Grumman F4F Wildcat

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

Martlet Western Desert Navy RNFS code ??725

WW2 PRESS PHOTOGRAPH-ROYAL NAVY FIGHTER SQUADRON IN THE WESTERN DESERT | eBay

<p>WW2 PRESS PHOTOGRAPH -Original </p><p>See pictures for item </p>

www.ebay.com

 

[Wurger]

 

[R Leonard]

Probably starts with "AX"

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots!

 

[Snautzer01]

1942 HMS Formidable AM974

Grumman F4F Wildcat 1942 HMS Formidable WWII Fleet Air Arm RAF | eBay

<p>Original 1942 press photograph.</p><br /><p>Showing, according to the printed information on the back, Grumman F4F Wildcats or Martlets on the deck of HMS Formidable. I think so that this is actually HMS Illustrious but could be wrong. </p><br /><p>I think this photograph appeared in Life...

www.ebay.com

 

[BlackSheep]

Definitely taken during the war, probably in September 1940 when the first were delivered from the USA. Note the tricolor rudder, a hat tip to the original French order for the aircraft, which was taken over by a hasty request from the Royal Navy while they were still on the production line. The colour scheme was interesting and has been subject to much post-war comment. This surviving Martlet I is still in its delivery scheme - yup, this is the colour scheme the first Martlets arrived from Grumman in.

View attachment 656876DSC_0673



This is either AX826 or AX828, both of which were at Boscombe Down in September 1940. Initial reports stating that it was pleasant to fly with straight forward stalls, but its narrow track and gear was regarded as "twitchy". Comments included the placing together of the similar looking flap and fuel levers and contamination of the cockpit of fumes. Its maximum range, which was calculated at 930 miles from 136 gallons of fuel, which was

Marine F4F Wildcat Fighters at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal '43 | eBay

View attachment 552879

Can you imagine operating in those conditions with such narrow aspect landing gear? Just when you're off the ground, relaxing all the tight muscles, you still have to crank them up, then you can go after Japanese bombers and fighters… Now people whine and cry that one time a year, they have to crank up a crappy little OEM jack to change a flat tire on their car.

 

[fubar57]

1942 HMS Formidable AM974

View attachment 693765

View attachment 693764

Grumman F4F Wildcat 1942 HMS Formidable WWII Fleet Air Arm RAF | eBay

<p>Original 1942 press photograph.</p><br /><p>Showing, according to the printed information on the back, Grumman F4F Wildcats or Martlets on the deck of HMS Formidable. I think so that this is actually HMS Illustrious but could be wrong. </p><br /><p>I think this photograph appeared in Life...

www.ebay.com

 

[Wurger]

 

[nuuumannn]

Can you imagine operating in those conditions with such narrow aspect landing gear?

It might have been narrow, which it was, but it was surprisingly robust. The F4F remained operating in pretty rough conditions on Pacific landing strips throughout the war. I don't have to hand anything that displays failure rates because of the harsh conditions, but it is not something I have read. The F2A's gear was notoriously trouble prone.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Just when you're off the ground, relaxing all the tight muscles, you still have to crank them up, then you can go after Japanese bombers and fighters… Now people whine and cry that one time a year, they have to crank up a crappy little OEM jack to change a flat tire on their car.

I think those F4Fs are -4s. They had electric gear. -3s had the hand crank. This per an ex Naval Aviator who flew both from Henderson. He said with the -3 you cranked til it got hard, then poked the stick forward to unload gravity on the gear and help it come up the rest of the way. "Whatever you do, don't lose your grip on the crank; it'll flail around and break your forearm!" He had the scar to prove it.

 

[BlackSheep]

I think those F4Fs are -4s. They had electric gear. -3s had the hand crank. This per an ex Naval Aviator who flew both from Henderson. He said with the -3 you cranked til it got hard, then poked the stick forward to unload gravity on the gear and help it come up the rest of the way. "Whatever you do, don't lose your grip on the crank; it'll flail around and break your forearm!" He had the scar to prove it.

Great bit of info, thanks!

