History Up Close with the F6F Hellcat

We’re LIVE for another History Up Close series with Hill Goodspeed, Historian at the National Naval Aviation Museum, as he highlights the F6F Hellcat.
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www.navalaviationmuseum.org
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[@bthompson524]

My Dad was one of the pilots that flew this airframe many times with VF-38 in the Solomon Islands campaign. One particular combat flight in BU 25910, he logged as 12 hours in his logbook. It was on November 11, 1943. He refueled 3 times on the USS Princeton that day. I wish he would have lived to see his old Hellcat looking new and agile again!

[@maxoutyoutlife5261]

Hi, I’m a bit of a military historian with a lot of interest into the USS Princeton and particularly VF-27 (their hellcat squadron was famous for being the only one with nose art). Did your father keep any notes of his experiences of his time flying combat missions? I would love to hear about them.

[@steveb6103]

My dad was a F6F Hellcat pilot! He took a flak hit over Truk and made it back to the USS Essex missing 3 cylinders.

[@jockellis]

Tough birds.

[@alequi356]

My good friend Captain Dan Nygarrd Flew this F6F Hellcat in WW II nearly lost his life several times because his rudder cables were cut in battle and he could only fly straight he landed in the ocean on a beach and was picked up by a PBY, He flew off the Hornet, Yorktown and Enterprise. RIP MY GOOD FRIEND CAPTAIN DAN NYGARRD THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO FREEDOM. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. WE SALUTE YOU AND ALL THE BRAVE MEN OF THE GREATEST GENERATION.

[@drinksnapple8997]

2 suggestions: ; (1) INVEST IN A HIGH DEFINITION DIGITAL CAMERA, and (2) INVEST IN A QUALITY MICROPHONE.

[@davidmcdonald358]

I actually have met Captain Hawk several times. His grandson is my best friend. His son is a good friend and a great guy. Nicest family you could ever meet.

[@johnriise9506]

My uncle flew the F6 Hell cat off the USS Hornet, he was also one of the flying Tigers, When 7 December 41 hamppened He wanted in the war, His name it H Norm Riise

[@stevenschofield8518]

The documentary battle 360 which details the Carrier Enterprise throughout WWII was sponsored by Enterprise rent a car..... I can’t stress enough how awesome that documentary is... I highly recommend it to fans of WWII history..... great hellcat video thank you

[@jockellis]

The guy who started Enterprise rentals flew off the deck of the Big E and named his company after it.

[@timbarnett3898]

My uncle an brother were both on Enterprise carrier during Viet Nam, brother being a plane captain for F-4A

[@robertshaver4432]

VG video, Thank you for this!

[@kevinkoepke8311]

Great stories! Thanks

[@VIRGONOMICS]

The large pilot in cockpit photo looks like my Grandfather in his plane . Same number .. wow . Thanks so much .

[@sherry86440]

You are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Missedapex]

A point that could have been made was the quick and relatively painless development of an aircraft that had outstanding performance but was easy for young pilots to fly on and off the ship - unlike the F-4-U which the Navy was willing to give to the Marine Corp until it's tendency to stall and bounce when landing on an aircraft carrier was corrected. The Hellcat's wartime service ended with the French Navy as a ground support aircraft through Dien Bien Phu in 1953. The XF-5-F Sky Rocket sparked the Navy's interest in a heavier twin engine fighter to fly off the new Midway class carriers: the F-7-F Tigercat. Thank you for posting these very interesting videos of the US Navy's aviation history.

[@steriskyline4470]

corrected by the British***

[@ChuckJansenII]

Great video about the Grumman F6F Hellcat and some of the pilots who flew it. They made the Hellcat a target drone because all those who did not fly it were jealous of it's effectiveness and combat record 19:1 kill to loss ratio. Well. Maybe not. But an inglorious end to a great war bird that was born and bread for one purpose: Defeat the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Rei-sen and provide air superiority. It was a fitting counterpart to the Chance Vought F4U Corsair.

[@rocketman48]

Excellent video.Bill in Ireland.

[@OuttaHere7]

Thank-you for a very informative and interesting video! Hope you make more of these.

[@oveazeus1]

Great video. Thanks for the stories.

[@davidh6300]

Great job on the restoration.

[@ConsolidatedPBY]

Awesome!!!

