Hellcat Mk I FN327 at RAF Station Wittering
USS Yorktown CV-10 May 9, 1945 crash of an F6F-5 Hellcat #9 of VF-9.
F6F-5 white 23 of VF-9 USS Lexington (CV-16)
Pilot escaping from burning F6F-5 white 23 VF-9 USS Lexington. Pilot Ens. Ardon R. Ives, 25 February 1945
F6F-5 white 23 from VF-9 USS Lexington (CV-16) – 25 February 1945
F6F-5 white 23 from VF-9 USS Lexington (CV-16) – 25 February 1945 2
Burning F6F-5 white 23 from VF-9 USS Lexington (CV-16) – 25 February 1945
Burning F6F-5 white 23 from VF-9 USS Lexington (CV-16) – 25 February 1945 2
Grumman F6F-3 in flight, May 1943
F6F-5 Hellcat code 5-F-1 of the VF-5 in fight 1945
Night Grumman F6F-5E Bu.No. 70678 at NATC 18 October 1944
Prototype XF6F-6 Hellcat
Grumman F6F-5E in flight
The unpainted XF6F-3 Hellcat Bu.No. 02982 June 1942
Grumman F6F-3 in flight 1943
Prototype of Hellcat: XF6F-1
Night fighter F6F-5N “7-6”
F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-8 in flight 1943
Brand new F6F-3 123 in flight
F6F-5 white 32 and 74 of VF-12 onboard USS Randolph CV-15 1945
crashed Grumman Hellcat of 804 Squadron FAA
Mechanics work on an F6F Hellcat Minsi II USS Essex CV-9 Saipan on July 30 1944
F6F-5 Hellcat white 49 of VF-6 carrier USS Hancock CV-19 April 21, 1945
Grumman F6F Hellcats on the flight deck
Flight deck personnel attend to a wounded pilot of VF-19. F6F-5 Hellcat 22 USS Lexington CV-16 – Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 24, 1944
F6F Hellcat 17
F6F-5 Hellcat firing a Tiny Tim at NOTS China Lake November 6 1945
Grumman F6F Hellcat 853 Peleliu Island
Hellcats Prepare for Take Off from Carrier for Raid on Tarawa 1943
F6F of Fleet Air Arm Hellcat Mk II on deck of HMS Ameer
F6F-3 Hellcat 28 of VF-1 after engaging the barricade on the flight deck of the carrier USS Hornet CV-12 Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, 1944
Pilots of VF-83 by F6F-5 Hellcat 111
Hellcat Mk I FN355, October 1943 USA
British Hellcats Mk II Ready for Take Off from Carrier
F6F Hellcat 35 of VF-6 on board the carrier USS Intrepid CV-11 February 1, 1944
F6F-5N Hellcat F(N)59 of VMF(N)-541 Peleliu 1944
F6F of Fleet Air Arm Hellcat Mk II on deck of HMS Ameer 2
F6F-5P 135 of VF-84 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill CV-17 February 19, 1945 Iwo Jima
USS Enterprise CV-6 after kamikaze attack that damaged the carriers Belleau Wood CVL-24 Franklin CV-13 October 30, 1944. Hellcat #64 in foreground.
F6F-5 Hellcat 35 USS Yorktown
F6F-3 Hellcat 27 of VF-1 launches from the hangar deck catapult on board the carrier USS Yorktown CV-10 June 3, 1943
F6F Ace Pilots Coleman and Langdon of VF-83 aboard USS Essex 1945
F6F Hellcat on fire on USS Ticonderoga
F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-6 formation over Moanaloa Hawaii February 14,1945
F6F-5 Hellcat 33 of the VF-23 USS Langley – April, 11 1945
F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-80 prepare to launch from the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga CV-14 November 6, 1944.
