VF-88 F6F-5Ns

Did VF-88's F6F-5Ns score any kills in the waning days of the war?

Yes.

Didn't VF-88 fight literally the last dogfight of WW II on VJ day? Not the last aerial combat or losses, but the last fighter group on fighter group dogfight, on August 15, 1945. 15 to 20 Japanese aircraft jumped 6 Hellcats of VF-88. 9 Japanese fighters and 4 Hellcats were lost.

T!

I mean just the F6F-5N nightfighters, not the regular F6F-5s.

RWGWAG said:

I mean just the F6F-5N nightfighters, not the regular F6F-5s.

Click to expand...

My bad, you clearly said F6F-5N and I clearly did not see it. For whatever reason when I read your question it jsut became "F6F" in my mind. Sorry about that.

T!

Did the USAAF ever consider the F6F5N to fill the gap in the P-61's speed until the P-38N or F-82N was available?

I find no likely VFN claims in VF-88's victory list, based on time of day/night. After mid-44 the VFN dets were absorbed into the resident F6F squadron except those few units dedicated to the night mission such as VFN-41, 90, 91. So any "daytime" carriers' VF with nocturnal victories would appear as usual amid the the others.

No, the AAF never considered acquiring F6Fs--the logistics/supply alone would've been a major headache. However, 5th AF obtained the loan of VMFN-541 in the PI during late 44/early 45 because the 61s were unable to intercept some Japanese aircraft. I'd have to check my first Hellcat book or the USN Fighter Squadrons volume but recall that all but 3 or 4 of 541's PI kills were in daytime.