[@charleswendt4868]

USS Sable was converted from the Great Buffalo, Both my parents worked on the Buffalo, It was a side wheel steamer.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Cheers for the upload. Greetings from the UK. Subbed.

[@jockellis]

My father was duty officer for the Hellcat-flying VF-81 on CV-18, the Wasp’s first Pacific cruise. One of my treasures is a copy of Prep Charlie, the ship’s war diary of the voyage’s exploits. My father remained in contact with many of the pilots until he died. His squadron commander, later Adm Frank Upham, was a 1934 graduate of the USNA, as was my freshman math professor, Capt. Harry Moore at Georgia’s state military institution, North Georgia College.. I asked Capt. Moore if he knew Upham but he didn’t. Apparently there were enough middies in the academy that they did not know them all.

[@rayowen3853]

Jock... my dad flew 'wing' with Commander Frank Upham.

[@jockellis]

@@rayowen3853 What carrier? If the Wasp, what was your dad’s name?

[@rayowen3853]

@@jockellis CV-18... USS Wasp. He flew 'wing' with Commander Frank Upham many times.

[@jockellis]

Ens. Ray H. Owen, Detroit, Michigan Cass Tech High School “RAY” - It took only a short while to realize that behind that just waked up look Ray sometimes exhibits, lurked an active mind and an able pilot. Tall gangling Ray, his stride bringing to mind the fable of the seven league boots, remains, according to Smythe, as the chute rigger’s number one nightmare, when it comes to adjusting a harness to his frame. - Prep Charlie Ray flew Hellcat No. 42

[@tommytfaa]

Great idea showing the original paint...

[@enoshimametals]

Great information

[@rconger384]

11:56. "Combat Veteran F6F." Regarding surviving examples- let alone operational or combat veteran examples, my dad who was an F6F mechanic told me that at the close of the war, to make room for new models, new jets, the NAVY was wholesale pushing Hellcats over the sides of the aircraft carriers to watery graves in the Pacific.

[@scotttait2197]

Thats true ..your dad is correct... not only f6f's example P51's in their packing cases pushed over the side before being delivered at wars end ... as deemed uneconomical to transport home ! Wantant waste

[@StromBugSlayer]

Check out the two Armored Carrier episodes on the Hellcat in British service. One pilot tells the story of being on a carrier with a load of 70 brand new Hellcats and spare engines when the announcement of the end of Lend Lease was made. In order to avoid having to pay for the brand new Hellcats and engines, they were all pitched overboard.

[@StromBugSlayer]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqiQg5mnaNGliLs

[@larrydemaar409]

O’Hare Field in Chicago is named after Butch O’Hare.

[@normansmith8184]

From England, I am a great fan of the F6F-3 and being a keen scale modeler have in my collection a version that was "stationed" on USS Princeton at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I know this aircraft sported the "cat's teeth and angry eyes" designed by and painted by Rob. Burnell. I know that this aircraft had White II on the tailplane but unusually FII on the fuselage. I know that this aircraft took off on the morning of Oct. 24th 1944 but of course Princeton was doomed by a freak single bomb hit and had to be scuttled causing FII to land on USS Essex. What I don't know is who the pilot was. I have found out about plenty of other Hellcats on Princeton but every time I turn to FII I hit a brick wall. I build WWII aircraft both friendly and enemy and find out about the pilots of fighters and crews of bombers as a tribute to their bravery in going up time after time to fight for their nations sometimes against awful odds. But FII is like a ghost. If anyone who might read this can help I would be grateful and will help me to give the aircraft and it's pilot the love it deserves. Thank you. PS I have googled until I'm goggle eyed. I found a site that gave the crew roster of Princeton on 24th Oct. 1944 and when login in found the Princeton had a crew of 6! I'm thinking that must have been incorrect. Like I said, brick wall.

[@gpomeroy]

Capt. Jack Taylor was on the USS Hornet from what I have read. Rear Admiral Edward Lewis Feightner (October 14, 1919 - April 1, 2020) USS Enterprise ace with nine kills told me that his Hellcat save his live many times and was Butch O'Hare's & James H. Flatley wing man at times.

[@hertzair1186]

9:40 Built by the “Grumman Iron Works”

[@gsr4535]

Love this video series! If I'm not mistaken, both the Hellcat and the Corsair were designed before Pearl Harbor - not in reaction to the early encounters with the IJN Zero fighter.