F6F-3 Hellcat 26 of VF-15 USS Hornet CV-12 January 22, 1944
The 10,000th Hellcat 76 produced by Grumman after delivery to VBF-87 USS Ticonderoga CV-4 June 5, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat white 20, Ens Plant of VF-15
F6F Hellcat 136 aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga CV-14 August 19, 1945
F6F Hellcat Ace Alex Vraciu. February 1944
F6F-5 Hellcat D10 of VF-40 launches from the flight deck of the escort carrier Suwanee CVE-27 August 30, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat 21 of VF-15
F6F-5N Hellcat 21 of VF(N)-90 Bats in flight during World War II
USS Lexington CV-16 March 23, 1944 Hellcats of VF-16 and SBD Dauntless of VB-16
F6F-5 Hellcat of VF-20 launches from the carrier Lexington CV-16 January 25, 1945
Crashed Hellcat Mk II JW723 6G
F6F-5 Hellcat of VF-7 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Hancock CV-19 January 12, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat 27 of VF-7 before launching from the flight deck of the carrier USS Hancock CV-19 June 27, 1944
F6F-5N Hellcat 24 of VF(N)-90 burns on the flight deck of the carrier USS Enterprise CV-6 – April 1945 Okinawa
F6F-5N Hellcat of VF(N)-90 USS Enterprise CV-6 after kamikaze attacks against the carrier May 14, 1945
F6F Hellcats #00 #32 of VF-5 USS Yorktown
F6F-3 after landing aboard the USS Ticonderoga 1944
F6F-5 Hellcat #134 in flight, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) Okinawa Invasion
Flight deck crewmen on board USS Essex prepare to remove LT J.J. Collins from his Hellcat after he crash-landed
F6F-5 Hellcat S73 of VBF-11 escort carrier USS Takansis Bay CVE-89 August 11, 1945
F6F Hellcats color photo
F6F Hellcat Ready for Takeoff from Carrier for Raid on Wake Island October 1943
F6F Yorktown CV-10 Iwo Jima February 19, 1945
USS Wasp CV-18, USS Yorktown CV-10, USS Hornet CV-12 and USS Hancock CV-19 anchored in Ulithi Atoll as seen from the carrier USS Ticonderoga CV-14 on 2 December 1944. Hellcats 39 and 12 in foreground.
F6F-3 Hellcat 33 of VF-5 on its nose after engaging the barricade USS Yorktown CV-10 March 31, 1944
VBF-16 Personnel By F6F Hellcat
USS Antietam CV-36 F6F of Air Group 89 ready for launch of April 17, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat flown by Lieutenant (jg) A. Magee of VF-25 streams flame as it approaches the carrier USS Cowpens CVL-25 – November 20, 1943
F6F-3 Hellcat 5 of VF-50 after launching from the deck of the carrier USS Bataan CVL-29, January 1944
F6F Hellcat #8 of the VF-17, USS Hancock lands on water July 6, 1944 4
F6F-5N Hellcat 92 of VMF(N)-511 on board the escort carrier USS Block Island CVE-106, Okinawa May 19, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat 11 of VF-2 on the catapult on board the carrier USS Hornet CV-12 May 6, 1944
US Hellcat fighter flying off the deck of HMS Emperor. Hellcat of 800 Squadron (foreground)
Hellcats Mk I of No 1840 Squadron FAA Eglinton, Northern Ireland
Lt. Magge Prepares to Land Burning F6F Hellcat on USS COWPENS 1944
F6F Hellcats of VF-12 descends to the hangar deck on an aircraft elevator on board the carrier Saratoga CV-3 January 18, 1944
F6F pilot exits cockpit after Kamikaze Attack on U.S. carrier 1945. Probably USS Randolph (CV-15).
Marine F6F Fighter from MAG-45 Crash Landed 1944
Group photograph of the VF-86 with one of their F6F-5 Hellcats on board the carrier Wasp CV-18 July 17, 1945
F6F Hellcat 37 of VF-6 carrier USS Hancock CV-19 – February 14, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat 86-F-17 of VF-86 escort carrier Charger CVE-30 September 7, 1944
F6F-5N Hellcat 29 of VMF(N)-511 taxiing on the flight deck of the escort carrier Block Island CVE-106 February 4, 1945
WASP Women test pilots and F6F Hellcats
F6F of Fleet Air Arm Hellcat Mk II pushed overboard of HMS Ameer
F6F-5 Hellcat 59 of VF-53 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Saratoga CV-3 Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945
F6F Hellcats 68, 69 of VF-85 USS Shangri La CV-38 in flight near Japan on August 17, 1945
F6F I USS Sangamon CVE-26 February 26, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat Ace Alex Vraciu of VF-6
British Hellcat Mk I
F6F Hellcat during testing of JATO on board the escort carrier USS Altamaha CVE -8 March 1, 1944
F6F Hellcats captains inspection
An Honor Guard carries the flag draped body of a shipmate from the deck elevator in preparation for a burial at sea on board the carrier Bataan CVL-29 1945
F6F of VF-5 USS Yorktown CV-10 color photo
F6F Hellcats of VF-17 and VBF-17 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet CV-12 March 16, 1945
VMF(N)-541 Hellcats with nose art, Falalop Island in Ulithi Atoll on May 30, 1945
Lt Cdr Edward Outlaw waves from the cockpit of his F6F-3 Hellcat
