Caption | F6F-3K Hellcat fighter painted bright orange while being in service as a target drone, post-WW2 ww2dbase | ||||
Photographer | Unknown | ||||
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Added By | C. Peter Chen | ||||
Licensing | The source of this work has not yet been determined. Because it has been about 78 years since the creation of this work, WW2DB is operating under the assumption that this work is now in the public domain. Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. Bill says:
9 Jan 2016 08:30:39 PM
POST-WAR SERVICE:
In the post-war years the F6F Hellcat continued
to serve aboard carrier air groups, naval air stations and reserve units, until replaced by the AD Skyraider and early jet fighters.
TARGET DRONE: F6F-K's (DRONES)
Drone Hellcats were also used as targets for Navy and Marine pilots in air-to-air gunnery practice. Less fortunate F6F-3's and F6F-5's were converted into target drone aircraft as F6F-3K's and F6F-5K's. These aircraft were used as an early form of surface to surface missile that was radio controlled and carried a 2,00lbs / 907kg, warhead to bomb bridges in North Korea, some were equipped with a TV camera, for strike results. Controlling aircraft were Douglas AD-4Q Skyraiders.
ATOMIC HELLCATS:
Special drone Hellcats were used to fly through radioactive cloud to collect air samples during Operation Crossroads testing Atomic Weapons, Bikini Island in the Pacific.
9 Jan 2016 08:30:39 PM
POST-WAR SERVICE:
In the post-war years the F6F Hellcat continued
to serve aboard carrier air groups, naval air stations and reserve units, until replaced by the AD Skyraider and early jet fighters.
TARGET DRONE: F6F-K's (DRONES)
Drone Hellcats were also used as targets for Navy and Marine pilots in air-to-air gunnery practice. Less fortunate F6F-3's and F6F-5's were converted into target drone aircraft as F6F-3K's and F6F-5K's. These aircraft were used as an early form of surface to surface missile that was radio controlled and carried a 2,00lbs / 907kg, warhead to bomb bridges in North Korea, some were equipped with a TV camera, for strike results. Controlling aircraft were Douglas AD-4Q Skyraiders.
ATOMIC HELLCATS:
Special drone Hellcats were used to fly through radioactive cloud to collect air samples during Operation Crossroads testing Atomic Weapons, Bikini Island in the Pacific.
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14 Aug 2010 10:24:23 PM
F6F-3K Hellcats were converted into target drone aircraft.
Other F6F-3K Hellcats were used as drone
aircraft in Operation Crossroads, the Atomic
bomb tests, Bikini Atoll, July 1946