Explore the history of the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the U.S. Navy's legendary WWII carrier fighter that first flew on June 26, 1942, and earned a remarkable combat record in the Pacific Theater.

In one of World War II’s most unbalanced engagements, two U.S. Navy aviators engaged a massive formation of Japanese aircraft. Their choice of aircraft—the F6F Hellcat—turned what seemed like certain ...