World War II Database

1.  David Stubblebine says:
23 May 2008 08:45:45 PM

Red border around National Insignia suggests Jun-Sep 1943 perhaps photo date has a simple typo and it is really 21 Jun 1943.

2.  Bill says:
20 Jul 2010 05:22:19 PM

F6F-3 Hellcat one of 4,403 including 206 nightfighters.
Production rate rose to over 500 fighters
per-month. The last F6F-3 Hellcat built left the factory in April 1944.

3.  Bill says:
28 Jun 2012 06:15:21 PM

BRAND NEW CATS:

Photograph was take during the summer of 1943 F6F-3 Hellcats are being test flown over the Grumman Long Island factory before turning them over to the navy.
Aircraft carry no identifying codes carrier or squadron markings. Red marking around US Star and Bar insignia used between June to September 1943. During the Pacific War, the Hellcat had a ratio of 19 to 1 in its favor.
Each Hellcat cost the US taxpayer $35,000 1940s dollars.

COLOR OF THE CAT:

Standard color scheme for F6F-3 Hellcats
were three-tone color scheme, late 1943 of
Dark Blue upper surface, Medium Blue sides
and White under surface. Red around the Star and Bar insignia was used between June to September 1943.
The F6F-3 Hellcat was armed w/6x50 caliber machine guns w/400rpg total load of ammo was 2400 rounds. During WWII Grumman built 12,275 of which 11,000 were built in the last two-years of the war! the last F6F-5 Hellcat,left the production line in November 1945.
After WWII the Hellcat continued to serve the US Navy in other duties, and with its Reserve Squadrons until 1954. Did you know
the first post-war aircraft used by the Navy
"Blue Angels" were F6F-5 Hellcats the planes were painted dark blue with gold letters
US Navy on the wings and fuselage.