Grumman F4F Wildcat - F6F Hellcat

Produced between the end of the decade to the early forties was the main hunting, usually embarked on aircraft carriers, the United States Navy in 1941 and 1942, ie in the first year of participation in the Second World War and successor, and descendant of the F3F, last the biplane fighter of the US Navy and Air Force of the entire United States of America.

The Grumman F4F Wildcat was the standard fighter of the US Navy to operate from the deck of aircraft carrier in the first two years of war and as such he was called to take the weight to counter the Japanese air offensive, mainly conducted by the formidable Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Zero fighter) .

The Grumman F6F Hellcat was developed quickly as a standard fighter of the US Navy in World War II, entering service in 1943 and remained the most important aircraft of the US Navy until the end of the conflict.

It was the direct descendant of the F4F Wildcat that, according to forecasts, had to be a useful replacement for the Navy aircraft carrier in order to better counteract the way to the Japanese fighters.

According to statistics gathered by the Defense, 75% of enemy planes shot down by American aircraft operating from aircraft carriers in all theaters of war is to be credited all'Hellcat.

In addition to the 4,947 Japanese aircraft shot down by the Germans and F6F operating from aircraft carriers, the Hellcat which started from bases on land destroyed 209 enemy aircraft, bringing the total number of victories in each military sector worldwide in 5,156.