Hellcat History

The Grumman F6F Hellcat entered service in 1943 as the U.S. Navy’s decisive response to the Japanese Zero. Built around the mighty 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp, it combined rugged construction, heavy pilot armor, self-sealing tanks, and six .50-caliber machine guns with forgiving handling and outstanding climb and dive performance. Tougher and faster than the Wildcat it replaced, the Hellcat was in the right place at the right time.

It went on to destroy 5,223 enemy aircraft—an unmatched 19:1 kill ratio—while becoming the backbone of Navy carrier air groups from the Solomon Islands to Tokyo Bay - helping turn the tide of the war and writing one of aviation’s greatest comeback stories.