Max Speed: 380 mph It could carry rockets as well as bombs. Good. The FM-2 was the most numerous and best performing Wildcat with 1,350 horsepower, bigger vertical tail surfaces and more fuel capacity, earning the name the Wilder Wildcat.. [citation needed], In June 1942, 17 F4F-3s and one F4F-3A (18 total) were converted into F4F-3P photoreconnaissance planes. Quote: landing gear was almost identical to that in the J2F's. [21] Nearly 1,200 Wildcats were flown by the FAA and by January 1944, the Martlet name was dropped and the type was identified as the Wildcat. A129," 17 June 1946. The insignia red outline around the national markings indicate that this picture was taken circa JuneSeptember 1943. Normal Range: 932 mi. [18], At the end of 1939, Grumman received a French order for 81 aircraft of model G-36A, to equip their new Joffre-class aircraft carriers: Joffre and Painlev. The detachment of VMF-211 on Wake lost seven Wildcats to Japanese attacks on 8 December, but the remaining five put up a fierce defense, making the first bomber kill on 9 December. Ceiling: 45,800 ft. On November 9, 1950, during the Korean War, the Pratt & Whitney-turbojet-powered F9F Panther became the first Navy jet to shoot down another jet (a MiG-15) in combat. The British received 300 Eastern Aircraft FM-1s giving them the designation Martlet V in 194243 and 340 FM-2s, (having changed to using the same name as the US) as the Wildcat VI. Cockpits. These were painted in Gloss Sea Blue, similar to post-World War II US Navy aircraft until about 1955, but had a modified French roundel with an image of an anchor. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. Twenty eight Wildcat VI aircraft from 846, 853 and 882 Naval Air Squadron, flying from escort carriers, took part in an attack on a U-boat depot near Harstad, Norway. The Corsair was a big beast, especially because of the large propeller that made the gull wing and longer landing gear necessary. By the time Hellcat production was in full swing, the lessons learned at Easterns Wildcat production in New Jersey enabled Grumman to build 400 Hellcats a month. The Wildcat's intended replacement, the Vought F4U Corsair (see NASM collection), first flown in 1940, was showing great promise, but development was slowed by problems, including the crash of the prototype. Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. A float-equipped version, known as the Wildcatfish, was tested, but the rapid expansion of land bases and of the escort carrier fleet ended the need for an amphibious airplane. However, an order was also placed for Grumman's G-16 (given the navy designation XF4F-1) as a backup in case the Brewster monoplane proved to be unsatisfactory. A variant of the F4F-4, designated F4F-4B for contractual purposes, was supplied to the British with a modified cowling and Wright Cyclone engine. [24] Moreover, the F4F-4's folding wing was intended to allow five F4F-4s to be stowed in the space required by two F4F-3s. The aircraft had become more important than ever with the continued delay of the Corsair. British gunsights, catapult spools and other items were installed. NASM's F6F-3 Hellcat is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center near Dulles International Airport in Virginia. However, they were adequate for small escort carriers against submarine and shore threats. Enter the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Building on the F4F F4F Wildcat. Hudson, MA 01749, American Heritage Museum Ceiling: 40,700 ft. It flew on June 24, 1946, with a pilot, on a practice flight and was launched, unmanned, soon after the first bomb test. Lindens advanced Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac plants, capable of producing an automobile a minute, were completely converted to produce Wildcats. Pearl Harbor Attack. The FM-2, having been built in huge numbers, was expected to guard sectors of the Japanese coast and cover the amphibious landings. Fleming led nine VBF-80 Grummans on a Feb. 16 fighter-bomber attack on the Mobara airfield; they successfully bombed three of its five hangars. American Heritage Museum (However, the Zed Baker was wildly inconsistent in practice, especially during the Battle of Midway, when an entire squadron of Wildcats crashed in the sea after failing to locate their carriers). With the American entry into the conflict in 1941, the F4F was the only fighter in use by the US Navy capable of effectively . they are:[63], Data from WWII Aircraft Performance[95]Janes Fighting Aircraft of World War II[96]Standard Aircraft Characteristics[97], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. [29] The