F6F Hellcat at War - Softcover

Cory Graff

4.33

12 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0760333068 ISBN 13: 9780760333068

Publisher: Zenith Press, 2009

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Descended from the F4F Wildcat, the Grumman F6F Hellcat came into service with the Pacific Fleet mid 1943, and over the next two years proved to be the most successful aircraft in naval history - with over 5,000 air-to-air kills in the Pacific, and the highest kill ratio of any US fighter plane in service in WW II. Detailing the Hellcat's design and development, telling the pilot's stories, tracing the aircrafts adventures through to the end of WW II, this lavishly illustrated book is a fitting tribute to a fighter plane unmatched in the annals of naval warfare.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Quickly following on the heels of their P-47 at War book comes this excellent 160 page publication. It is just chocked full of color photos and data of one of Grumman's famous cat series of aircraft. Chapter one deals with the origins of the F-6F and Chapter Two details the construction of this magnificent machine. Also featured is an interesting treatise of the famous Bridge and Iron Works, a very old and well respected name for the Grumman Aircraft Company. It moves on to its 'combat debut and follows its' historical victory ride through WW II and devotes a special chapter entitled Closing In that deals with the 1944 maximum effort to defeat the imperial Japanese war machine and the closing days of battles with the Kamikazes. Also a section is devoted to After the Battles that describe the Hellcats role in post war dress. Included are some most interesting photos of reserve birds, drone controllers and the like. If, like myself, you're an aficionado of the Hellcat, you'll most certainly want to add this fine book to your library. Most highly recommended - International Plastic Modellers Society;F6F Hellcat at War traces the history of the U.S. Navy s premier World War II fighter, including the pioneering developments of the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, wartime construction and testing in New York, and the Hellcat s distinguished combat career in the Pacific.- --Flying Models, June , 2009

A new addition to Zenith s outstanding At War series, F6F Hellcat at War is bound to get any naval aviation buff s blood stirring. Over 100 photos, many in color, present the complete history of this legendary carrier-launched warbird from its initial design and development in the mid-1940s by Grumman Aircraft Corporation at its Long Island factory to its successful combat career in the Pacific... Through compelling accounts, previously unpublished photos, and detailed engineering drawings, Graff does an excellent job of tracing the Hellcat s lineage and manufacture, then its roles as one of the most feared fighters of the war. --WW II History, Sept, 2008

In the latest installment from Zenith Books' At War series, author Cory Graff provides a nice history of the Grumman F6F Hellcat. While there are quiet a few books that deal with the subject matter, few offer a balanced look at the aircraft from its pre-war development through its post-war service and still provide an interesting perspective to its development and operations through the war. The author takes you from Grumman's earliest biplane fighters to illustrate the evolution of design that led to the Hellcat, the key design features of the F6F series, how the aircraft was made during wartime production conditions, and how the aircraft performed in the heat of battle. The title is also nicely illustrated with period photos in black & white as well as color, with some nice looks at less commonly seen variants like the radar fighters, the Hellcats in Commonwealth colors, and even some post-war drones and specialty aircraft. This is a well-written book that will provide a unique look into some operational history and some interesting statistics of this historic symbol of American air power during World War Two. --Cybermodeller Online, 2009;When I first read the title of this new book I though to myself: This might be one of many publications about this aircraft that appeared since 1979. But that would soon turn out to be a big misinterpretation. This new publication out of Zenith Press 'At war series' and authored by Cory Graff, Aviaton Historian at the Flying Heritage Collection museum in Everett, Washington is a true must have for all naval aviation fans. The book is structured in the typical and very convenient way.Mr. Graff starts off with the early beginnings of the Grumman Company and the story how it was founded. Due to the author s vivid writing style one might soon think how it would have been to be in Leroy Grumman s shoes and if you want it or not you think about what would I have done in his situation. The author continues and narrates the whole development phase of the company and the early models and the problems that arose with the competing aircraft companies at the time and the difficulties one had to face to receive the first orders by the navy. Every predecessor and study of the F6F is mentioned with great care so the overeall development until the final F6F is made very clear to the reader. What I found most amazing in this book is that the production of the Hellcat was given a special focus on in the first chapters. The reader is able to imagine the problems an aircraft producer had to face during World War II with keeping all his factories running and the employees satisfied during the hard times. All chapters are accopanied by rich illustration in form of drawings mainly courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation Museum and tons of color and black/white photos of the aircraft and its predecessors. Every technical issue of the aircraft is covered in great detail and documented with photos.The operational history of the Hellcat is making up about one half of the book and is adorned with some very interesting interviews and first hand reports by pilots such as the Hellcat 'Ace' Edward 'Wendy' Wendorf. In the later parts of the book Mr.Graff is taking on different variants and special combat versions of the F6F such as the 'camera cats'. Specially prepared reconnaissance versions of the Hellcat and reports about some of the most spectacular but tragic crashes on board of the aircraft carriers in the pacific. In the last chapter of the book the author points out the post war era and the after-development phase towards the F7F Tigercat and the birth of the Blue Angels, the famous special acrobatic unit of the navy. Also very interesting is to read about the use of Hellcats in foreign countries. --letsletslets aircraft dot com

This latest in the 'At war' series form this company chronicles the US Navy's 'heavyweight fighter' and one thast is synonymous with the Pacific war. The book is divided into seven chapters, which cover all aspects of it career, and I must admit it was the first one that had my undivided attention. it is entitled 'The Hellcat's origin'. I always find it fascinating to read about the the origins of famous name companies and this one is no exception. Leo 'Jake' Swurbul and his business partner Leroy Grumman started in business in 9192 repairing damdge aircraft and floats. Their big break came when there was a call for an aphibious version of the the Vougth O2U Corsair. they designed and built a retractable undercarriage and arrester hook into the float. They werethen asked to build a retractable undercarriage into the the uS Navy's frontline fighter, the Boeing F4B. This proved to be impossible so they designed the Grumman FF-1 with its tubby belly to accomodate the undercarriage. From then on there was no stopping them, first with the F3F, the F4F Wildcat and then the Hellcat itself. Further chapters cover the construction and building of the the F6F, followed by its conbat history. Apart form the exquisite text the book is fully illustreted in colour and b & w and I am sure it will suite anyone with an nterest in American Naval aircraft. --Military Aircraft Monthly, August 2009

From the Back Cover:

F6F Hellcat at War traces the history of the U.S. Navy’s premier World War II fighter, including the pioneering developments of the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, wartime construction and testing in New York, and the Hellcat’s distinguished combat career in the Pacific.

While the F6F was not the fastest or most maneuverable fighter, aviators loved their trusty Hellcats because they were incredibly tough, marvelously powerful, and easy to fly. In the last two years of war, the Hellcat dominated the skies over the Pacific, stopping the once-vaunted A6M Zero and tallying a victory-to-loss ratio of over 19 to 1. Through compelling accounts, never-before-seen photographs, and detailed drawings, F6F Hellcat at War tells the story of one of the war’s most successful yet underappreciated fighter aircraft.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.