Stafrace, Charles Grumman F6F Hellcat

Volume 83 of the "Warpaint series". Even before Pearl Harbor the U.S. Navy realised that it would be hard for its existing fighters, the F2A "Buffalo" and F4F "Wildcat", to deal with Japan's shipboard fighters, especially the A6M "Zero". The situation was such that in June 1941 the U.S. Navy placed orders with Grumman's "Iron Works" for the F6F "Hellcat" before the first prototype had even flown. It was the right decision for Grumman's new fighter, although much larger and heavier than the "Zero", proved to be the latter's nemesis, so that the American fighter's better fire-power, sturdiness, range and speed more than matched the "Zero's" agility. Its entry into service was also timely, for the much- awaited F4U "Corsair" suffered from a flawed carrier deck capability, so that the Hellcat remained the main carrier fighter of the U.S. Navy throughout the rest of the Second World War and established air superiority in the Pacific. Indeed, in barely two years of war it destroyed no less than 5,271 enemy aircraft of the 6,477 claimed by the U.S. fighters, attaining a fantastic kill-to-loss ratio of 19.1:1, and fully deserving the nickname of "Ace-Maker". It certainly was the most important Allied shipboard fighter of that world conflict. The "Hellcat" was used also by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, during the war, while in the postwar period it saw service with the French A ronavale, which used them in Indochina, as well as with the Uruguayan Navy, the latter flying them until 1961. Designed with both the aircraft enthusiast and the modeller in mind, this series offers a comprehensive and accurate account of a single aircraft type within each issue. Drawings provided in both colour side and plan view with 1:72 scale plans, kit decal and accessory lists, squadrons, units and individual aircraft serials in codes, etc.