Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F6F>HA1104

General Background

The F6F “Hellcat” was basically designed as the “Zero Killer”. It could fly about an average 55 mph faster than the Zero and it was heavier and more powerful than the Zero. The Hellcat also had the highest kill ratio of any American fighter plane during WWII (19 to1). US Navy pilots referred the Hellcat as the "Aluminum Tank". F6F was one of the most feared and successful planes in WWII.

The Aircraft

This F6F-3, nicknamed “Gadget” (White 19), was assigned to Alexander Vraciu in Dec. 1943. He shot down seven enemy aircrafts with it on this date (three Zekes and a ‘Rufe'). Vraciu Achieved a total of 7 kills with the "Gadget".

On 19th June,1944, while aboard in Lexington, Lt(jg) Vraciu of VF-16 downed all four enemy aircrafts ‘Judys' within eight minutes in this legendary action (White 32). This action brought him to 18 kills out of a total of 19 during his combat career.

Specifications :

Total production :	F6F-3 (4,403), F6F-5 (7,870)
Powerplant :	Single 2,000-horsepower 18-cylinder, Pratt and Whitney R-2800-10W air cooled radial engine
Climb rate to 14,000 ft. :	6 minutes 42 seconds
Armament :	six .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns a 2,000 lb. bomb load, or six 5-inch rockets
Wingspan :	42 ft. 10 in. (13.1 m)
Length :	33 ft., 7 in. (10.2 m)
Height :	13 ft., 1 in. (4.0 m)
Weight :	9,238 lb. empty
Maximum speed :	380 mph at 23,400 ft.
Ceiling :	37,300 ft.