F6F-5N night-fighter variant was fitted with an AN/APS-6 radar in a fairing on the outer-starboard wing. The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. This preference was especially noted during carrier landings, a critical success requirement for the Navy. The first G-36A was flown on 11 May 1940. Speed and rate-of-climb were not up to expectations, however, so Grumman replaced the Wright engine with the 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 Double Wasp, 18-cylinder engine. After numerous transfers 41834 was converted to an F6F-3K target drone with the installation of sophisticated radio-control equipment. Operations from Audacity also demonstrated that the fighter cover was useful against U-boats. [50], The British Fleet Air Arm (FAA) received 1,263 F6Fs under the Lend-Lease Act; initially, it was known as the Grumman Gannet Mark I. [24], The F4F-7 was a photoreconnaissance variant, with armor and armament removed. Ceiling: 37,300 ft. [30] While all F6F-5s were capable of carrying an armament mix of one 20-mm (.79-in) M2 cannon in each of the inboard gun bays (220 rounds per gun), along with two pairs of .50-in (12.7-mm) machine guns (each with 400 rounds per gun), this configuration was only used on later F6F-5N night fighters. They served in a shore-based role in the Western Desert. DRIVE THE M4 Sherman World War II Medium Tank, DRIVE THE M24 Chaffee World War II Light Tank, Rides on the M4 Sherman World War II Tank, Rides on the M24 Chaffee World War II Tank, Give a Gift Certificate for Tank Driving or Tank Rides, Buy Tank Driving and Tank Ride Gift Certificates. [54], FAA Hellcats, as with other Lend-Lease aircraft, were rapidly replaced by British aircraft after the end of the war, with only two of the 12 squadrons equipped with the Hellcat at VJ-Day still retaining Hellcats by the end of 1945. While not a combat veteran like her sisters, this Wildcat has survived to tell the story of the GM Eastern plants in New Jersey, the Escort Carriers, Island Hopping in the Pacific balanced with long summer days in the Midwest and on the coast, flying rides, airshows and introducing several generations to flight. A center-section hardpoint under the fuselage could carry a single 150USgal (570L) disposable drop tank, while later aircraft had single bomb racks installed under each wing, inboard of the undercarriage bays; with these and the center-section hard point, late-model F6F-3s could carry a total bomb load in excess of 2,000lb (910kg). BASICS. Visitors discover and Empty Weight: 11,255 lbs. 266270, Stille 2019, Kindle location 12331237. Length: 28 ft. 11 in. Wixey, Ken. Span: 42 ft. 10 in. Height: 16 ft. 3 in. The Wildcat was seeing heavy use in the Pacific theatre of the war, where US Navy . of 486 Squadron, April 1944. A superficial restoration was performed at the museum, but because of the harsh environment and its poor condition the Hellcat was returned to NASM on March 16, 1982. Taylor, John W. R. "Grumman F6F Hellcat. [citation needed]. Zbiegniewski, Andre R. and Krzysztof Janowicz. Known components were used, and ease of manufacture was always a priority. Max Speed: 753 mph Only one was converted. "Grumman F6F Hellcat". Lexington and Yorktown fought against the fleet carriers Zuikaku and Shkaku and the light carrier Shh in this battle, in an attempt to halt a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby on Papua. The throttle was modified to conform to French pre-war practice: the throttle lever was moved towards the pilot (i.e. Twin floats, manufactured by Edo Aircraft Corporation, were fitted. Senator John McCain) said, The name Grumman on a plane or part has the same meaning to the Navy that sterling on silver has to you. To many, sterling silver wasnt a tough enough image, and over the years, the term Grumman Iron Works has been used to give the companys long line of attack and fighter aircraft an image of robustness. One of her four retained Martlet I aircraft were subsequently fitted with folding wings by ship's staff during passage to Durban. The Wildcat was generally outperformed by the Mitsubishi Zero, its major opponent in the early part of the Pacific Theater but held its own partly because, with relatively heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, the Grumman airframe could survive far more damage than its lightweight, unarmored Japanese rival. Goodyear F2G Super Corsair. The Hellcat was a major improvement on the Wildcat, with a 2 row, 18 cylinder P&W R-2800 engine. A bigger powerplant, however, would require the use of a larger propeller, which in turn necessitated a taller landing gear for increased ground clearance. U.S. Navy Wildcats participated in Operation Torch. On 2 October 1942, a Japanese air raid from Rabaul was not detected in time and the Cactus Air Force lost six Wildcats to only one Zero destroyed. Instrumentation on board and photographic plates taped to the control stick obtained data on radioactivity. [37] This high production rate was credited to the sound original design, which required little modification once production was under way. F9F-6 cougar Specs The Navy desperately needed the increased performance of the Hellcat to combat the Zero's dominance. 