United Kingdom: American Warplanes of the Second World War preserved: Grumman Martlet, Grumman Hellcat, Grumman Bearcat, and Grumman Avenger

Grumman Martlet, Hellcat, Bearcat and Avenger

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the United Kingdom.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are by the author unless otherwise credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United Kingdom would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in the UK, including captured German and Japanese warplanes, are listed on separate pages on this web site.

(Charlie Jackson Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Grumman FM-2 Wildcat, ex-USN (BuNo. 5765), Reg. No. G-RMMW, The Fighter Collection, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Airworthy.  This aircraft was accepted by the US Navy in 1945 but was immediately put in storage until its disposal in 1946.  It had several private owners and spent nearly two decades as a static museum exhibit before being restored to flying condition in the early 1990s.  It is painted to represent (Serial No. JV579), a Wildcat Mk. V of 846 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, with full D-Day invasion stripes.

(SDA&SM Photo)

Grumman F4F-4 Grumman Martlet Mk. I (Serial No. AL246), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Grumman Martlet Mk. I (Serial No. AL246), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Grumman FM-2 Wildcat (BuNo. 86690), c/n 5744, Reg. No. G-CHPN, previously Reg. No. N49JC, The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat (Serial No. 80141) painted as (BuNo. 40467), Reg. No. G-BTCC, The Fighter Collection, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Airworthy.

Grumman Hellcats of No.1840 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Eglinton in Northern Ireland, 23 June 1944.  (IWM Photo A24533)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Nimbus227 Photo)

Grumman Hellcat Mk. II (Serial No. KE209), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat, ex-USN (BuNo. 21714), Reg. No. G-RUMM, The Fighter Collection, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.  Built in 1948, it served with the US Navy until 1957.  It then passed through the hands of several owners, including a period of being in the collection of the Planes of Fame Air Museum.  It was bought by the Fighter Collection in 1981.

(RN Photo courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Grumman ECM.68 Avenger (Serial No. JZ313).

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(Alan Wilson Photo)

Grumman ECM.68 Avenger (Serial No. XB446), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Grumman TBM-3E Avenger (BuNo. 69327), painted as (Serial No. 46214), Reg. No. CF-KCG, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

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