No US aircraft other than the Wildcat fought throughout WWII, all the way from 1940 to VJ Day in 1945; the Wildcat was there when the US Navy and Marines entered the Pacific theatre and when the atomic bomb was dropped to put an end to hostilities. Apart from service in the North Atlantic, British Martlets saw combat in warmer climes too such as Malta, North Africa and alongside their American counterparts throughout the Pacific.
The Wildcat could well be considered the US Navy's 'Spitifre', performing heroically against considerable odds in often difficult conditions in the defining battles of the Coral Sea and Midway and later in the dark days of the early Pacific islands campaigns at infamous locations such as Guadalcanal and Rabaul.
It is a testament to the success of this rugged little fighter that the design remained basically unchanged until the end of the war, and the last Wildcat to roll off the General Motors production lines in 1945.
Model features
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Fully detailed and animated F4F undercarriage
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Folding wings (F4F-4 and Martlet MkIV) with detailed mechanisms and correct wing stay rods when folded
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Fully detailed split flaps
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Opening dinghy storage area
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Accurate and detailed radial engines
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Operating tail hook and lockable tail wheel
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Realistic animated pilot in a choice of uniforms to suit the aircraft
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Retractable landing lights
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Animated cowl flaps in correct configurations for each type
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Authentic pre-war and wartime liveries
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Choice of aircraft with tanks or no tanks
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Fully compatible with Acceleration carrier operations
Virtual Cockpit features
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Highly detailed Virtual Cockpit
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Every switch, knob and lever is animated and most are fully functional
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Switchable and dimmable gunsight reticles
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Choice of British and US gunsights, compasses etc.
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Working checklist gauge
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Separate VCs for US and British types and different layouts for F4F-4 and F4F-3
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Fluid 3D gauges with accurate readings
Included models
F4F-3 - Before the USA entered WWII, US Navy aircraft were painted in an array of different bright colours, contrasting with silver fuselages. It was not until Pearl Harbor that the need for more subdued camouflage colours became clear! This machine flew from USS Ranger and carries the distinctive 'Willow' green tail signifying that it is part of Ranger’s complement.
F4F-4 'Black 53' - flown by Capt. Joseph J Foss at Guadalcanal in early 1943. Credited with downing 26 Japanese aircraft, he was then the leading fighter ace of the United States, and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Unfortunately Foss suffered constantly from malaria and if it were not for his illness, experts contend that his tally would have been very much higher.
Martlet MkI BJ562 - an 804 Squadron machine. The Royal Navy flew these aircraft as land-based aircraft. 804 Squadron was the first squadron to receive the Martlet, with the first aircraft being delivered to the squadron one month before the US Navy received theirs.
Martlet MkI S7-L BJ561 - another 804 Squadron machine. The rugged little Martlet was used to good effect in the North Atlantic and in defence of shipping up and down the UK coast in the early days of WWII.
Martlet MkIV FN114 - this aircraft was on strength with 893 Squadron Royal Navy on HMS Formidable in the Western Mediterranean in early 1943. Martlets served with distinction throughout the theatre and also in the deserts of North Africa.
Martlet MkIV FN148 - based on Malta, where 893 Squadron served in 1943.