World War Photos

F4F-3 Wildcats of VF-5 USS Yorktown 1941 (color photo)

Wildcat in overall Light Grey paint.

Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat Overview:

1. Development and Background:

   • The F4F-3 was the first production version of the Wildcat series and served as the backbone of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fighter operations during the early years of World War II.
   • This model followed the successful development and testing of the XF4F-3 prototype, with several improvements and modifications that made it a more capable and combat-ready aircraft.

2. First Flight:

   • The first production F4F-3 Wildcat took to the skies in February 1940, marking the beginning of a production run that would see the construction of 288 aircraft.

3. Production Details:

   • Total Number Built: 288 units
   • USN Bureau Numbers: The aircraft were assigned various Bureau Numbers across different production batches, including:
     • 1844 through 1897 (54 units)
     • 2512 through 2538 (27 units)
     • 3856 through 3874 (19 units)
     • 3970 through 4057 (88 units)
     • 12230 through 12329 (100 units)

4. Physical Characteristics:

   • Wingspan: 38 feet
   • Wing Area: 260 square feet
   • Length: 28 feet 9 inches
   • Height: 11 feet 11 inches

5. Powerplant and Propulsion:

   • Powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76 Twin Wasp engine, a 14-cylinder, twin-row radial air-cooled engine.
   • The engine produced 1,200 horsepower at takeoff and 1,000 horsepower at 19,000 feet.
   • The engine was equipped with a two-stage/two-speed supercharger to improve performance at high altitudes.
   • Some aircraft were also fitted with the R-1830-86 engines, which offered similar performance characteristics.
   • The aircraft used a Curtiss 3-blade constant-speed propeller with a 9-foot 9-inch diameter.

6. Armament:

   • The first two aircraft in the production series were armed similarly to the XF4F-3 prototype, with two .30 caliber Browning machine guns in the nose and two .50 caliber Browning machine guns in the wings.
   • Later production aircraft were standardized with four .50 caliber Browning machine guns mounted in the wings.
   • The aircraft also had provisions to carry two 100-pound bombs under the wings, enhancing its ground-attack capabilities.

7. Weight and Performance:

   • Empty Weight: 5,238 pounds
   • Gross Weight: 7,065 pounds
   • Maximum Gross Weight: 8,152 pounds
   • Maximum Speed: 328 miles per hour at 21,000 feet; 281 miles per hour at sea level
   • Normal Range: 860 miles
   • Initial Climb Rate: 2,300 feet per minute
   • Service Ceiling: 37,000 feet

8. Operational History:

   • The F4F-3 Wildcats were among the first U.S. Navy fighters to engage in combat during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific Theater, including during the Battle of Midway and the Guadalcanal Campaign.
   • The aircraft’s rugged design, combined with effective tactics, allowed it to hold its own against the more agile Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
   • Besides its service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the F4F-3 also saw use by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm under the designation Martlet.