[@GRANDMASTER3D]

Love the idea. Might be cool. I don't know I can't hear it.

[@danielblythe5337]

The Hellcat was a huge fighter! In some ways as big or bigger than the P-47. When viewed a bit farther away at times, and from it's best viewing angles, the Hellcat is a damn good looking plane! The Hellcat, always counted by me "as one of the more glamorous and nostalgic Fighters of the 1940's". When I heard Mr. Taylor's name, I was surprised. I worked for Enterprise Rent A Car for 15 years. I didn't know Mr. Taylor was involved in the recovery of this F6F-3. I knew he did fly the F6F hellcat though.

[@jackhammer111]

nonsense. It's nowhere as big as a P-47. look up the specs yourself. 2 for more wingspan but shorter not as wide a fuselage and weighs a thousand pounds less. I do agree the hellcat is a beautiful aircraft, but I think the jug is cool too. The P47 was the biggest single-engine airplane until the Douglas Skyraider came around. My dad flew hellcats in WWII and later flew the AD-6 Skyraider. He actually put me in one as a five-year-old in 1955. I'll tell the story if you twist my arm.

[@danielblythe5337]

Thanks for supporting these the three cool beautiful aircraft, the F6F Hellcat, P-47 T-Bolt and the Douglas Skyraider! Those are without a doubt 3 of my favorite aircraft of them all! On the size of the F6F vs. the P-47, I looked up the specs long ago. I since have wondered which plane actually used more sheet metal in it's construction. The F6F was originally designed around the larger diameter Wright 2600 engine. Had it have been developed around the Pratt & Whitney R=2800, I assume the F6F might have been say a tiny bit less in size of fuselages cross section. The F6F Hellcat's wing area is 334 square feet, to the T-Bolt's 300 square foot wing area. Hellcat's wingspan is also over 2' longer than p-47's. The horizontal stabilizer span, I am trying to look up now on both. The F6f Will certainly win on that one in regards to size. I did forget to mention the T-Bolt flying at heavier weights though, than did the Hellcat.

[@user-nn7mb4ip4l]

F6F -3 is my favorite ww2 aircraft

[@jackhammer111]

He goes on and on about catapults when they didn't have catapults in WWII. The first Steam cat was on the USS Hancock in 1954. Really, no catapults in WWII. How do I know? My father, who flew Wildcats and then Hellcats during WWII, was recalled 2 months before I was born when the Korean war started, and he flew Douglas AD-6 Skyraiders off of the Hancock in catapult testing in1954 when he was stationed at NAS Miramar. Then he was part of a big show of strength fleet cruise on the USS Randolf and was gone for 7 months. Then he because a flight instructor at NAS Kingsville Tx flying mainly SNJ's and T-28s. Deep south TX was a great place to be a little boy. 😁

[@kenneth9874]

They did have catapults in ww2, there's video of thunderbolts being catapulted off of escort carriers in the pacific theater upon delivery

[@massacmongo995]

My Father served on the Sister ship of the Cabot ..... the San Jacinto CVL 30 from 1943 to the Wars end

[@DCS_World_Japan]

I've been eyeing that Banshee/Panther in the background, wondering when we'll get an up-close look at that one. Naval Aviation during the Korean War seems to be forgotten between WW2 and Vietnam.

[@mitch_the_-itch]

Simple. The Progressive "experts" like McNamara decided they are more expert at airplane design and Air Combat than airplane designers and pilots. Progressivism is truly the most dangerous threat America has ever faced.

[@DCS_World_Japan]

@@mitch_the_-itch Progressivism has zero connection to aeronautical engineering and zero connection to why the Korean War was forgotten. It’s simply overshadowed by the epic scale of WW2 and the failures of Vietnam.

[@mitch_the_-itch]

@@DCS_World_Japan Ill assume you havent been to a college campus in the last 20 years. Progressive Marxism has infected every aspect of academia including the sciences. Like terminal cancer. Back then it was egghead Regressives like McNamarra that took the gun off of the fighter aircraft. Communism makes people more stupid, not more intelligent.

[@DCS_World_Japan]

@@mitch_the_-itch The stupid are those who politicize non-political discussions.

