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1945 FM-2 Wildcat / Martlet VI Project
s/n 86774
Very complete and stock
Never civilian flown
Just reduced to $545,000

Airframe:    Delivered USN: August 6, 1945          
                        San Diego Pool
                        Striken: November 11, 1945
                        Estimated: 50-75 Hrs Total Time                        

Engine:         Aircraft comes with a recently purchased excellent “0” SMOH core R-1820-56, 1350 hp, original stock engine. 

MISCELLANEOUS:
Aircraft structure is ALL original and not a “bits plane.” However, right outboard folding wing is only 50%
original and inboard needs rebuilding.
Included is an entirely new cockpit plexi-glass and rare drop tanks.
Aircraft is located in Caldwell, Idaho.

Engine: Wright R-1820-56W Cyclone, 9 cylinder, single-row engine, with a two speed, single-stage mechanical supercharger.

Performance: 289 mph at sea level, 319 mph at 1960 ft. max climb rate at sea level 2890 ft/min. Best climb: 3650 ft/ min. Service ceiling 3560 ft. Max range on internal fuel 780 miles, 1350 miles with two drop tanks.

Weights: 5542 lb empty, 7431 lb gross

                       SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION UPON INSPECTION

HISTORY of the FM-2 "WILDCAT" FIGHTER

The FM2  "Wildcat"  fighter was powered by the R-1820-56 engine. Previous USN Wildcats were all powered by the R-1830, but the R-1820-56 delivered 1350hp, 150hp more than the engine of the F4F-4, and was also 102kg lighter, with a weight of 604kg. The aircraft weight was also reduced by deleting two guns (increasing ammunition to 1720 rounds at the same time) and the reserve fuel tank. The new engine had a single-stage supercharger, and performance at altitude was therefore below that of the F4F-4. But at low levels the performance was considerably better, with a spectacular improvement in climbing rate. The main tasks of the FM-2 were to be submarine patrols and close air support, so performance at high altitude was less important.

The first order, for 1265, was signed in early 1943. The final production of the FM-2 was 4127, plus 340 Martlet / Wildcat Mk.VIs for the Fleet Air Arm of England. The FM-2 was the most built version of the Wildcat.

The first combat of the FM-2 was during Operation Flintlock, the invasion of Kwajalein, in January 1944, when the USS Manila Bay (Task Group 52.9) carried twelve FM-2s. In June they fought in operation Forager, the invasion of the Marianas. Experience showed that the FM-2 had, at best, only a marginal performance advantage over the Japanese aircraft, and that its reduced armament was a disadvantage. But the Japanese pilots of the time were inexperienced and poorly trained.

In October 1944 a conference on aircraft requirements was held at Patuxent River. The armed forces showed their latest fighters, and an impressive demonstration of the XF8F-1 Bearcat was done by Bob Hall. But the FM-2 was nevertheless considered the best fighter below 10000 ft, even in comparison with the F6F, F4U, P-47 and P-51. It was stable, handled well in a dive, and had excellent landing characteristics.

In the Battle of Leyte, 15 of the 18 escort carriers of the 'Taffy' force carried FM-2s. Only weak air opposition on the first days, but on 24 October there was spiritied fighting, and Lt. K. G. Hippe of VC-27 became an 'ace-in-a-day' by shooting down five K-48 'Lily' bombers, being bettered by Lt Cdr H. Funk who claimed six kills that day. At the end of the day, the Japanese had lost 47 aircraft; five FM-2s had been lost. This result confirmed the confidence in the FM-2. However, it was felt yet again that the number of available fighters was too small: at the end of the day, the 15 carriers had 'only' 290 FM-2s. For the attack on Mindoro in December, the number of fighters was boasted to 24 on each of six escort carriers.

The FM-2  flew in the battle of  Iwo Jima in February and of Okinawa in March, in which 12 and 18 escort carriers participated, respectively.

At the end of the war, four USN pilots had become aces on the FM-2: Lt. R. Elliot (VC-27) with nine kills, Lt Cdr H. Funk (VF-26) with six, Lt. K. Hippe (VC-13) with five, and Ens J. McGraw (VC-10 and VC-80) with five.

In all,  USN and USMC Wildcats  flew over 15,553 combat missions, shot down over 1,327  enemy aircraft and lost only 191 Wildcats.  A kill ratio of  7 to 1.

HISTORY of the "MARTLET VI" FIGHTER

The FM-2 was known as Martlet Mk.VI in ROYAL NAVY Fleet Air Arm service in England; it was renamed Wildcat Mk.VI in January 1944. 340 were delivered.  In the European theater, the Martlet scored its first combat victory on Christmas Day 1940, when a land-based Martlet  destroyed a Junkers JU-88 bomber. This was the first combat victory by a US-built fighter in British service in World War II.   Martlets, in mid-1941,  shot down several Luftwaffe FW 200 Condor bombers during highly effective convoy escort operations.

The Martlet VI equipped, partially or completely, 22 squadrons, 10 of which used the type operationally. Their first major action was operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France, in which No 881 sqn flew 180 sorties. On 26 March 1945, Mk.VIs of No 882 squadron shot down five Bf 109Gs over Norway. These were the last ROYAL NAVY victories of WWII.    In total over 1,200 Martlets served with the ROYAL NAVY  in WWII.