F6F after crash landing
Lt Henry Rowland of VF-3 – USS Yorktown CV-10 damaged F6F Hellcat suffered during a strike against Tokyo in February 17, 1945
British Hellcat Mk I October 1943
F6F HMS Emperor 800 squadron
F6F-3N Hellcat 319 on board the escort carrier USS Solomons CVE-67 Rhode Island November 18, 1944
F6F damaged deck
Lt(A) Alexander Macrae, RNZNVR ,1839 Sqn, crash landing on HMS Indomitable, March 26. 1945. Hellcat Mk II JX741
F6F-5N Hellcat flown by Ensign Cole of VF(N)-42 after smashing into the island of the light carrier USS Bataan CVL-29 November 21, 1944
F6F Hellcat Landing Practice Hawaii July 26 1945
Gilbert Islands January 7, 1944 Hellcats of the VF-1 and B-25 Mitchell
F6F-3 Hellcat 10 of VF-15 on final approach to the escort carrier USS Charger CVE-30 December 13, 1943
Pilot Helped from Crashed Hellcat 1944
F6F Hellcat of VF-25 before landing on board the light carrier USS Cowpens CVL-25
formation of F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-1 in flight over Hawaii May 1944
F6F-5 Hellcat on the flight deck
F6F fighter landing
F6F hellcat #16 USS Enterprise
Burning F6F-3 Hellcat 30 of VF-2, USS Enterprise CV-6
Pilot Swims from Sinking F6F Hellcat in Philippines 1945
Ens Bob Nelson VF-20 Ace By F6F-5 Hellcat
Hellcat of the HMS Emperor
F6F-3 Hellcat light carrier USS Cabot CVL-28 July 19, 1944
Captured Japanese F6F Hellcat code E-801, Japan 1945
USS Langley CVL-27 March 1945 – tails of F6F Hellcats of VF-23
Admiral Nimitzs Plane Landing on Tarawa Airfield 1943. F6F-3 Hellcat G32 in the foreground
F6F-3 Hellcat of VF-6 light carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) September 9, 1943
F6F Hellcat #8 of the VF-17, USS Hancock lands on water July 6, 1944 – 3
Damaged of an F6F-5 Hellcat 69 carrier USS Enterprise CV-6. Hellcat tail code: white triangle with aircraft number on fin.
F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-45 on board the light carrier San Jacinto CVL-30 – March 18, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcat 38. Crew during morning exercises at sea USS Yorktown CV-10
F6F Hellcats USS Franklin CV-13 October 1944
F6F Hellcats of VF-8 on board the carrier USS Bunker Hill CV-17
F6F-3 Hellcat 13 of VF-9 engages the barricade on board the carrier USS Essex CV-9 March 25, 1943brush
F6F 81 of VF-8 Commander Shifley Ready for Takeoff from USS BUNKER HILL 1944
F6F Hellcat 66 USS Enterprise
F6F Hellcats USS Enterprise CV-6
USS Kasaan Bay CVE-69 F6F Hellcats of VF-74 invasion of Southern France in August 1944
F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-9 on board the carrier USS Lexington CV-16 on February 25, 1945
F6F Hellcat #15 of VF-32 on the deck of the light carrier USS Cabot CVL-28 September 19, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-16 on board the aircraft carrier USS Lexington CV-16 April 16, 1944
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat 1943
USS Essex CV-9 crew push F6F Hellcats of VF-15 forward 1944
F6F-3 Hellcat of VF-1 lands at Tarawa Atoll on November 29, 1943
Captured Japanese F6F E-801
F6F Hellcat Mk II landing on HMS Ameer
F6F-5 Hellcat D19 of VF-22 USS Takanis Bay CVE-89 July 30, 1945
LSO on board the carrier USS Cowpens CVL-25 watches an F6F Hellcat of VF-25 November 20, 1943
MAG-45 F6F-5N Hellcat and TBM Avenger Falalop Island on July 14, 1945
F6F-5N Hellcat 9 of VF(N)-91 USS Bon Homme Richard CV-31 in flight over China September 12, 1945
F6F-5 D11 in flight
F6F Hellcat white 8 of the VF-17, USS Hancock lands on water July 6, 1944
F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-45 carrier USS San Jacinto CVL-30 – March 21, 1945
F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-8 on board the carrier USS Intrepid CV-11 – October 1943
Damaged F6F-3 15
British F6F HMS Ameer
USS Bennington CV-20 crew push F6F-5 74 of VF-82 – February 1945
F6F Hellcat 9 flying over burning Wakde Island USS Hornet 1944
F6F Hellcat burning on deck of carrier USS Cowpens
F6F Hellcat over board the auxiliary carrier USS Nassau ACV-16 – 1943
F6F-3 Hellcat 24 of VF-9 on board the carrier USS Essex CV-9 April 5, 1943
Grumman F6F Hellcat – American fighter of World War II. A single-engine, single-seat low wing. One of the most famous airplanes taking part in battles in the Far East. Produced in the years 1942-1945 in the number close to 14 000 units (mainly versions of F6F-3 and F6F-5
The prototype fighter was developed by Grumman plant design team, which led the Leroy R. Grumman. The work lasted from the beginning of 1938 until 1941. Conceived as a development version of the F4F Wildcat fighter was supposed to be a response to comments received from the pilots flying these aircraft, but the magnitude of change was so significant that it led to the creation of a new structure.
