined with effective US pilot's tactics made it more successful in combat. The first operational version, the F4F-3 had a fixed wing which limited the number a fleet aircraft carrier could operate to 18. Grumman had proposed incorporating a folding wing to the Wildcat in 1940 and the Navy had awarded a contract for the F4F-4 in 1941. The folding wings would allow the fleet carriers to operate 27 Wildcats. The Battle of the Coral Sea had proved the need for more fighters for CAP and escort, and the Navy rushed to replace the fixed wing F4F-3 with the new F4F-4 before the next inevitable carrier battle which turned out to be Midway. Navy and Marine pilots weren't thrilled with the F4F-4 as it was heavier, less maneuverable, and had added 2 more machine guns which reduced the ammunition to each and reduced the firing time. But it was what they had. They made the most of it that they could, and held the line through 1943.
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, drop tank, bomb rack, bomb, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
Shessi: Pilot figure.
Morton: 2D F4F instrument panel modified to an F4F-3 version.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Microsoft: Gauges and .air file
