F6F Hellcat fighter

In 1942, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation began mass production of the F6F "Hellcat" fighter as replacement for the F4F. Grumman installed the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) estimating a 25% increase in performance would result. The first Cyclone-equipped prototype (02981) flew on 26 June 1942 while the first Double Wasp-equipped aircraft, the XF6F-3 (02982) had its first flight on 30 July 1942.

Credits - U.S. Navy Photo. U.S. Centennial of Flight

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Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats in tricolor camouflage, sea blue, intermediate blue and insignia white.