[@mitch_the_-itch]

@@DCS_World_Japan Progressives have forced everything into the political arena. You shouldn't project about "stupid people" while you post on Google services. The CCP (google) needs useful idiots like you today, but they wont always, lol. If I'm wrong about McNamara please indicate why? He was the self described expert in Military aviation enough to remove the guns from the F4 pre Vietnam, though he never flew a plane, lol. Progressive anti Americans don't like the truth.

[@robstanton9215]

My 2nd cousin flew the F6F off of the new Yorktown with the commander who was hit by the anti aircraft gun in the windscreen. Watch here on KZbin “The Fighting Lady” the full length movie and at about 31:00 to 35:00 minutes in on the time stamp or so they talk about the attack to Truck Island. My 2nd cousin, Lt. Hal Crabb, is in the Hellcat the narrater says his flaps are shot up and he crash lands on the deck. The cable yanks his tail completely off at the tail hook because the tail is shot up. His plane number is 37. You can also see the Top Hat logo on the plane which was his fighter group. The next clip is the commander with his windscreen hit and his face is torn up.

[@johnthomas2485]

Which Hornet was that from? I'm assuming CV-12 since the F6F wasn't widely in service when CV-8 was sunk.

[@timbarnett3898]

Wouldn't we all like to have one, seeing they were built strong enough to bring pilot home with damages from 200 bullet holes! Simple enough for 20 yr farm boys to learn! With production record of one produced per hour! Great plane!

[@khaccanhle1930]

That story of Hawkins... Man it must be hot in this room, because my eyes are starting to sweat.

[@Foontflaky]

You need to invest in a hi-def potato, and the sound leaves something to be desired.

[@DuVey64]

It’s fine

[@ultrablue2]

@@DuVey64 : Oh no it’s not. It’s terrible, and the speakers deserve a better presentation. This is very interesting, important history.

[@aredditor4272]

@@DuVey64 no, it's awful

[@iananderson7883]

The part about the candy bar and cigarettes was not in the movie. It was in the book. In the movie supplies were dropped by a B-29 Superfortress.

[@thishominid871]

I know it's already complained about in the comments, but the audio gain doesn't make the production company look good at all. More like bottom shelf than top shelf, which annoys me even more because this is my favorite WWII aircraft.

[@scottmanning8739]

The Hellcat had a starring role in the Battle of Palmdale as a runaway drone in 1956.

[@elvisbjones]

Guessing the scoreboard of the hornet is the Essex class hornet not the earlier Yorktown class one famous for the Doolittle raid

[@arwupig]

My god that is tough man with tough story

[@adamfeder7125]

Great content by Mr. Goodspeed. He does a great job presenting the aircraft and the stories. Unfortunate that the production company does such a poor job. I’ve watched several of the videos they produced and the camera quality is just terrible. There’s consistent audio issues across the ones I’ve watched, though in this one the volume was OK but the breaks in the audio were inexcusable for a professional production company.

[@emmgeevideo]

The sound obviously is terrible. I’m sure you’ve heard of “take 2”... No reason this couldn’t be re-shot.

[@sounkpolk]

It was a live stream, it says so right on the screen.

[@emmgeevideo]

@@sounkpolkThe substandard video doesn’t have to be posted on KZbin. A second take could be done easily (and cheaply) and it could be posted.

[@tommytfaa]

USS Crommelin FFG 37 :-)

[@DjWesRolan]

I got to hang out there at night for a function. Magical place full of real history.

[@herbertgomez4112]

I enjoy these Docs, what's sad they don't interview survivers of WWll Hellcat pilots. I get it, WWll Veterans are passing away daily, perhaps 20 or 30 years earlier these veterans would be more interesting.

[@StromBugSlayer]

Check out the "Armored Carriers" channel.

[@scotttait2197]

Nice video but shane the audio volume is seriously low

[@roycox320]

👍👍always🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!!!

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Looks like it was hit by one of USS Sable's paddle wheels.

[@rayowen3853]

My dad did his 'carrier training touch-and-goes' off the Sable. SBD.

[@SoldiersDad]

It is a shame that the museum is not open to the general public.

[@paulmcwilliams1709]

Why isn't it open to the public???

[@SoldiersDad]

@@paulmcwilliams1709 I do not know but I am going to call and find out.

