Wildcat F4F-4, FM-1
The Wildcat, a fighter aircraft designed for aircraft carrier operations, was developed by Grumman for the Navy with the designation as F4F. Planes manufactured by General Motors were given an FM-1 designation. First deliveries were in Nov 1941.
The FM-1 flew off of the CVE 21 USS Block Island from Oct 1943 to Feb 1944 and was used during the first and second combat cruises.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 1200hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86
Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder radial
Weight: Empty 4649 lbs, Max 7950 lbs.
Wing Span: 38ft. 0 in.
Length: 28ft. 9in.
Height: 9ft. 2.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 318mph
Cruising Speed: 155mph
Service Ceiling: 39,500ft
Initial Climb Rate: 1950 feet/min.
Range: 770 miles
Armament: Six 12.7-mm (0.50 in) Browning machine guns
Two 100-lb bombs
Wildcat FM-2
The FM-2 Wildcat, an updated version of the F4F-4 and FM-1 fighter aircraft was manufactured by General Motors because Grumman production was dedicated to the new F6F Hellcat. The FM-2 was quicker, faster climbing, longer ranged than its predecessors. It featured a taller vertical stabilizer.
The FM-2 flew off of the CVE 21 USS Block Island from 16 Feb 1944 to 29 May 1944 and was used during the third and fourth combat cruises.
Web Note: John F. Carr, one of the two surviving Grumman F4F/FM pilots in the air at the time of the CVE-21 sinking, attended Harvard Law after WWII and eventually became Vice-Chairman of the Board for Grumman Aircraft, the same company who had designed the Wildcat that he flew on that fateful night.
Quick Facts:
Quick Facts:
Engine: 1350hp Pratt & Whitney R-1820-56
Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder radial (FM-2)
Weight: Empty 4649 lbs, Max 7950 lbs.
Wing Span: 38ft. 0 in.
Length: 28ft. 9in.
Height: 9ft. 2.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 332mph
Cruising Speed: 155mph
Service Ceiling: 39,500ft
Initial Climb Rate: 1950 feet/min.
Range: 770 miles
Armament:
Four 12.7-mm (0.50 in) Browning machine guns
Two 250-lb bombs
Avenger TBF-1
The TBF-1 Avenger was developed by Grumman to replace the 1930‘s era Douglas Devestator as a carrier based bomb & torpedo platform. During the opening ceremonies for a new plant and the introduction of the new TBF-1 to the public on December 7, 1941 the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor shocked everyone. The airplane was noted for its large size, powerful engine, and unique folding wings. The plane was used in both Atlantic and Pacific operations.
The TBF-1 flew off of the CVE 21 USS Block Island from Oct 1943 to 29 May 1944 and was used during all four combat cruises.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 1,700hp Wright R-2600-8 Double-Cyclone
air-cooled radial engines generating.
Weight: Empty 10,080 lbs, Max 15,904 lbs
Wing Span: 54.17ft
Length: 40.12 ft.
Height: 95.42ft
Crew: Pilot, Bombardier, Gunner
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 271 mph
Service Ceiling: 22,402 ft
Range: 1,215 miles
Armament:
Two 7.62-mm machine guns
One 12.7-mm machine gun
1,600 lb Bomb Load or One Mark 13 Torpedo
Avenger TBM-3
The TBM-3 Avenger was developed by Grumman but manufactured by General Motors allowing almost 10,000 TBF/TBM to be assembled during WWII. This updated model improved the overall performance of this sturdy aircraft. The plane was used in both Atlantic and Pacific operations.
The TBM-3 was flown by Marine squadrons off of the CVE 106 USS Block Island during Pacific operations.
Notable TBM crews include former President George Bush as a pilot and actor Paul Newman as a turret gunner.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 1,900hp Wright R-2600-20 Double-Cyclone
air-cooled radial engines generating.
Weight: Empty 10,545 lbs, Max 17,895 lbs
Wing Span: 54.17ft
Length: 40.12 ft.