Changes designed to improve range, speed, armament and armor included the installation of a more powerful engine, with the larger propeller, the use of a new chassis design, larger supply of fuel and ammunition. This caused a significant increase in weight has prompted manufacturers to use a slice of a larger wing area to achieve low unit value of the wing load.
The contract for the construction of the prototype was signed on June 30, 1941. A year later, June 26, 1942 made the first flight of the first prototype with engine Wright R-2600-16 Cyclone, which lasted 25 minutes and was successful. July 30, 1942, performed a flight on the second prototype marked with the symbol XF6F-3 with mounted 18-cylinder engine Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp.
Variants
F6F-3. The first production model aircraft of all-metal construction. He had a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 with a capacity of 1491 kW (2028 hp), at the end of a series of Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W injected a maximum power of 1641 kW (2231 hp), 3-bladed propeller Hamilton Standard. Armament consisted of six machine guns Colt-Browning M2 12,7 mm mounted in the wings with a supply of ammunition, 400 pieces each. A total of 4402 F6F-3s were built including modifications F6F-3N, F6F-3E and F6F-3P.
F6F-3N. Modification version of the F6F-3 fight night, which is equipped with a radar antenna mounted in a gondola on the right wing. A total of 229 F6F-3Ns were built.
F6F-3E – night fighter sub-variant. Modification version of the F6F-3, which was equipped with a radar antenna mounted in an aerodynamic shield under the right wing. 18 of these planes were converted from standard F6F-3.
F6F-3P – standard F6F-3s fitted with camera equipment for reconnaissance duties. The airplane has a standard armament.
F6F-5 – produced from April 1944 with multiple modifications to the F6F-3. These included: engine Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W, improved canopy, additional armor plate, strengthening the rear part of the fuselage, install bomb racks and zero-length launchers for rockets, smoothing the surface. A total of 7868 F6F-5s were built including modifications F6F-5N F6F-5E and F6F-5P
F6F-5N – modification version of the F6F-5 to fight night, which is equipped with a radar antenna mounted in a gondola on the right wing. Total production: 1529 of F6F-5N and F6F-5E. Some F6F-5N were armed with two 20 mm AN/M2 cannons in the inner wing bays and four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns in the outer.
F6F-5E – modification version of the F6F-5 to battle the night, equipped with radar antenna mounted in an aerodynamic shield under the right wing.
F6F-5P – standard F6F-5s fitted with camera equipment for reconnaissance duties.
F6F-3K and F6F-5K special modifications involving the installation of remote control devices for use airplanes as flying targets or controlled flying bombs.
British versions and FAA serials
Hellcat Mk I – F6F-3 (serials: FN320 – FN449, JV100 – JV221)
Hellcat Mk II – F6F-5 (JV222 – JV324, JW700-784, JW857-JW899, JX670-JX964, JX968 to JX999, JX775-JZ827, JZ960-JZ964, JZ968 – JZ994, KD118-152, KD158-160, KE118-KE119, KE170-214, KE220-KE265)
Hellcat NF Mk II – F6F-5N (JX965 – JX967, JZ890-JZ911, JZ947-JZ959, JZ965-JZ967, JZ995-999, KD108-117, KD153-157, KE160-169, KE215-219)
Bibliography
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