Name This...(418)

[Brady]

???

[afspret]

A Navy Airdale proudly standing by his trusty FM-2 Wildcat somewhere in the Pacific.

[ilovestrategy]

That pic is recruiting poster material [:)]

[Treetop64]

Yep, most definitely an FM-2!

[Smiffus64]

Undoubtedly taken on the Essex.

[DuckofTindalos]

An FM-2 on the Essex??? Definitely recruiting poster material![8D]

[m10bob]

Ensign Darrell Bennett next to his FM-2 aboard Gambier Bay, 1944.............[8D]

[marky]

gambier bay was sunk at leyte

battle off samar as it was called

[Mark VII]

Check out those two magazine pouches for his Colt .45 in case of landing on a unfriendly beach or jungle.

[Brady]

Colt .45 (M1911A1), it is[:)]

FM-2, it is[:)]

USS Gambier Bay, it is[:)]

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Brady


Colt .45 (M1911A1), it is[:)]

FM-2, it is[:)]

USS Gambier Bay, it is[:)]

To all of you -
I'm pretty familiar with most of this stuff...but how can you tell it's an FM-2 as oppsed to the other Wildcat breeds - by seeing the front end only?
I am a bit curious....

[panda124c]

ORIGINAL: Big B

ORIGINAL: Brady


Colt .45 (M1911A1), it is[:)]

FM-2, it is[:)]

USS Gambier Bay, it is[:)]

To all of you -
I'm pretty familiar with most of this stuff...but how can you tell it's an FM-2 as oppsed to the other Wildcat breeds - by seeing the front end only?
I am a bit curious....

Anyone can see the A/C has the FM-2 rivet patteren. [:D]

My guess would be the cowling shape, or cooling flaps. But I'm just guessing, as far as I know it's a Wildcat look at the landing gear. [&:]

[demonterico]

definately a mae west life vest

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: pbear

ORIGINAL: Big B

ORIGINAL: Brady


Colt .45 (M1911A1), it is[:)]

FM-2, it is[:)]

USS Gambier Bay, it is[:)]

To all of you -
I'm pretty familiar with most of this stuff...but how can you tell it's an FM-2 as oppsed to the other Wildcat breeds - by seeing the front end only?
I am a bit curious....

Anyone can see the A/C has the FM-2 rivet patteren. [:D]

My guess would be the cowling shape, or cooling flaps. But I'm just guessing, as far as I know it's a Wildcat look at the landing gear. [&:]

Oh yes, it is most definitely a Wildcat and couldn't be anything else...I just didn't know of a distinguishing feature on the nose of an FM2 that couldn't be found on an F4F-3 or an F4F-4.
As far as I recalled the only thing distinguishable about an FM2 was a bit taller TAIL.

B

[panda124c]

Ah, found it, the FM2 is identified by the rectangular area just above the pilot's head.

Characteristic for the engine installation was a rectangular indentation of the forward fuselage aft of the cowling ring, above the wing leading edges, were the exhaust of the engine were grouped. The circular oil coolers under the inboard wing sections were removed. In side view, the FM-2 was easy to identify. And a taller vertical tail was fitted, because of the more powerful torque of the engine. This had other benefits, for the FM-2 now also had fully satisfactory spin recovery characteristics. The tailhook had to be reinforced after combat experienced showed it to be too weak.

Inquiring minds want to know. [:D]

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: pbear

Ah, found it, the FM2 is identified by the rectangular area just above the pilot's head.

Characteristic for the engine installation was a rectangular indentation of the forward fuselage aft of the cowling ring, above the wing leading edges, were the exhaust of the engine were grouped. The circular oil coolers under the inboard wing sections were removed. In side view, the FM-2 was easy to identify. And a taller vertical tail was fitted, because of the more powerful torque of the engine. This had other benefits, for the FM-2 now also had fully satisfactory spin recovery characteristics. The tailhook had to be reinforced after combat experienced showed it to be too weak.

Inquiring minds want to know. [:D]

Very good!

B