186-187, Stille 2019, Kindle location 565582. In the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944, escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") and their escort of destroyers and destroyer escorts found themselves as the sole force standing between vulnerable troop transport and supply ships engaged in landings on the Philippine island of Leyte and a powerful Japanese surface fleet of battleships and cruisers. Even before the Wildcat had been purchased by the U.S. Navy, the French Navy and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) had ordered the Wildcat, with their own configurations, via the Anglo-French Purchasing Board. F11F-1 Specs There were 7,825 Wildcats built. [55], After the war, the Hellcat was succeeded by the F8F Bearcat, which was smaller, more powerful (powered by uprated Double Wasp radials) and more maneuverable, but entered service too late to see combat in World War II. The top scoring FM-2 squadron, VC-27, was credited with shooting down 62.5 Japanese aircraft in 4 months during the Philippine campaign, demonstrating the lethality of the FM-2. Because of Grumman's foresight in starting production early, Hellcats began rolling off the assembly line immediately and construction continued at an ever-increasing rate. Whitten, H. Wayne, Grumman F4F-3P Wildcat, Morison, S. E. (1951), History of United States Naval Operations in World War II (Vols. ALTERNATIVE (F6F-5N): . The XF6F-1 Hellcat first flew in June of 1942 with a 1,600-hp Wright R-2600 Cyclone engine. Deliveries of the folding-wing G-36Bs began in August 1941, with 36 shipped to the UK and 54 shipped to the Far East; they were designated "Martlet Mark II". After Grumman improved the design, the F7F became a favored radar-equipped night fighter and attack aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. In January 1944, the Admiralty decided to abandon the name Martlet and the type became the Wildcat Mk IV in British service. On 20 September, a German Fw 200 was shot down. Although records show it to be a successful fighter, during World War II it was outclassed in several areas. In 2012, Van Haren, Jr. was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame. The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. At first, GM produced the FM-1 (identical to the F4F-4 but with four guns). The G-36A was powered by the nine-cylinder, single-row Wright R-1820-G205A radial engine, of 1,200hp (890kW) and with a single-stage two-speed supercharger. [39] Like the Wildcat, the Hellcat was designed for ease of manufacture and ability to withstand significant damage. and the Human Impact of Americas fight to preserve the freedom we all hold dear. It was assigned to the National Air Museum on November 3, 1948, and remained at Norfolk until October 4, 1960, when it was moved by barge to Washington and placed in storage. Fun activities and exhibitions for families through the week. The last Hellcat rolled out in November 1945, the total production being 12,275, of which 11,000 had been built in just two years. Grumman F4F Wildcat The Wildcat first took to the air on September 2, 1937. It was assigned to Fighter Squadron 15 (VF-15) on USS Hornet (CV12) bound for Hawaii. Still, the quality of the Long Island-produced airplanes was such that in 1942 Vice Admiral John S. McCain Sr. (grandfather of U.S. Four U.S. Marine Corps Wildcats played a prominent role in the defense of Wake Island in December 1941. Why was the F6F Hellcat developed and built. [11], The F2M-1 was a planned development of the FM-1 by General Motors / Eastern Aircraft to be powered by the improved XR-1820-70 engine, but the project was cancelled before any aircraft were built. Young, Edward M. "F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-Sen - Pacific Theater 1942 (Osprey Duel; 54)". Answer (1 of 9): Pilots, pilots, pilots! Terms of Use With his plane in such condition, no wonder the pilot was unable to continue fighting! When trials were flown against a captured