Online Library of Selected Images:
U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT - 1922-1962 DESIGNATION SYSTEM
Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighters (Part III)
This page features additional selected views of Grumman F4F-3 and F4F-4 fighters, taken during 1942 and later.
For more pictorial coverage of "Wildcat" fighters,
see:
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Photo #: 208-PU-14842 Lieutenant Edward Henry ("Butch") O'Hare, USN Seated in the cockpit of his Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter, circa spring 1942. The plane is marked with five Japanese flags, representing the five enemy bombers he was credited with shooting down as they attempted to attack USS Lexington (CV-2) northeast of the Solomon Islands on 20 February 1942. The censor has blanked out the Fighting Squadron Three "Felix the Cat" insignia below the windshield. Photograph from the Office of War Information collection, U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-7725 Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter Takes off from USS Enterprise (CV-6), while she was operating in the Coral Sea area, 18 May 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-312016 Battle of Midway, June 1942 A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter (Bureau # 5244) takes off from USS Yorktown (CV-5) on combat air patrol, during the morning of 4 June 1942. This plane is Number 13 of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), flown by the squadron Executive Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William N. Leonard. Photographed by Photographer Second Class William G. Roy, from the ship's forecastle. Note .50 caliber machinegun at right and mattresses hung on the lifeline for splinter-protection. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 66KB; 720 x 650 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-11636 Battle of Midway, June 1942 Damaged and partially disassembled Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighter (Bureau # 4006) on Sand Island, Midway, circa 24-25 June 1942. This plane, a unit of Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221), was flown by Captain John F. Carey, USMC, during the squadron's attack on incoming Japanese planes on the morning of 4 June. Carey was wounded in this action. Several other planes are visible right background, including F2A-3 "Buffalo" fighters. For more information on this scene, see: Photo # 80-G-11636 (Complete caption). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-14548 USS Long Island (AVG-1) A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter on the catapult, ready for take-off, 17 June 1942. Several more F4F-4s are waiting their turn for launch. All planes are from squadron VGS-1. Note that Long Island's catapult runs diagonally across the flight deck, from starboard toward the port bow. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-14524 USS Long Island (AVG-1) Crewmen spotting a Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter on the ship's hangar deck, 17 June 1942. Several other F4F-4s are present, as are Curtiss SOC-3A "Seagull" scout-observation planes. All are from squadron VGS-1. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 530 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-73394 A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter Is lifted on board USS Long Island (ACV-1) from USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1), at Fila Harbor, New Hebrides, 28 August 1942. This plane was en route to Guadalcanal as part of the second group of U.S. Marine Corps planes to be based at Henderson Field. Note that the F4F's markings appear to have been taped over. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 70KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. > |
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Photo #: 80-G-11103 Machinist Donald E. Runyon, USN, of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) On board USS Enterprise (CV-6), 10 September 1942, during the Guadalcanal campaign. He is standing by the tail of his F4F-4 (Bureau # 5193, VF-6's # 13), which is decorated with a "tombstone" containing 41 "meatballs", each representing a Japanese plane claimed by the squadron. Runyon was one of the leading F4F "Aces", credited with shooting down 8 Japanese aircraft while flying "Wildcats". Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 99KB; 625 x 675 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-30362 North Africa Operation, November 1942 Testing machine guns of Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighters aboard USS Ranger (CV-4), while en route from the U.S. to North African waters, circa early November 1942. Note the special markings used during this operation, with a yellow ring painted around the national insignia on aircraft fuselages. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-30244 North Africa Invasion, November 1942 A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter taking off from USS Ranger (CV-4) to attack targets ashore during the invasion of Morocco, circa 8 November 1942. Note: Army observation planes in the left middle distance; Loudspeakers and radar antenna on Ranger's mast. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-66753 USS Long Island (ACV-1) A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter, equipped with ferry tanks, on the carrier's catapult ready for launching, during flight operations on 6 March 1943. Note that the catapult runs diagonally across the flight deck. Planes parked in the background include more F4F-4s and Vought F4U-1s. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. |
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Photo #: 80-G-464482 USS Enterprise (CV-6) Pilots of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) photographed on board USS Enterprise in January 1942, prior to the Marshall Islands raid. Aircraft behind them is a Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighter. Those present are identified in Photo # 80-G-464482 (Complete caption). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 570 pixels Reproductions may be available through the National Archives. Note: For a closeup view of the propeller hub of this aircraft, see Photo # NH 99078 |
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F4F "Wildcat" fighters are part of the deck cargo visible in the following ship photograph:
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Photo #: 104025 USS Aludra (AK-72) Photographed circa late 1942 or early 1943. Note her deck cargo of four Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighters and several landing craft. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, Naval History and Heritage Command colleciton Online Image: 47KB; 740 x 545 pixels |
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For more pictorial coverage of "Wildcat" fighters, see:
For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions
To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.