 

[mjfur]

I think those F4Fs are -4s. They had electric gear. -3s had the hand crank. This per an ex Naval Aviator who flew both from Henderson. He said with the -3 you cranked til it got hard, then poked the stick forward to unload gravity on the gear and help it come up the rest of the way. "Whatever you do, don't lose your grip on the crank; it'll flail around and break your forearm!" He had the scar to prove it.

I'm not aware of an Electric Gear in any F4F/FM.

F4F-4 view of right side of cockpit showing landing gear crank & other controls

F4F Wildcat

cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org

 

[XBe02Drvr]

I'm not aware of an Electric Gear in any F4F/FM.

F4F-4 view of right side of cockpit showing landing gear crank & other controls

F4F Wildcat

cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org

According to Capt Slagle, on the -3 the gear operating crank was on the left side and operated with the pilot's throttle hand. The -4 had an emergency gear operating crank on the right for when the electric/hydraulic system failed.

 

[BlackSheep]

Here are a couple of photos that always interested me…

This was described as gun test firing on USS Ranger prior to Operation Torch… I always wondered if and how they test fired guns while on deck.

This next pic is captioned USS Hornet on route to Japan, during Doolittle Raid. I was always under the impression that the Hornet didn't have access to her fighters with the bombers aboard. Also of note from the same article this picture came from, the author states that Doolittle and another officer made test take-offs from the Hornet, to prove it could be done. I'd always heard the first take-offs were for the actual mission. Anyone ever heard of this?

 

[EwenS]

Here are a couple of photos that always interested me…
View attachment 693891

This was described as gun test firing on USS Ranger prior to Operation Torch… I always wondered if and how they test fired guns while on deck.

This next pic is captioned USS Hornet on route to Japan, during Doolittle Raid. I was always under the impression that the Hornet didn't have access to her fighters with the bombers aboard. Also of note from the same article this picture came from, the author states that Doolittle and another officer made test take-offs from the Hornet, to prove it could be done. I'd always heard the first take-offs were for the actual mission. Anyone ever heard of this?


View attachment 693892

There was a trial at Norfolk Virginia referred to here (Wiki says 3 Feb 1942) to prove the concept.

Doolittle Raid

Conceived in January 1942 in the wake of the devastating Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the “joint Army-Navy bombing project” was to bomb Japanese industrial centers, to inflict both “material and psychological” damage upon the enemy. Planners hoped that the former would include the...

www.history.navy.mil

There is a series of photos here taken during the mission.

Aircraft Carrier Photo Index: USS HORNET (CV-8)

Things to note
1. Some show SBDs on deck amongst the B-25B

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020872.jpg

2. The B-25B were respotted on the deck prior to being flown off. When they left the USA they were parked from the aft end of the flight deck to forward of the island. They were respotted aft to allow a greater take off distance.

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020875.jpg

And by take off time with the aftmost overhanging the aft end of the flight deck.

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020846a.jpg

 

[GTX]

View attachment 693891

Does that constitute firing a broadside?

 

[BlackSheep]

There was a trial at Norfolk Virginia referred to here (Wiki says 3 Feb 1942) to prove the concept.

Doolittle Raid

Conceived in January 1942 in the wake of the devastating Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the “joint Army-Navy bombing project” was to bomb Japanese industrial centers, to inflict both “material and psychological” damage upon the enemy. Planners hoped that the former would include the...

www.history.navy.mil

There is a series of photos here taken during the mission.

Aircraft Carrier Photo Index: USS HORNET (CV-8)

Things to note
1. Some show SBDs on deck amongst the B-25B

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020872.jpg

2. The B-24B were respotted on the deck prior to being flown off. When they left the USA they were parked from the aft end of the flight deck to forward of the island. They were respotted aft to allow a greater take off distance.

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020875.jpg

And by take off time with the aftmost overhanging the aft end of the flight deck.

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020846a.jpg

Thanks for the great info!

 

[BlackSheep]

Does that constitute firing a broadside?

The mother of puff the magic dragon?

 

[Snautzer01]

Martlet Royal Navy 1943

1943 Royal Navy F4F Martlet Wildcat Fighters 7x9 Original News Photo | eBay

Jan. 6, 1943. Grading Standard: News Agency 1st Generation AKA Original Press Photo. News Agency and Official photos fall into this category automatically. Press photograph. Soundphoto This type of photo was an early form of electronic transmission.

www.ebay.com