[@mykofreder1682]

Twice the gross weight and engine power, 20% more speed of a Zero or F4F, it went from a close fight to an unfair fight

[@jockellis]

It’s never an unfair fight if your side has the advantage.

[@bayoubengal1961]

Too bad the F8F Bearcat had never made it to service in WWII. That was a HUGE fighter with a top speed of 455 mph

[@hugbug4408]

Bearcat f8f 456mph! How come this hardly heard of?

[@bayoubengal1961]

@@hugbug4408 WWII ended prior to it entering service although it did serve in Korea

[@chuckmaresca3050]

Volume is never high enough..???????????? Why.? - You need to listen to your video on You Tube.

[@neilrobinson3085]

Great content...too bad the audio is so awful!

[@iananderson1848]

Sorry lads. Your top shelf production company doesn't understand you have to use a Bluetooth enabled microphone otherwise no bugger can hear you properly.

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

the problem is with your listening gear. i heard it fine with ear cans. bugger.

[@rogerhoward7104]

Your volume and quality of sound is "VERY BAD." I want to hear you but can hardly hear you, from a crackling sound track. Your story is great stuff I want to hear. Please invest in a better camera with that million dollar HellCat, thank you. We can hardly hear the questions ask. Loved your story, great stuff. "Please, we want to hear your Great Hosting of the F6F Hell Cat!"

[@frodrickfronkensteen9241]

It's a shame this series (or at least the ones I've viewed) were shot (or released) in such poor resolution. Audio quality poor as well. Frustrating.

[@robertk.5195]

Fair presentation - but I have a question regarding some of the video used in making it. Age 77 (and an ex-USAF technician sort). I'm repeatedly befuddled as to HOW the narration can be going along while footage of aircraft that ARE NOT F6Fs is used. In the beginning, we're told about the bombing capabilities of the Hellcat while we're treated to footage of formations of aircraft that are CLEARLY NOT Hellcats. Do you know how HARD I have to squint to believe these are depictions of the plane being featured? HELLOooooooooooo.... What's the deal? is there NO footage extant of real, honest-ta-gosh Hellcats flying formation???

[@paratrooper7340]

Still wondering why - if pilots were always craving for more speed - that the F6 is never pictured with a 4 blade prop. The other period fighter planes with the same engine started out with a similar 3 blade prop but every last one eventually changed to a paddle blade type which I have to assume gave them more speed - so why is the F6F never pictured with the more advanced design prop?

[@wanyelewis9667]

If they had placed the 4-bladed paddle prop from the P-47, which was a little bigger but had the exact same engine, they could have gotten at least 50 more mph out of it. Then imagine the mismatch.

[@danielblythe5337]

Hellcat in Action I believe is the name of the book, a probably revised 90's version. In this book shows a picture and description with 4 blade prop on Hellcat. I wonder if three blade was better suited at that time for carrier flying? I would like more info on this myself

[@rconger384]

Or high altitude ignition wires...

[@StromBugSlayer]

Check out a KZbin channel called Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles. He has an episode that deals with this question in depth.

[@kenneth9874]

@@wanyelewis9667 the P47 had quite a bit more power

[@RD2564]

You can't take that scoreboard for granted because the pilot community is full of guys who aren't too smart and guys who aren't too honest, so those K values are vastly inflated ...

[@patrickreis4499]

Sorry, but at 21:32 if the aircraft had "stars and bars" on it, it would not have been a United States aircraft. Otherwise, this was a very informative video.

[@dukecraig2402]

I believe he's referring to the star inside the bar like what's right behind him and is in many pictures from that time period and was indeed painted on US aircraft in WW2, not the rebel flag if that's what you mean, otherwise I just can't figure out what you're implying.

[@michaelbailey528]

Couldn't help but show your a#$ could you?

[@AvengerII]

@@michaelbailey528 The OP literally made a YT account days ago so I think your suggestion is right on the nose!

[@douglasturner6153]

Oh, ok. I thought he meant it was flying with the Confederate Naval Air Service!

[@jackhammer111]

take the damn banner off the screen.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Only cowards give a thumbs down.

[@rconger384]

What if the story and bravery left you with such tears you just couldn't see?

[@ditto1958]

Bad sound, mediocre video

[@OuttaHere7]

Great content! Gratitude is really in short supply these days.