British Hellcats Mk II Ready for Take Off from Carrier
Under the Lend-Lease Act, the United Kingdom received F6F Hellcats from the United States during World War II, and these aircraft became an essential part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) operations.
Introduction of the Hellcat I
- The first F6F-3 Hellcats, designated Hellcat I by the British, arrived in the early summer of 1943. A total of 252 were delivered.
- No. 800 Squadron was the first to operate the Hellcat, starting on 1 July 1943, replacing the Sea Hurricane. They embarked on the light escort carrier HMS Emperor and saw action against German shipping off the Norwegian coast.
- Notably, during a mission covering Barracuda bombers attacking the Tirpitz in Kaafjord, four Hellcats were engaged by a mix of Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. While one Hellcat was lost, the remaining three Hellcats claimed one German fighter each.
Operations in the Mediterranean and Far East
In August 1944, No. 800 Squadron participated in the invasion of Southern France while still operating from HMS Emperor. The squadron later deployed to the Far East for continued operations.
A larger contingent of Hellcats served in the Far East:
- 930 F6F-5 Hellcats, designated Hellcat II by the FAA, were delivered under lend-lease.
- By August 1945, ten squadrons were equipped with Hellcats, mostly aboard escort carriers like HMS Ruler, Empress, Ameer, and others. The only major fleet carrier to operate the Hellcat was HMS Indomitable, with Nos. 1839 and 1844 Squadrons forming No. 5 Fighter Wing.
- These units played a key role in the FAA’s first significant action against Japanese targets, attacking oil refineries in Sumatra in January 1945.
- Subsequently, the Hellcat units built a strong reputation as a versatile fighter, engaging in combat off the Malayan coast and over Burma.
Reconnaissance and Night Fighter Operations
No. 888 Squadron operated camera-equipped Hellcat FR Mk II (similar to the U.S. F6F-5P) for reconnaissance purposes, while the designation Hellcat PR Mk II referred to an unarmed reconnaissance version.
The British also received 80 F6F-5N night fighters, designated Hellcat NF Mk II.
- No. 892 Squadron at RNAS Eglinton became the first FAA night fighter squadron to operate the Hellcat in April 1945, followed by No. 891 Squadron.
- Both squadrons continued to serve into 1946, with No. 892 and No. 888 being among the last Hellcat squadrons in British service before disbanding in April and August 1946, respectively.
Post-War Service and Return to the U.S.
- Most of the 1,182 F6F Hellcats supplied to Britain were returned to the United States after the war under the lend-lease agreements. Only a few Hellcats remained in British hands for special purposes, with most having served briefly outside the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.