The Grumman F6F Hellcat arguably was the most powerful fighter of World War II. From its humble experimental origins, it entered operational service after less than 18 months of development and testing. It first saw action on August 19, when the Fighting Squadron VF-5 from the USS Yorktown, CV-10, attacked Marcus Island.
The F6F Hellcat, widely regarded as better flying than the legendary Japanese A6M Zero, tallied 5,156 enemies destroyed, which accounted for 75 percent of the U.S. Navy’s air-to-air victories.
Development of the Hellcat began in mid-1941 as Grumman’s G-50 design, originally designated XF6F-1; it flew with a fitted Wright R-2600-10 engine developing 1,700 horsepower in June 1942. Further design adjustments eventually led to the mounting of a more powerful 2,000-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 engine.
Just a month later, the XF6F-3 prototype made its first flight, and an immediate contract for large-scale production was issued.
The first production F6F-3 flew in October 1942, and initial deliveries went to Fighting Squadron VF-9 in early 1943. The F6F-3 made its combat debut with VF-5 during the Marcus Island raid on 31 August 1943 from the carrier Yorktown CV-10.
In 1944, the Hellcat became the standard Navy carrier-based fighter. The Grumman manufactured some 4,403 F6F-3s, along with 150-night fighters and several photo-reconnaissance versions.
In 1944, the F6F-5 was finally released with many refinements, such as a revamped cowling area, improved windshield, and an attachment point for carrying a 2,000 lb. bomb on the centerline.
Some of the F6F-5s were equipped with two British 20mm cannons and four .50-caliber machine guns instead of the earlier six .50-calibers. A total of 6,681 F6F-5s were built, and this figure includes 1,189 night fighters and a few photo reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 1,182 F6F-3 and -5 aircraft were delivered to the Royal Navy.
The design philosophy, as Grumman had visualized it, was to produce an aircraft that could be mastered in a very short time, yet easily operable from a carrier, but with performance to outdo the enemy. Hellcat pilots gained a kill ratio of 19:1, shooting down 5,156 enemy aircraft in two years.
In the last stages of the war, an analysis of American and captured Axis fighters determined the Hellcat to be the best in almost all categories, therefore it remains one of the best fighters of the war. Grumman produced 12,275 Hellcats at its Bethpage Plant Number 3 in just 30 months.
With the hegemony, the Hellcat was revealed on October 24, 1944, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, U.S. Navy Capt.
David McCampbell and wingman Ens. Roy Rushing was jumped by a squadron of 60 Japanese aircraft while he was flying his F6F Hellcat. Though vastly outnumbered, they dived into their enemies with two thousand horsepower engines and six .50-caliber machine guns.
McCampbell and Rushing downed a record 15 enemy aircraft in becoming “ace in a day,” meaning that during one mission, at least five or more aircraft were shot down. McCampbell netted nine kills, seven of them Zeroes and two Oscars while Rushing added significantly to that total.
In this image of sturdy, versatile design, the Hellcat became an instant favorite among pilots. According to Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum curator Thomas Paone, “The Grumman Hellcat was better than the Zero in almost every major category.
While it wasn’t the fastest aircraft, it was certainly faster than the Zero. The F6F could fly higher and deliver more firepower than the Japanese plane, making it the superior aircraft in the Pacific.”
Part of the Hellcat heritage is housed at the National Air and Space Museum, which houses a Grumman F6F Hellcat. Commissioned to Fighter Squadron 15 aboard the USS Hornet, this example also served in World War II but never had the opportunity to deploy its armaments in combat.
The Smithsonian was donated this example by the U.S. Navy in 1948 with the express intent that it would be preserved; as such, in 1983, it was fully restored.
The Hellcat was originally an add-on improvement over the F4F Wildcat but grew to become an entirely new fighter, having landing gear, larger wings, and a bigger engine and propeller.
Grumman’s hastily prepared Hellcat, coupled with its sterling performance, assured it a place as one of the mainstays of U.S. Navy aerial victories in World War II.