Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F7F Tigercat

Grumman F7F Tigercat

The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in the Second World War until 1954. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the USN. While the Tigercat was delivered too late to see combat in the Second World War, it saw action as a night fighter and attack aircraft during the Korean War. Designed initially for service on Midway-class aircraft carriers, early production F7Fs were land-based variants. The type was too large to operate from older and smaller carriers, and only a late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for carrier service.

Marine Corps night fighter squadron VMF(N)-513 flying F7F-3N Tigercats saw action in the early stages of the Korean War, flying night interdiction and fighter missions and shooting down two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. This was the only combat use of the aircraft.

Most F7F-2Ns were modified to control drones for combat training, and these gained bubble canopies over the rear cockpit for the drone controller. An F7F-2D used for pilot transitioning also had a rear sliding, bubble canopy.

In 1945, two Tigercats, (Serial Nos. TT346 and TT349), were evaluated, but rejected by the British Royal Navy in favour of a naval version of the de Havilland Hornet. (Wikipedia)

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F7F-3N (80445) USMC, MCAS Miramar, 24 May 1946.

(NACA Photo)

The second Grumman XF7F-1 Tigercat (BuNo. 03550) used by the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), at Moffett Field, California (USA), for flying qualities, stability and control, and performance evaluations from 2 September 1944 to 19 June 1948. 1946.

(Tomás Del Coro Photo)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80373), National Naval Aviation Museum in Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80374), Tigercat N7629C LCC in Wilmington, Delaware. Airworthy.

(Valder137 Photo)

(Airwolfhound Photo)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80375), Tigercat Reg. No. N379AK LLC in Bellevue, Washington. Airworthy.

(Andre Wadman Photo)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80382), Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.

(Valder137 Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80390), "Here Kitty Kitty", Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy. c/n C.132. Built 1945 for the US Navy with the Bureau No 80390. Stored at NAS Litchfield Park, Arziona, from April 1949 to 1958 when she was sold off. Became N6129C and converted to a fire tanker in 1961. Flew with Butlers as Tanker ‘16’ and later with TBM Inc as Tanker ‘62’. Stored at Knoxville in 1978, Joined the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in 1981 and registered as N700F, flying again after restoration in 1985. Joined Lewis Air Legends in 2010 and wears a US Marine scheme with VMO-254 markings.

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80404), in storage at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80410), Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80411), Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California. Airworthy.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80425), Avstar Inc. in Seattle, Washington. Airworthy.

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (BuNo. 80483), Historic Flight Foundation in Mukilteo, Washington. Airworthy.

(Dziban303 Photo)

Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat "Big Bossman", (Serial No. 80503), at the 2007 Reno Air Races. At the time, the aircraft was owned by Mike Brown. Ownership was subsequently transferred to Lewis Air Legends, where the aircraft was repainted silver and renamed "La Patrona" Reg. No. N747MX.