Warplanes of the USA: Grumman F8F Bearcat

Grumman F8F Bearcat

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95318), VF-20A, B201, CV-21, USS Boxer June 1947.

The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engined, carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It served during the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other nations. It was Grumman Aircraft's last piston-engined fighter aircraft. Modified versions of the Bearcat have broken speed records for piston-engined aircraft. Today, the Bearcat is popular among warbird owners and air racers. (Wikipedia)

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95318) from the USS Boxer CV-21 over San Francisco, California in June 1947.

(USN Photo)

Four U.S. Naval Air Reserve Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat fighters from Fighter Squadron VF-726 in flight near Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, in 1951.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat is warming up its engine as a ground crewman stands by on fire watch at far left, circa 1945.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Naval Reserve Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo 95076) taxis on the flight deck during carrier qualifications aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26), 1951. "CB" was the tail code for the reserve attack squadron from NAS Columbus, Ohio.

(USN Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 94929) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland, 9 July 1948.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-2 Bearcats of Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) "Sundowners", assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVAG-11), on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) in September 1949. This appears to be a demonstration, as there are a large number of civilians watching from the island walkways. The two F8F-2s are BuNos 121746 (left) and 121722 (right). Note the men standing by the wheel chocks, and the flight deck tractors standing by at left.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95280), VF-5A, S101, CV-21, USS Boxer June 1947.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat fighters prepare to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CV-40) in 1948. The aircraft were from Fighter Squadron VF-15A "Fighting 15A" (A-106, A-105), and VF-16A "Copperheads", assigned to Carrier Air Group 15 (CVAG-15).

(USN Photo)

Aircraft of Carrier Air Group 18 (CVG-18) warm up their engines before launching from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CV-32), CVG-18 was assigned to the Leyte for her shakedown cruise to the Caribbean from 16 September to 12 December 1946. Visible are Grumman F8F-1 Bearcats from Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) and from Bombing Fighting Squadron 18 (VBF-18) "Bearcats", as well as Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver from Bombing Squadron 18 (VB-18) "Sunday Punchers".

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Naval Reserve Grumman TBM-3E Avenger assigned the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit at NAS Memphis, Tennessee (USA), and 17 Grumman F8F-1 Bearcats assigned to the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit at NAS Glenview, Illinois, pictured during flight operations aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26), probably in the Gulf of Mexico, circa 1951. Note the orange fuselage band on the Avengers, characterisitic of markings carried on U.S. Naval Reserve aircraft.

(SDASM Photo)

Grumman F8F Bearcat and Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat formation.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Douglas AD-1 Skyraider from VA-20A, and a Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat from VF-20A, from the USS Boxer (CV-21) flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in June 1947.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95001) at Monterey, California, in June 1947/

(Bill Larkins Photos)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 94788), Hayward Airport, California, 14 April 1946.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman XF8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo 95049) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 18 July 1949. Note that the XF8F-2 prototype lacks the 20 mm cannon of the later F8F-2.

(SDASM Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 90438), USS Charger (CVE-30), Feb 1945.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat in flight, circa in 1944. This aircraft is most probably the prototype BuNo 90460. It made its first flight with Grumman test pilot Bob Hall on 21 August 1944.

(NACA Photo)

Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat prototype at the NACA Langley Research Center, 5 February 1945.

(NACA Photo)

A U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo 90448) at the NACA Langley Research Center at Hampton, Virginia (USA), on 30 January 1946. This F8F-1 out of the first production batch, tested improvements to the dorsal fin fillet made from the prototype in Langley's 30 x 60 Full Scale Tunnel. Also examined was the pressure distribution on the cockpit canopy.

(NACA Photo)

The Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat BuNo. 94819 was used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California (USA), from 2 April 1946 to 1 June 1953 to gain data on flying qualities, stability and control, and performance.

(USN Photo)

Four Grumman F8F-1 Bearcats of fighter squadron VF-12A Fighting Twelve flying past the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) on 28 April 1948. The Valley Forge with Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVAG-11) aboard was on a world cruise from 9 October 1947 to 11 June 1948 from San Diego (California, USA) via the Suez and Panama Canals back to San Diego. Grumman TBM Avengers of VA-12A and Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers of VA-11A can be seen on deck. VA-12A was re-designated VF-112 on 15 July 1948.

(USN Photo)

Five U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat fighters of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team Blue Angels between 1946 and 1949.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Grumman F8F Bearcat, Blue Angels, Oakland, California, c1946.

(USN Photo)

The Blue Angels return home to NAS Jacksonville after another show on 17 June 1947.

(USN Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat parked on the flight line with other aircraft during a Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) reunion at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, 1990.

Surviving Grumman F8F Bearcats

(Kogo Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 90446), N14HP, airworthy, Texas Bearcats LLC in Dover, Delaware.

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 90454), Jens Meyerhoff in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Airworthy.

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95255), Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy.

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 95356), being restored to airworthy status, by Texas Bearcats LLC in Dover, Delaware.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121646), “Buff”,  D.1020, “Conquest 1”, Racer No. 1, Reg. No. N7699C, N1111L.  This aircraft is preserved in the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121679), being restored to airworthy status by American Aircraft Sales LLC in Alameda, California.

(kitmasterbloke Photo)

(Tomás Del Coro Photo)

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat (BuNo. 121710), c/n D.1084, B-100, National Museum of Naval Aviation,  NAS Pensacola, Florida.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121748), Comanche Warbirds Inc. in Houston, Texas. Airworthy.

(Acroterion Photo)

(Mcmike0605 Photo)

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121752), Historic Flight Foundation in Mukilteo, Washington. Airworthy.

(Carlos Menendez Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121776), N68RW, BA1945 LLC in Wilmington, Delaware. Airworthy. Blue Angels, 52.

(ZLEA Photo)

Grumman F8F-1B Bearcat (BuNo. 122095), N2209, ex-Royal Thai Air Force KH15-43/93. Quality Leasing Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Airworthy.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 122614), Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 122619), Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy.

(Kogo Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 122629), N777L, Rare Bear, Lewis Air Legends in San Antonio, Texas. Airworthy.

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 122637), Comanche Warbirds Inc. in Houston, Texas. Airworthy.

(Kogo Photo)

(Tomás Del Coro Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 122674), 201S, Reg. No, N7825C, Commemorative Air Force (Southern California Wing) in Camarillo, California. Airworthy.

Grumman G-58A Gulfhawk (civilian built Bearcat), Steven Hinton in Chino, California. Airworthy.

(Guillfoto)

Grumman G-58B Gulfhawk (civilian built Bearcat), Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California. Airworthy.

Thailand

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 122120) – Tango Squadron, Foundation for the Preservation and Development of Thai Aircraft.

(Andre Wadman Photo)

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (BuNo. 94956), 1234, Royal Thai Air Force Museum, Bangkok, Thailand.

(aeroprints.com Photo)

Grumman F8F1-1B Bearcat (BuNo. 94956), 4312, Royal Thai Air Force Museum, Don Mueang International Airport, Thailand.

(Airwolfhound Photo)

(Chowells Photo)

(Tony Hisgett Photo)

(Oren Rozen Photo)

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (BuNo. 121714), Reg. No. G-RUMM, N700HL. The Fighter Collection, Duxford, UK.