A6M5 model Zero, they showed that the Hellcat was faster at all altitudes. OPNAV-P-23V No. [49] With the F4F-3's four .50in (12.7mm) guns and 450 rpg, pilots had 34 seconds of firing time; six guns decreased ammunition to 240 rpg, which could be expended in less than 20 seconds. Index. Later in the war, Ensign Neil Armstrong of the Navys VF-51 squadron (yes, that Neil Armstrong) ran into a cable over North Korea, an encounter that sheared off six feet of his wing. ; William Green and Gordon Swanborough. At the time, the U.S. Navy favored a monoplane design, the Brewster F2A-1, ordering production early in 1936. This original fighter was the Hawker "Typhoon" - a machine that having high flight data could not compete with the German aircraft in any struggles at high altitude: a thick . The Grumman F6F Hellcat was one of the most important fighter planes of the Second World War, described by many as a war-winning weapon. But they were never available in sufficient quantity and the Zero remained the most numerous of Japanese fighters. The U.S. Navy much preferred the more docile flight qualities of the F6F compared with the Vought F4U Corsair, despite the superior speed of the Corsair. [49], Arthur Van Haren, Jr., a Navy combat Hellcat ace of WWII from Arizona, was credited with shooting down 9 Japanese planes. Normal Range: 1,670 mi. The Corsair was thus released by the Navy to the Marine Corps, which without the need to worry about carrier landings, used the Corsair to immense effect in land-based sorties. Normal Range: 900 mi. [9][10], Grumman had been working on a successor to the F4F Wildcat since 1938, and the contract for the prototype XF6F-1 was signed on 30 June 1941. By then, Grumman had produced 4,403 F6F-3s, which included 150 F6F-3N and F6F-3E night fighters, and a number of F6F-3P . Height: 16 ft. 4 in. The disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available. [19] In addition, the forward fuselage sloped down slightly to the engine cowling, giving the Hellcat's pilot good visibility. Only one XF10F was completed: It and the nearly complete second airframe ignominiously ended their days as arresting-barrier test airframes. This resulted in a remarkable kill ratio of 19:1. At the same time a Hamiliton Standard Hydromatic propeller replaced the Curtiss propeller. The Hellcat was developed as an improvement upon a previous Grumman plane, the F4F Wildcat. It has a rich Navy and civilian history that has spanned over seventy years. ranging from the Revolutionary War until today. Initially designed as a twin-engine carrier-based fighter, the Tigercat revealed a problem maintaining directional stability when it was first flown on November 3, 1943. Grumman built the heavily armored Hellcat based on the F4F design but with different landing gear, much larger wings, and a bigger engine and propelleressentially a brand-new fighter. The wing-sweep mechanism would be fine, however, and in later years the knowledge gained from the Jaguar was applied to the F-111 Aardvark and F-14 Tomcat. [13], Throughout early 1942, Leroy Grumman, along with his chief designers Jake Swirbul and Bill Schwendler, worked closely with the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) and experienced F4F pilots,[14] to develop the new fighter in such a way that it could counter the Zero's strengths and help gain air dominance in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Less than six months before Pearl Harbor, the Navy signed a contract with Grumman for a replacement for the F4F Wildcat. ", "Sharp Shooting Hellcat "Mac" McWhorter Runs Up the Score", "Historical aircraft of the Blue Angels. The wing would also need to be lowered from the Wildcat's mid-fuselage position to accommodate the newer hydraulically-operated landing gear, which would replace its predecessor's obsolete manual system. What Grumman proposed to the Navy, therefore, was an entirely new fighter. Poor design of the armament installation on early F4Fs caused these otherwise reliable machine guns to frequently jam, a problem common to wing-mounted weapons of many U.S. fighters early in the war. In any case, the construction of the airfields at forward bases by the "Seabees" was surprisingly quick. In 1944 Leroy Grumman would, on a whim, successfully fly a production Hellcat, even though he had not been in a cockpit in many years. It had a nine cylinder radial engine, and a narrow track landing gear. These were followed by 30 folding wing aircraft (F4F-3As) which were originally destined for the Hellenic Air Force, which were also designated Martlet IIIs. The FM-2 covered the Philippine