- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
On this Date in History (June 26, 1942) Hellcat is Born
Posted on 6/26/21 at 12:42 pm
Posted on 6/26/21 at 12:42 pm
The Grumman F6F Hellcat took to the skies for the first time.
The Hellcat was designed and produced at an accelerated pace. The first flight by a prototype took place on the 26th of June 1942, and by August 1943 is was being deployed in the Pacific.
From the moment it entered service, the Hellcat swung battles in the Americans’ favor. The first large air battle fought by Hellcats took place on the 4th of December 1943, in the Kwajalein area. 91 Hellcats fought 50 Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, one of Japan’s most successful fighters of the war. The Hellcats shot down 28 of the enemy planes and only lost two of their own.
The Hellcat was a favorite of US Navy air aces – men who had shot down five or more enemy aircraft. Lt. Alex Vraciu defeated 19 enemy planes in a Hellcat, six of them during one eight-minute dogfight. Lt. Bill Hardy earned his ace status in a single sortie in a Hellcat, when he destroyed five Japanese planes in 70 minutes on the 6th of April 1945.
The Hellcat was arguably the most successful aircraft-based fighter that America ever produced. Over the course of World War Two, Hellcats claimed 75% of the kills by US Navy pilots, despite not arriving until over a year and a half into the war. They destroyed more than 19 enemy aircraft for every Hellcat lost.
A good friend of my dad's, George Raines Carr, was a double ace flying a Hellcat off the USS Essex. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his exploits in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (often called the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot). The municipal airport at Bogalusa is named in his honor.
The Hellcat was designed and produced at an accelerated pace. The first flight by a prototype took place on the 26th of June 1942, and by August 1943 is was being deployed in the Pacific.
From the moment it entered service, the Hellcat swung battles in the Americans’ favor. The first large air battle fought by Hellcats took place on the 4th of December 1943, in the Kwajalein area. 91 Hellcats fought 50 Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, one of Japan’s most successful fighters of the war. The Hellcats shot down 28 of the enemy planes and only lost two of their own.
The Hellcat was a favorite of US Navy air aces – men who had shot down five or more enemy aircraft. Lt. Alex Vraciu defeated 19 enemy planes in a Hellcat, six of them during one eight-minute dogfight. Lt. Bill Hardy earned his ace status in a single sortie in a Hellcat, when he destroyed five Japanese planes in 70 minutes on the 6th of April 1945.
The Hellcat was arguably the most successful aircraft-based fighter that America ever produced. Over the course of World War Two, Hellcats claimed 75% of the kills by US Navy pilots, despite not arriving until over a year and a half into the war. They destroyed more than 19 enemy aircraft for every Hellcat lost.
A good friend of my dad's, George Raines Carr, was a double ace flying a Hellcat off the USS Essex. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his exploits in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (often called the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot). The municipal airport at Bogalusa is named in his honor.
This post was edited on 6/26/21 at 1:07 pm
16
Posted on 6/26/21 at 12:57 pm to blueridgeTiger
Your name isn't rolltide1987.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 12:59 pm to blueridgeTiger
in 1898....the saltiest of old salty ba$tards was born....Happy Heavenly Birthday Chesty!
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Posted on 6/26/21 at 1:33 pm to marcnbc
quote:
in 1898....the saltiest of old salty ba$tards was born....Happy Heavenly Birthday Chesty!
Semper Fi
Semper Fi indeed!
Good night Chesty Puller, wherever you are!
Kill!
Posted on 6/26/21 at 1:48 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
The municipal airport at Bogalusa is named in his honor
For now.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 2:23 pm to blueridgeTiger
Grumman was a GREAT company. They were known for building legendary naval aircraft.
It’s a shame they fell into mismanagement in the early 90’s and had to merge with Northrop
It’s a shame they fell into mismanagement in the early 90’s and had to merge with Northrop
Posted on 6/26/21 at 2:46 pm to Tigeralum2008
quote:
Grumman was a GREAT company. They were known for building legendary naval aircraft.
Also built the Apollo Lunar Excursion Modules (LEM)
Posted on 6/26/21 at 2:53 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
Hellcat
helluva of a fighter plane
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:13 pm to marcnbc
Also, happy late birthday to this badass...
Herman H. Hanneken
Semper Fi!
Herman H. Hanneken
Semper Fi!
This post was edited on 6/26/21 at 3:14 pm
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:19 pm to blueridgeTiger
My grandpa in the Pacific
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:26 pm to blueridgeTiger
Dad flew the F6F, said it was a great plane to fly.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:31 pm to udtiger
Why would they change the name?
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:36 pm to jamiegla1
quote:
My grandpa in the Pacific
That’s cool. BTW, those are Wildcats, the plane the Hellcat replaced.
Here’s a model of one I built not too terribly long ago…
This post was edited on 6/26/21 at 3:45 pm
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:45 pm to LSUJD_04
quote:
Why would they change the name?
White
Male
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:50 pm to jamiegla1
Cool pic thanks for sharing
Posted on 6/26/21 at 3:52 pm to udtiger
quote:
Why would they change the name?
White
Male
Plus he’s an American hero. Leftists can’t have that. Anything that represents the good in America has to be done away with. Leftists believe in deconstructionism, namely that all the established traditional pillars of American society must be undermined and eventually done away with so the leftist dream of a Socialist/Marxist state can be realized in America.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 4:00 pm to Darth_Vader
Ahh thanks. I couldn’t keep up with the planes he flew and honestly have a hard time telling the difference between some of them. Nice model too!
Posted on 6/26/21 at 4:06 pm to jamiegla1
quote:
Ahh thanks. I couldn’t keep up with the planes he flew and honestly have a hard time telling the difference between some of them. Nice model too!
Thanks. Do you know what squadron he was assigned to?
This post was edited on 6/26/21 at 4:08 pm
Posted on 6/26/21 at 4:10 pm to blueridgeTiger
ITT: I learned Bogalusa has an airport.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 5:34 pm to Darth_Vader
VF-6
Might recognize someone in this pic that he flew with
He ran out of fuel, crashed into a mountain, spent some time at an Army hospital in Hawaii and then CA, then became an instructor
I’ve got all of his pictures from his time in service. I really need to get them preserved somehow.
Might recognize someone in this pic that he flew with
He ran out of fuel, crashed into a mountain, spent some time at an Army hospital in Hawaii and then CA, then became an instructor
I’ve got all of his pictures from his time in service. I really need to get them preserved somehow.
This post was edited on 6/26/21 at 5:35 pm
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News