GENERAL MOTORS FM-2 “WILDCAT” (GRUMMAN F4F) F-FIGHTER M-GENERAL MOTORS 2- 2ND MODEL Grumman Aircraft designed and built the Wildcat prior to and during the early years of World War II. The F4F “Wildcat” along with the Brewster F3A “Buffalo” were the first line fighters of the USMC at the beginning of World War II.  These two aircraft were flown by the gallant Marine pilots at Wake Island, Midway, and Guadalcanal where they were able to partially blunt the efforts of the Japanese Zero.  The “Wildcat” continued to serve until the end of the war aboard jeep carriers.  Marine pilots such as Joe Foss, John Smith, Henry Elrod, Harold Bauer, and Robert Galer earned the Medal of Honor flying Wildcats. The Wildcat produced eight Medal of Honor recipients- more than any other single engine fighter.  Eleven Marine Wildcat squadrons are credited with shooting down 562 enemy aircraft.  Grumman stopped building the “Wildcats” in 1943. The Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors picked up production of the “Wildcat” in late 1942. SPECIFICATIONS FM-2 WING SPAN  38’0” WING AREA  260 SQ FT LENGTH  28’ 10” HEIGHT  11’ 5” ENGINE  1 x PRATT & WHITNEY R-1830-36 (F4F) 1 x PRATT & WHITNEY R-1820-56 (FM-2) POWER   1200 HORSE POWER MAX SPEED  320 MPH RANGE   925  NAUTICAL MILES CEILING   35,600 EMPTY WEIGHT 5,542 LBS GROSS WEIGHT 7952 LBS ARMAMENT  6 x 0.50 CAL MACHINE GUNS PLUS 2 BOMBS (F4F-4) 4 x 0.5. CAL MACHINE GUNS PLUS 2 BOMBS (FM-2)