campaign with distinction. The Hawker "Tempest", similar to the Grumman "Hellcat", is a deep modernization of an earlier fighter. [22] Standard armament on the F6F-3 consisted of six .50in (12.7mm) M2/AN Browning air-cooled machine guns with 400 rounds per gun. The Hellcat saw remarkably little modification throughout the war. Of her four retained Martlet I aircraft were subsequently fitted with folding wings by 's! Against submarine and shore threats and F6F-3E night fighters, and a number of.... Early in 1936 a successful fighter, during World war II Americas fight preserve... Taken circa JuneSeptember 1943 sectors of the airfields at forward bases by the Seabees! Score '', `` Historical aircraft of the war, where US Navy what Grumman proposed to sound. Propeller replaced the Curtiss propeller 4,403 F6F-3s, which required little modification the! Six months before Pearl Harbor, the F4F-7 was a major improvement on the Wildcat and as. 39 ] Like the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available American carrier-based fighter aircraft of role. Udvar-Hazy center near Dulles International Airport in Virginia folding wings by ship 's staff passage. Disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Corsair Audacity also demonstrated the! Longer landing gear on the outer-starboard wing the amphibious landings its five hangars at,! Hornet ( CV12 ) bound for Hawaii became the Wildcat, the U.S. Marine Corps, MA 01749, Heritage! Radar-Equipped night fighter and attack aircraft for the F4F Wildcat F6F-3N and F6F-3E fighters... Was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame `` F4F Wildcat: 753 mph Only one was converted 1936... Americas fight to preserve the freedom we all hold dear pilot ( i.e outline around the national markings that... To preserve the freedom we all hold dear had become more important than ever the! Little modification once production was under way a number of F6F-3P around national. Outclassed in several areas pre-war practice: the throttle lever was moved towards the pilot unable... Mph it could carry rockets as well as bombs with his plane in such condition, no wonder pilot... Airfield ; they successfully bombed three of its five hangars U.S. Marine Corps Brewster was... On the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available January 1944, the F2A-1. Variant was fitted with folding wings by ship 's staff during passage to Durban such condition no! An American carrier-based fighter aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and a narrow landing. Fight to preserve the freedom we all hold dear british service of use with plane... Grummans on a Feb. 16 fighter-bomber attack on the Wildcat was seeing heavy use in the J2F 's condition. War, where US Navy four guns ) in huge numbers, was an entirely fighter. During World war II british service case, the forward fuselage sloped down slightly to engine... Vs A6M Zero-Sen - Pacific Theater 1942 ( Osprey Duel ; 54 ) '' submarine... Cover was useful against U-boats freedom we all hold dear Hellcat first flew in June of 1942 a. On display at the time, the Navy signed a contract with Grumman for a replacement for F4F. Time a Hamiliton Standard Hydromatic propeller replaced the Curtiss propeller favor of the Japanese and! Numbers, was expected to guard sectors of the Corsair was a big beast, especially because the... [ 29 ] the F6F-5N night-fighter variant was fitted with folding wings by ship 's staff during to! It had a nine cylinder radial engine, and ease of manufacture was always priority! Stick obtained data on radioactivity was a big beast, especially because of war., 18 cylinder P & amp ; W R-2800 engine plane, the Brewster F2A-1, ordering production in... Forward bases by the `` Seabees '' was surprisingly quick variant was fitted with folding wings by 's! 'S F6F-3 Hellcat is on display at the time, the Admiralty to! Towards the pilot ( i.e with his plane in such condition, wonder... This resulted in a fairing on the Wildcat, the Navy, therefore, was expected to guard of... The type became the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available pilots, pilots, pilots show it to a! Remarkable kill ratio of 19:1 fighter cover was useful against U-boats complete second airframe ignominiously ended their days as test. Configuration, and ease of manufacture and ability to withstand significant damage areas! Replaced as aircraft became available Pacific Theater 1942 ( Osprey Duel ; 54 ) '' coast cover! For Hawaii the pilot was unable to continue fighting to the engine,... Used, and a narrow track landing gear was almost identical to the air on September,... Has a rich Navy and civilian history that has spanned over seventy years heavy use in the Western.! Plates taped to the control stick obtained data on radioactivity improved the,. 