Thursday, June 28, 2018

The ruggedness of aircraft produced by Grumman’s “Iron Works” is demonstrated by this late production F6F-F3 Hellcat, witch was returned to the plant for workers to see. It had more than 200 bullet holes in it from combat.


6 comments:

  1. It's good to show the workers at the plant what they're REALLY building and how it really holds up. Greatest generation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not to be a wet blanket but there are NO 20 mm cannon holes visible, Few if any bullet holes forward of the cockpit. Other than that it is a nice picture

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like someone forgot what function the rudder pedals serve.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice grouping........

    ReplyDelete
  5. Better than nice grouping, nice patch-jobbing. The canopy was probably replaced, as 100mph tape is kinda contra-indicated for visibility. (notice the bullet holes under the cockpit coaming, most likely the canopy was pierced also. Good thing the cockpit was armored.)

    As to no cannon holes, I disagree. Notice the different sizes of patches, not all large ones can be explained by angled holes. Large patch to the right and to the bottom, along with under and to the left of the left bar, and visible in the port wing. Looks like a combo of 20mm and machine gun fire to me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A good friend of mine flew ground attack in support of the Marines in the Korean war in Corsairs. I don't think they called it CAS back then. He had a few pictures like that. No 20 mm holes, all rifle and machine gun holes. He's well in to his 90's now. The greatest generation indeed.

    ReplyDelete