List of surviving Grumman F4F Wildcats

The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft used by the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy during World War II. Surviving Wildcats are preserved in museums and some are flying Warbirds.[1][2]

F4F-3 in Guadalcanal Diorama at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Hawaii

Survivors

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Solomon Islands

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F4F-4 on display at Vilu War Museum in Guadalcanal
On display
F4F-4

United Kingdom

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A Grumman Martlet/Wildcat preserved at the Imperial War Museum Duxford
 
Martlet I undergoing preservation at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Airworthy
FM-2
On display
Martlet I (F4F-3)
Under restoration
FM-1

United States

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Airworthy
F4F-3
FM-2
 
F4F-3 Wildcat Bu12297 recovered from Lake Michigan on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
On display
F4F-3
F4F-3A
F4F-4
FM-1
FM-2
Under restoration
FM-2
  • 57039 - Restoration is being done by Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While conducting training on 28 December 1944, the FM2 Wildcat malfunctioned and rolled off the deck of the training aircraft carrier USS Sable. The pilot, ENS William Forbes, escaped from the aircraft before it sank into Lake Michigan. In early December 2012, the aircraft was moved 45 miles under the water to a safe harbor in Waukegan, Illinois. The Wildcat fighter was lifted from the water on Friday 7 December 2012.[63]
  • 86773 - to airworthiness by private owner in New London, Pennsylvania.[64]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "USS Yorktown Action Report". NHHC. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  2. ^ Edward, M. (2013). F4F Vs. A6M. Osprey Publishing. p. 60.
  3. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12068." pacificwrecks.com Retrieved: 28 February 2015.
  4. ^ aerovet. "Wonderful Wildcat (updated)". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  5. ^ "Incident Grumman FM-2 Wildcat (General Motors built) G-KINL, 06 Jul 2023". aviation-safety.net.
  6. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86711." Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine The Fighter Collection. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Grumman Martlet I/AL246." Fleet Air Arm Museum. Retrieved: 27 February 2015.
  8. ^ Morris, David. "Grumman Martlet AL246: A Rare and Unusual Aircraft" (PDF). Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. ^ "General Motors FM-1 Wildcat/JV482." Ulster Aviation Society. Retrieved: 4 November 2023.
  10. ^ "FAA Registry: N12260." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12260." Lewis Air Legends. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  12. ^ EAA Aviation Museum Facebook Page
  13. ^ "FAA Registry: N909WJ." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  14. ^ "FAA Registry: N315E." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  15. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 47030." Military Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 20 April 2020.
  16. ^ "FAA Registry: N551TC." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  17. ^ "FAA Registry: N47201." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  18. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 55627." Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 3 March 2014.
  19. ^ "FAA Registry: N29FG." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  20. ^ "FAA Registry: N4629V." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  21. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86564." Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 January 2018.
  22. ^ "FAA Registry: N86572." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  23. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86572." Mid America Flight Museum. Retrieved: 13 August 2019.
  24. ^ "FAA Registry: N11FE." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  25. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86680." Collings Foundation. Retrieved: 10 January 2018.
  26. ^ "FAA Registry: N222FM." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  27. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86741." Fantasy of Flight. Retrieved: 10 January 2018.
  28. ^ "FAA Registry: N6290C." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  29. ^ "FAA Registry: N58918." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  30. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86754." Erickson Aircraft Collection. Retrieved: 20 April 2020.
  31. ^ "FAA Registry: N774FM." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  32. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86774." Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. Retrieved: 11 April 2019.
  33. ^ "FAA Registry: N5HP." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  34. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86777." Dakota Territory Air Museum. Retrieved: 8 August 2019.
  35. ^ "FAA Registry: N5833." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  36. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86819." Commemorative Air Force. Retrieved: 20 April 2020.
  37. ^ "FAA Registry: N18P." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.
  38. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86956. Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Retrieved: 20 April 2020.
  39. ^ Sullivan, Cole (1 January 2024). "Historic Addison flight museum announces closure". WFAA. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 3872." National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  41. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 4039."National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  42. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12290" USS Midway Museum. Retrieved: 16 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12296." Pacific Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 15 July 2014.
  44. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12297." Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 11 January 2018.
  45. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12320." Chicago Department of Aviation Retrieved: 12 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 3956." Patriots Point Naval Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  47. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 3969." National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  48. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 11828." San Diego Aerospace Museum. Retrieved: 11 January 2018.
  49. ^ "Grumman F4F Wildcat/Bu. 12114." National Museum of the Marine Corps Retrieved: 12 September 2022.
  50. ^ "General Motors FM-1 Wildcat/Bu. 14994." Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum. Retrieved: 2 March 2021.
  51. ^ "General Motors FM-1 Wildcat/Bu. 15392." National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  52. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 16089." National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  53. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 16161". Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 26 March 2020.
  54. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 16278." Hickory Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 11 January 2022.
  55. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 55052." USS Hornet Museum. Retrieved: 26 March 2020.
  56. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 74120." New England Air Museum. Retrieved: 27 March 2013.
  57. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 74161." National Museum of the Pacific War Retrieved: 28 February 2015.
  58. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 74512." Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  59. ^ Robinson, Jerry (9 November 2011). "SLIDESHOW: FM-2 Navy Grumman restored at last". West Seattle Herald. Robinson Communications Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  60. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86581." Air Zoo. Retrieved: 3 March 2014.
  61. ^ Michelhaugh, Thomas A.; Painter, William (2006). "WING-FOLDING MECHANISM OF THE GRUMMAN WILDCAT" (PDF). American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  62. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 86747." National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 17 April 2012.
  63. ^ "General Motors FM-2 Wildcat/Bu. 57039." AirZoo. Retrieved: 24 March 2020.
  64. ^ "FAA Registry: N1352N." FAA.gov Retrieved: 19 July 2021.