Initially operated under the nae Martlet, the Fleet Air Arm would eventually receive nearly 1200 Grumman Wildcat fighters. The Martlet name was replaced by January 1944 with Wildcat, in common with the US Navy and Marine Corps. Wildcats were operated from shore bases as well as aircraft carriers, and the types first victory in FAA hands was on 25 December 1940 when a land-based Martlet destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 bomber over the Scapa Flow.
Grumman Wildcat of 832NAS landing on HMS BegumOne of 832 squadron’s Wildcat fighters bounces on landing and probably suffered damage to its propellerHMS Begum serving with the Eastern Fleet in 1944. Avengers and Wildcats of 832 Squadron are on deckHMS Begum serving with the Eastern Fleet in 1944. Avengers and Wildcats of 832 Squadron are on deck
HMS Fencer deck crew sit below a Wildcat while the pilot gains cover beneath a sunshade 30 Jun 44Divine service on the flight deck of the escort carrier HMS Fencer. providing a strange background to the scene, a Wildcat fighter with pilot in the cockpit ready to go into actionA Wildcat being catapulted from HMS Fencer with HMS Trumpeter in the background. October 1944Grumman Wildcat accident on HMS Fencer
The flight deck party folding the wings of a Martlet (Wildcat) which has just landed on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet fighters on the flight deck of HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet fighters on the flight deck of HMS FormidableMartlet fighter warming up on the flight deck of HMS FormidableMartlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942. The crew are watching HMS Rodney firing.Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Martlet (Wildcat) fighter on HMS Formidable Sep 1942A Grumman Martlet of No 888 Squadron taking off from HMS Formidable in the Mediterranean.
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Part of
ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION
Roper, F G (Lt)
Royal Navy official photographerGrumman Wildcats of No 888 Squadron on HMS FormidableMartlet (Wildcat) fighters on HMS Formidable Sep 1942Grumman Martlet (Wildcat) Mk. II of No. 888 AJ148 from HMS Formidable on an airfield at Oran Algeria in Dec 42
Grumman Martlet aboard HMS IllustriousMartlet IV’s Fairey Barracudas and Supermarine Seafires on the flight deck of HMS Illustrious in the North Sea July 1943
Grumman Wildcats taking off from HMS Pursuer during the invasion of Southern France August 1944Grumman Wildcat fighters on the deck of HMS Pursuer off the northern coast of Norway April 1944Grumman Wildcat fighters on the deck of HMS Pursuer off the northern coast of Norway April 1944Grumman Wildcat being moved out of the way after becoming unserviceable on HMS Pursuer during the invasion of Southern France August 1944Grumman Wildcat on HMS Pursuer of 881 Sqn having a 250 lb bomb fitted for the invasion of Southern France 15 August 1944Grumman Wildcat being readied on HMS Pursuer during the invasion of Southern France 14/15 August 1944Grumman Wildcat being readied on HMS Pursuer during the invasion of Southern France 14/15 August 1944Wildcat on HMS PursuerA Fleet Air Arm Grumman Wildcat Mk.V of No.896 Squadron based aboard the escort carrier HMS Pursuer (D73)A Wildcat fighter coming in to land on HMS Pursuer
Hellcats of 800 Squadron (HMS Emperor) and Wildcat V’s of 882 Squadron (HMS Searcher) overfly the escort carrier HMS PursuerHMS Searcher’s Fighter Pilots of 822 Sqn July 1944Wildcats Onboard HMS SearcherWildcat Landing on HMS SearcherWildcats Onboard HMS SearcherWildcats Onboard HMS Searcher
Grumman Avenger and Wildcat Aircraft 11 Jul 1944Wildcat Mk. VIs of a fighter flight attached to 853 Sqn aboard HMS Tracker, in May 1944
HMS Trumpeter
Grumman Wildcat fighters on HMS Trumpeter prior to a strike on enemy shipping 9 Dec 1944 Implacable in the backgroundGrumman Wildcat taking off HMS Trumpeter for a strike on enemy shipping 9 Dec 1944Grumman Wildcat pilots who took part in the strike on enemy shipping 9 Dec 1944 HMS Trumpeter Grumman Wildcat damage from a strike on enemy shipping 9 Dec 1944 HMS Trumpeter Grumman Wildcat fighters on HMS Trumpeter during a convoy to Russia 1945Vought Corsairs flying over HMS Trumpeter with Wildcats of 846 Squadron parked on deck
Land Based Grumman Wildcats
Grumman Martlet Mk.I NXG2FAA Grumman Wildcat in North AfricaGrumman Martlet Mk.I NXG7Grumman Martlet Mk.I AX733Grumman Martlet Mk.II AM958Grumman Wildcat Mk.II (F4F-3) AM965 and AM964Grumman Wildcat Mk.II (F4F-3) AM970Grumman Wildcat Mk.II (F4F-3) AM966Grumman Martlet III 3876Grumman Martlet fighter used by the British Fleet Air Arm on the ground at Lee-on-Solent Fleet Air Arm StationGrumman Wildcat Mk.IV at a storage unitGrumman Martlets in SEAC camouflage BurmaGrumman Martlet on an Eastern Fleet Aerodrome
