Hellcat Mk I - NICE ! ! !

Graham wrote:
Wasn't the Hellcat known as the Martlet or some such when used by the
poms? I think the FAA (Fleet Air Arm of the RN) called them that.

It was originally intended to be called the "Gannet", but reverted to the
name Hellcat before the first ones were delivered.

"Martlet" was the name given to earlier versions of the Wildcat, although
the FM-2 was known as the "Wildcat VI" in FAA service.

As for FAA Hellcats in the ETO, those markings are accurate. They depict an
aircraft from 800 NAS, flying from HMS Emperor (ex-USS Pybus CVE-34).
Emperor operated Hellcats as fighter cover during Operation TUNGSTEN, an
attack on the German battleship /Tirpitz/ on 2 April 1944. One Hellcat was
severely damaged and ditched. Emperor provided aircraft for the
anti-submarine screen during the D-Day landings, again with Hellcats as
fighter cover.

--
Enzo

I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.