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Japanese F6F-5 ヨ-801
The Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft (office number 71441) was captured by the Japanese after it made an emergency landing at the airport in Huwei, Taiwan. The plane was transported to Yokosuka, where it served until it was abandoned after a forced belly landing.
History
The Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft with office number 71441 was delivered to the U.S. Navy probably in 1944. He was assigned to USS Langley (CVL-27) to Fighting Squadron 44 (VF-44). She was then given tail number 29 and was painted in U.S. Navy livery with a white vertical stabilizer tip. On January 4, 1945, the Americans began air raids on Taiwan. The task force consisted of VF-44, and F6F-5 No. 29 was piloted by Lieutenant Charles V. August. He was assigned to Task Group “B” to escort and support six TBF Avengers attacking Kobi in Taiwan. His goal after arriving at the place was to shoot at parked planes at the Kobi airport. The aircraft took part in three raids, during which it attacked aircraft and airport infrastructure. At about 10:20 a.m., F6F planes returning from an attack on a radio tower 10 miles away from the airfield attacked Kobi airfield again. During the last attack, Lieutenant Augusta noticed a sudden drop in engine power and was forced to make an emergency landing near the Kobi airfield. Moments after landing, the lieutenant was arrested by the Japanese.
Lieutenant Charles V. August arrested
His plane survived the landing in very good condition, so the Japanese engineers managed to repair Lieutenant August’s Hellcat, and it was then displayed in Kobi as a spoil of war.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat No. 29 aircraft
After that, the aircraft was sent to Japan to Yokosuka Airport where it received Japanese markings, including Hinomaru and the tail number ヨ-801 (Yo-801, for Yokosuka Kōkūtai).Tests were carried out on the aircraft to help fight the American Hellcats. However, during one of the tests, the engine probably failed again and the Japanese pilot had to make an emergency landing on his belly. The Japanese decided that the plane was not worth repairing, so they removed useful parts and abandoned the machine near the Yokosuka airport. In September 1945, the American occupation forces found the plane and took photographic documentation of it. Then the plane was moved to an unknown place where it lost more elements, and then went to scrap. After being caught, Lieutenant August was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp after Tokyo, where he remained until the surrender of Japan. After the war, he returned to the United States, where he died in 1985.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.24 m (33 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 13.06 m (42 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 31.0 m2 (334 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 4,190 kg (9,238 lb)
- Gross weight: 5,714 kg (12,598 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,992 kg (15,415 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 946 L (208 imp gal;250 US gal ) internal; up to 3 × 568 L (125 imp gal;150 US gal ) external drop tanks
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) with a two-speed two-stage supercharger
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard, 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in) diameter constant-speed propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 629 km/h (391 mph, 340 kn)
- Stall speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
- Combat range: 1,521 km (945 mi, 821 nmi)
- Ferry range: 2,460 km (1,530 mi, 1,330 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 11,400 m (37,300 ft)
- Rate of climb: 13 m/s (2,600 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 6,096 m (20,000 ft) in 7 minutes 42 seconds
- Wing loading: 184 kg/m2 (37.7 lb/sq f)
- Power/mass: 0.26 kW/kg (0.16 hp/lb)
Armament
- 6 × 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, with 400 rounds per gun,
Summary
The Japanese F6F-5 ヨ-801 would be a very interesting vehicle for Japan in War Thunder. It will fit perfectly between the Japanese F4U and the P-51. Although it does not have bomber equipment, it will be a good support around the BR 3.3 (Br of the American F6F-5). In addition, this plane has a very interesting history, which is a big plus for it. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Source
Pacific Wrecks - F6F-5 Hellcat Bureau Number 71441
BuNo 71441 | Captured Wings Wiki | Fandom
Japanese Captured F6F Hellcat. : r/Warthunder (reddit.com)
Captured F6F | Aircraft of World War II - WW2Aircraft.net Forums
Flyingiron F6F BuNo 71441 (Captured by Japan) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
During WW2, did the Japanese use captured Allied aircraft in battle? - Quora
Captured Japanese F6F Hellcat E-801 | World War Photos
(1) Elizabeth Vstx on X: “@ozkuner “F6F Hellcat No. 71441 was captured after suffered an engine failure while strafing Kobi Airfield, Taiwan. Eventually transported to and operated at Yokosuka Airfield. Japanese markings were painted over the aircraft, and tail marking “ヨ-801” (Yo-801, for Yokosuka Kōkūtai).” https://t.co/QZytEomYd3” / X
Quand les Américains remirent la main sur un de leurs propres F6F Hellcat — avionslegendaires.net
Captured Hellcat - Axis History Forum