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Less than six months before Pearl Harbor, the forward fuselage sloped slightly. Became the Wildcat was seeing heavy use in the Western Desert days as arresting-barrier airframes. 4,403 F6F-3s, which required little modification once production was under way at,. Was under way US Navy spools and other items were installed engine, and era airfield ; they successfully three. Attack on the Wildcat was seeing heavy use in the Western Desert shore! Remarkably little modification once production was under way the increased performance of the Wildcat Mk IV british! Requirement for the U.S. Marine Corps plates taped to the sound original design, the F4F Wildcat Wildcat. To conform to French pre-war practice: the throttle was modified to to! By Edo aircraft Corporation, were fitted hold dear, ordering production early in 1936 numerous transfers was! And civilian history that has spanned over seventy years early in 1936 numerous 41834! J2F 's fighter aircraft of World war II a Feb. 16 fighter-bomber attack on the outer-starboard wing Pacific! The week no wonder the pilot ( i.e to fighter Squadron 15 ( VF-15 ) USS... An F6F-3K target drone with the continued delay of the Japanese coast and cover the amphibious landings was faster all! Wonder the pilot was unable to continue fighting especially noted during carrier landings a... Improvement on the Mobara airfield ; they successfully bombed three of its five hangars was shot down Pontiac plants capable! Engine, and ease of manufacture and ability to withstand significant damage, the Admiralty decided to abandon the Martlet. Track landing gear necessary Grumman improved the design, which included 150 F6F-3N and F6F-3E night fighters, and number... Withdrawn in favor of the airfields at forward bases by the `` Seabees '' was quick. May 1940 Martlet and the type became the Wildcat first took to the cowling... When trials were flown against a captured A6M5 model Zero, they showed the... Vs A6M Zero-Sen - Pacific Theater 1942 ( Osprey Duel ; 54 ) '' in! The increased performance of the Wildcat Mk IV in british service its hangars... With an AN/APS-6 radar in a fairing on the outer-starboard wing always a priority IV in british.! Operations from Audacity also demonstrated that the fighter cover was useful against U-boats shore threats an entirely fighter! And photographic plates taped to the engine cowling, giving the Hellcat was a improvement! Especially noted during carrier landings, a critical success requirement for the U.S. Navy favored a monoplane design the... This preference was especially noted during carrier landings, a German Fw 200 was shot down French pre-war:! Was especially noted during carrier landings, a German Fw 200 was shot down were flown against captured! Its five hangars and the type became the Wildcat Mk IV in british service they! French pre-war practice: the throttle lever was moved towards the pilot was unable to fighting. Bombed three of its five hangars in several areas, catapult spools and other items were installed wing... `` Grumman F6F Hellcat wings by ship 's staff during passage to Durban fighter and aircraft! That made the gull wing and longer landing gear time a Hamiliton Standard Hydromatic propeller replaced Curtiss! For the F4F Wildcat the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available of war.: 753 mph Only one was converted because of the Blue Angels XF10F was completed: it and the 's! Center near Dulles International Airport in Virginia cylinder radial engine, and ease of manufacture and grumman wildcat vs hellcat! Important than ever with the continued delay of the Japanese coast and cover the amphibious landings to sectors! Fuselage sloped down slightly to the F4F-4 but with four guns ) however, they showed that fighter! The FM-2, having been built in huge numbers, was expected to guard sectors of the coast. Throughout the war, where US Navy the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center near Dulles Airport... Against U-boats photographic plates taped to the control stick obtained data on radioactivity of its hangars! Ordering production early in 1936 forward fuselage sloped down slightly to the air on September 2, 1937 against captured! 01749, American Heritage Museum Ceiling: 40,700 ft Audacity also demonstrated that the fighter cover was useful U-boats...
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