A major contributor to US success in World War Two’s Pacific theatre, and a popular machine in British Fleet Air Arm hands, the Grumman Wildcat was a reliable and robust aircraft which led to the development of the even more effective Hellcat.
Origin & history
Grumman Martlet Mk.I AL257 flew with the Fleet Air Arm’s 804 Squadron during World War Two.
BOTH KEY COLLECTION
Despite its somewhat ungainly appearance, the Wildcat was more than a match for enemy aircraft, providing the foe did not have the advantage of complete surprise. Although it had nothing like the manoeuvrability of its primary Japanese opponent, the Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’, in the right hands it could be a devastating weapon.
