Grumman F4F Wildcats on display

Grumman F4F Wildcat (and predecessors) on display

FF-1/F2F/F3F

A little prelude before we get to the F4F...

The first of the line that was eventually to become the F4F Wildcat started with the (by today's standards) goofy looking FF-1, often referred to as "Fifi". This was followed by the F2F (of which unfortunately there are no survivors) through the F3F. This aircraft starred in at least two movies: 1940's Flight Command and a year later in Dive Bomber. Watching those movies on TV as a kid got me interested in the little fighter. This aircraft evolved into the F4F, which in its earliest design was a biplane.

     A Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin displayed as an FF-1 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.   It was sold to Nicaragua in 1937, but was imported to the US in 1966. It is displayed as FF-1 Bu. No. 9351 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida. 1999. (CB)
    F3F-2 (0976) Pensacola. 1999. (CB)
    F3F-2 replica (N20FG) at the Air Museum Planes of Fame, Chino California. 1999. (CB)

F4F/FM Wildcat & Martlet

F4F-3 (Bu. No. 3872) displayed at Pensacola in the markings of VF-72. 1999. (CB)
F4F-3A (3969) also at Pensacola. 1999. (CB)

F4F-3 12296 displayed in its own vignette at the Pacific Aviation Museum on historic Ford Island, Hawaii. Photos taken during August, 2017. (CB)

F4F-3 (Bu. No. 12320) restored in the markings of Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare and displayed in Terminal 2 at the Chicago O'Hare airport. 2001 (ORD). This is a very well done restoration and the display is worth the effort to view when traveling through ORD. (CB)

F4F-3 12320 displayed in Chicago's O'Hare
International Airport

In January 2016 I was able to revisit the O'Hare Wildcat. Since my first visit it has been repositioned and while still in Terminal 2 it is now inside of security, making it easier to view by the travelling public. In a landing configuration with flaps, gear and hook down it makes for compelling display. There are many details of interest viewable in this placement. (CB)

F4F-3 Bu. No. 12290 displayed aboard the USS Midway
Museum San Diego.

F4F-3 Bu. No. 12290 aboard the USS Midway San
Diego

F4F-3 (Bu. No. 12290) restored and displayed aboard the USS Midway in San Diego. This is a first rate restoration and took several years to complete. The cowl had to be rebuilt and is minus all of the duct work that would be inside for an operational airplane. This aircraft is one of several that have been recovered from Lake Michigan. (CB)

F4F-4 Bu. No. 11828 on display at the San Diego Air and Space museum. This aircraft is one of several aircraft recovered from Lake Michigan. Brought to the surface in 1995 it was restored by the museum's restoration facility. Photographed in November, 2010. (CB)

    FM-1 (15392) at the National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC. 2000. (CB)
    FM-2 Bu. No. 47160 (N2876D) displayed at an airshow at Holloman AFB, New Mexico in 1980. (CB)
    The same aircraft on display at the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas, 20 years later. (CB)
    47160 leads an active airshow life and is shown in these two photos at the Dyess AFB open house in May, 2010. (CB)

    FM-2 Bu. No. 55585 (N681S) at El Paso International Airport in September, 1977. While an attractive scheme, no FM-2 wore this one in service as it had been abolished long before the FM-2 arrived on the scene. (The poor quality of this photo is due to the improper storage of negatives on my part.) (CB)
    55585 at a later date. (Gerald McMasters)
    The same aircraft on September 27, 2003. Sadly this aircraft crashed on October 18, 2003, killing the pilot, Mr. William K. Johnson. The aircraft had been taking part in a photo flight following the first day of the 2003 Wings Over Houston airshow. (CB)
FM-2 Bu. No. 55627 (N47201) at The Palm Springs Air Museum in March, 2012. The last photo show a comparison of the FM-2 next to the museum's F6F-5 Hellcat. (CB)

FM-2 74161 at The National Museum of the Pacific
War Jul, 2015

    FM-2 Bu. No. 74161 awaiting restoration at the Admiral Nimitz Museum, Fredricksburg Texas, 1997. (CB)
    The same aircraft on display in the War of the Pacific wing. 1999 and with the display changed yet again in July, 2015. (CB)
    FM-2 Bu. No. 86564 (N4629V) of the Yank Air Museum, Chino, CA. Photographed November, 2010.   (CB)
    FM-2 Bu. No. 86581 (N86581) at an airshow at NAS Pensacola in 1986. Aircraft represents an FM-2 from the USS Steamer Bay. (CB)

    FM-2 Bu. No. 86774 (N7835L) at the Air Museum Planes of Fame. 1996. (CB)
  FM-2 Bu. No. 86747 on display above the lobby at the NMNA, PNS. 1999. (CB)
    FM-2 Bu. No. 86777 (N5HP) at the Amigo Airshow, El Paso Texas, 1992. (CB)

    FM-2 Bu. No. 86819 (N5833) in 1995. Aircraft is painted in the marking of aircraft operated from the USS Wake Island during WW II. (Gerald McMasters)
    While still in those markings at the CAF show in Midland, Texas October, 2002... (CB)
    The scheme was later replaced with a scheme that bears no relation to any Wildcat in service. It appears to represent a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) one as seen on Wildcat VI.
    During 2019 the airplane was repainted again, this time in a more accurate three tone scheme. It is an active Wildcat and always fun to see put through its paces, on these photos at the MCAS Miramar airshow during Sep, 2019. (CB)

The Pima Air and Space Museum has acquired an FM-2 (16161) that ditched in Lake Michigan during WWII. It will take some time before this Wildcat is restored, but in the meantime it is displayed in one of the museum's hangars. The pilot bailed out and was recovered, but some of his personal items were still in the aircraft when recovered. Note that this airframe was delivered in the three tone color scheme and only later repainted in the overall Sea Blue scheme. February, 2005. The second photo taken in August, 2010 shows the rudder and elevators replaced after they were restored. Restored, or reproduced items will be repainted while unrestored parts will be left in "as found" condition. The final two photos show the progress in March, 2014. (CB)

FM-2 16278 displayed at the Flying Leathernecks Museum adjacent to MCAS Mirimar during November, 2013. This small museum hosts a good selection of USMC aircraft supported by a group of dedicated volunteers. 16278 was displayed on the ramp at the 2019 MCAS Miramar airshow, now carrying markings to honor Joe Foss. He had obtained his 26 kills flying F4F-4 Wildcats. (CB)

The story of the Wildcat would not be complete without the mention of the F6F Hellcat.

F6F Hellcat