Height: 15.42ft
Crew: Pilot, Bombardier, Gunner
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 276 mph
Service Ceiling: 30,100 ft
Range: 1,000 miles
Armament:
One 7.62-mm machine guns
Three 12.7-mm machine gun
2,000 lb Bomb Load or One Mark 13 Torpedo
Wing mounts for rockets / drop tanks / radar pod
Hellcat F6F
The F6F Hellcat was another fighter developed by Grumman. It was designed to improve on the Wildcatwhich, while successful, could never out perform the Japanese Zero. The Hellcat could beat the Zero in almost every category. This fighter is credited with downing 5,000 enemy planes with an outstanding kill ratio of 19:1 .
The Hellcat was flown by Marine squadrons off of the CVE 106 USS Block Island during Pacific operations in three different configurations. The F6F-5 was a water injection version for more performance, the F6F-5n was developed as a night fighter, and the F6F-5p was a photo reconnaissance variant.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 2,175hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W
radial engines w/water injection.
Weight: Empty 9,153 lbs, Max 11,381 lbs
Wing Span: 42’ 10”
Length: 33’ 7”
Height: 13’ 1”
Crew: Pilot
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 376 mph
Service Ceiling: 37,403 ft
Range: 1,090 miles
Armament:
Six .50 caliber guns
2,000 lb Bomb Load
Wing mounts for rockets ( Six 5” HVAR )
Corsair F4U
The F4U Corsair was perhaps the most impressive fighter aircraft of WWII. It was the first single engine fighter to fly faster than 400 mph. Manufactured by Vought it was also built by Goodyear and Brewster. It was not available for carrier operations until 1944. After a rough start, combat tactics were changed so that Corsairs battled the Japanese in high speed, high altitude confrontations rather than slow speeds where they lost their advantage.
The F4U-1D model went aboard CVE 106 Block Island in Feb 1945 with Marine squadron VMF-511 and was used in combat support operations in the Carolinas and Okinawa.
The Corsair continued to be used in the Korean War despite the arrival of jet fighters. Celebrities include Colonel Ed McMahan, combat pilot and instructor.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 2,250hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W
radial engines w/water injection (2,450hp).
Weight: Empty 8,694 lbs, Max 13,120 lbs
Wing Span: 41’
Length: 33’ 8”
Height: 16’ 1”
Crew: Pilot
Performance:
Maximum Speed at 20,000ft: 425 mph
Service Ceiling: 33,900 ft
Range: 1,019 miles
Armament:
Six .50 caliber guns
2,000 lb Bomb Load
Wing mounts for rockets ( Eight 5” HVAR )
AF Guardian
Grumman started development of an aircraft to replace the TBM workhorse, the result was the AF Guardian. However, before entering service it was re-designated for anti-submarine warfare. The Guardian entered service in October 1950 as the largest single-engine, piston-engined aircraft ever used by the US Navy. A total of 389 AF Guardians were built before being replaced by the better performing Grumman S2F Tracker.
The AF Guardian saw service on CVE 106 USS Block Island during the Korean War. The last AF retired on 31 Aug 1955.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 2,400hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-48W
radial engine.
Weight: Empty 14,580 lbs, Max 25,500 lbs
Wing Span: 60’ 8””
Length: 43’ 4”
Height: 16’ 2”
Crew: Pilot + 2 or 3
Performance:
Maximum Speed 315 mph
Service Ceiling: 32,500 ft
Range: 1,500 miles
Armament:
4,000 lb Bomb Load
Wing mounts for rockets ( 16 5” HVAR )
Piasecki HUP
The Piasecki HUP was a compact single radial engine, twin overlapping tandem rotor utility helicopter developed by the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation of Morton, PA. In a design competition in 1945 for a compact utility/rescue helicopter to operate from Navy ships including aircraft carriers, the HUP was selected. It first flew in 1948 and entered service with the US Navy and USMC in 1949.
This helicopter was used aboard CVE 106 during the Korean War for air/sea rescue and utility work.
In 1956 the company changed its name to Vertol Aircraft Corporation and which was purchased by the Boeing Aircraft Company in 1960.