Recent content by Ericson

Some years ago I read an account of the only Bearcat vs Mustang encounter known to me. Shortly after hostilities ceased on VJ day, a carrier with a squadron of F8Fs was in the Gulf of Mexico and called on the port of New Orleans as a PR exercise. Nearby, on shore, was based a squadron of P51s...

My dad flew all three birds (F8F, F4U, and F7F) as well as the F6F, F4F, and FM2 (the latter in combat.) In a number of discussions with him about their characteristics, it was clear that the F8F was his favorite because of its responsiveness. In a pure dogfight, I think it would have proven...