The story
The Wildcat was the main fighter of the US Navy and Marines when the Pacific war began, and it carried the fight through 1942. Marine Wildcats defended Wake Island in December 1941, and in February 1942 Butch O'Hare was credited with five Japanese bombers in one sortie, the Navy's first ace in a day. Wildcat pilots claimed 6.9 kills for every loss over the whole war. General Motors built nearly three quarters of all Wildcats as the FM series, and the FM-2, with a more powerful Wright engine and a taller tail, flew from small carriers to the end. Nearly every Wildcat flying today is an FM-2.
The Wildcat's first kill came before America was at war: on Christmas Day 1940 a British Martlet, the Royal Navy's name for the type, shot down a Ju 88 over Scapa Flow.
Quick answers
How do you identify a F4F Wildcat?
A stubby barrel of a fuselage, square-cut wingtips, and narrow-track main gear that folds up into the fuselage sides. The pilot winds the gear up by hand, about 30 turns of a crank, so it retracts slowly after takeoff. The FM-2 has a taller fin than the F4F.
What does a F4F Wildcat sound like?
The FM-2's single-row, nine-cylinder Wright Cyclone: a hard, lumpy beat, lighter than the big Double Wasp fighters.
How fast is the F4F Wildcat?
Top speed is 288 kts.
How many people does the F4F Wildcat carry?
Typical configuration: Single pilot.
How far can the F4F Wildcat fly?
Range is about 730 nmi.
How big is the F4F Wildcat?
It is 28 ft 9 in long and 38 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the F4F Wildcat first fly?
Its first flight was in 1937.
How many F4F Wildcats have been built?
7,885 built.
How rare is a F4F Wildcat in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first F4F Wildcat catch is worth 250 points.
