Grumman F4F Wildcat / Martlet
by: RLindsey
Total views: 749
Word Count: 209
The F4F began service in 1939. Several were destined for France but diverted to Britain. The British called them Martlet. In the Pacific Theater the Wildcat was the main carrier-based fighter. Even though the Japanese Zero was a much more maneuverable plane, a Navy Commander named Jimmy Thatch developed something called the "Thatch Weave" where two Wildcats covered each other�s tail. This allowed an outstanding kill ratio of 7:1. Over 7,000 were built and they were finally phased out in 1944.
Length: 28 feet 9 inches
Wingspan: 38 feet
Speed: 318 mph
Ceiling: 35,000 feet
Range: 900 miles
Engines: 1 Wright Cyclone R-1830 Radial
Crew: 1
Armament:6x .50 caliber machine guns, 500 pounds of bombs.
Grumann F4F-3 US. Navy Fighter. Series C, Number Sixteen. The United States Navy has the finest aircraft carrier operation of any naval air force in the world. This Grumman F4F-3 is one of the latest additions to our fleet air arm. While performance data is restricted, the ship is believed to do better than 360 miles an hour. Powered with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp of 1200 h.p. the F4F-3 is heavily armed. Co-operation of Flying and Popular Aviation. This is one of a series of fifty pictures of Modern Airplanes packed with WINGS Cigarettes.
About the Author
Robert M. Lindsey -- http://lindseyfreelancing.com/
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