Book Review of
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Spotlight On No. 25
Author: Zbigniew Kolacha
Stratus-MMP Books
ISBN: 978-83-66549-35-7
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $29.00
ISBN: 978-83-66549-35-7
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $29.00
HISTORY:
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atlantic, the Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during the early part of the Second World War. The disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available.
With a top speed of 318 mph (512 km/h), the Wildcat was outperformed by the faster (331 mph (533 km/h)), more maneuverable, and longer-ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero. US Navy pilots, including John "Jimmy" Thach, a pioneer of fighter tactics to deal with the A6M Zero, were greatly dissatisfied with the Wildcat's inferior performance against the Zero in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. The Wildcat has a claimed air combat kill-to-loss ratio of 5.9:1 in 1942 and 6.9:1 for the entire war.
Lessons learned from the Wildcat were later applied to the faster F6F Hellcat.
While the Wildcat had better range and maneuverability at low speed, the Hellcat could rely on superior power and high speed performance to outperform the Zero. The Wildcat continued to be built throughout the remainder of the war to serve on escort carriers, where the larger and much heavier Hellcat could not be used.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Wing area: 260 sq ft (24 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23009
Empty weight: 4,907 lb (2,226 kg)
Gross weight: 7,423 lb (3,367 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 331 mph (533 km/h, 288 kn)
Range: 845 mi (1,360 km, 734 nmi)
Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,303 ft/min (11.70 m/s)
Wing loading: 28.5 lb/sq ft (139 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.282 kW/kg (0.172 hp/lb)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns with 450 rounds per gun
Bombs: 2 × 100 lb (45.4 kg) bombs and/or 2 × 58 US gal (48 imp gal; 220 l) drop tanks
THE BOOK:
Stratus is based in Poland. This book was printed there. They are partnered with MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) based in the UK.
This book is hard-bound of 48 pages (4 pages are blank), in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
The cover art shows two color side view profile illustrations of Wildcats.
They both are in schemes of blue-gray over light gray.
The one shown at the top has black fuselage no. F-2, a large dark blue circle with a white star with a red circle in its center. Black 3 on the rudder and red and white horizontal stripes on the rudder flap.
The Wildcat shown at the bottom of the cover art has small white no. 28 on the side of the cowling and repeated as a large white stenciled 28 followed by a star with bars on the sides of the fuselage and 2 diagonal white bars on the rudder.
Both of these illustrations are repeated again in the book. To give further information about them later.
The book contains 30 color side view profiles illustrations of Wildcats, three 2 –views and a 2-view.
The 1st profile is a 3 view, showing the port and starboard sides and top of a F4F-3 in the blue-gray over light-gray scheme. It has a small circular dark blue roundel with a white star with a red center on its fuselage sides and small white F-1. Rudder-flap has the horizontal red and white bars on it. It is Bu No. 3976 of VF-3 Squadron. It has a tiny white illustration of a ball with a black Felix the Cat on it, under the windscreen on both sides.
The 2nd profile is a side view of a F4f-3 in the exact same scheme as the 1st one, including the Felix the Cat illustration. It carries a small white no, 13 on the sides of the cowling and white F-13 on the fuselage sides. It was Bu. No. 3986 of VF-3 Squadron.
The 3rd profile is a F4F-3 side view. It is overall light-gray. It has a small dark blue roundel with a white star with a red center on the sides of its fuselage, followed by white no. 5-F-2. It was based on USS Yorktown (CV-5) aircraft carrier at the turn of 1940-1941.
The 4th profile is also a F4F-3 that is also in overall light-gray. It has white fuselage code 121-F-17, followed by a large blue roundel with a white star on it with a red center. It was with U.S. Marines VMF-121 Squadron.
The 5th profile is also a F4F-3 that is in the pattern of blue-gray over light-gray. It has the red and white horizontal bars on the rudder flap and a black fuselage code F-10, followed by a huge blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it and a small white 10 on the sides of the cowling. It belonged to the VF-6 Squadron based on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier in April 1942.
The 6th profile is also a F4F-3 that is in the blue-gray and light-gray pattern. It has a white score card with 30 victories on it on the rudder, below a diagonal white bar. It has a huge blue roundel with a white star on it, followed by black number 13 that is repeated small in white on the sides of the cowling. It was also with VF-6 Squadron.
The 7th profile is a 2-view. It is a F4F-3, in the blue-grey light-grey scheme. It has a small black 2 on the sides of the cowling and a black F-2 on the sides of the fuselage, followed by a huge blue roudel with a white star with a red center. It has the horizontal red and white stripes across the rudder flap and small black 2’s inboard above both wings. It was with VF-42 Squadron aboard the USS Yorktown in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The 8th profile is a F4F-3, that is also in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with a white cowing front, black no. 8, followed by huge blue roundel with white star on it. It was with U.S. Marines VMF-212 Squadron.
The 9th profile is a F4F-3, it also is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage code 211-F-11, followed by a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it. It was with VMF-211 U.S. Marines Squadron, Wake Atoll, December 8, 1941.
The 10th profile is a F4F-3, it also is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a red cowling front, white fuselage code MF-1, followed by huge blue roundel with white star on it. It was with VMF-224 USMC Squadron, Guadalcanal, December 1942.
The 11th profile is a F4F-3. It is a 2-view, it is overall covered in light-gray metallic paint, with a white cowling and red rudder. It has small blue roundels with a white star with a red center on the sides of its nose, a wide white fuselage band with black fuselage code 4-F-4 over the band, a small white 1850 F4F-3 across the rudder. The tops of the wings are bright yellow with medium sized blue roundels with white stars with red centers on them on both wings, followed by inboard diagonal white stripes and small black 4’s. The elevators are red too. It was with VF-41 Squadron , based on the USS Ranger in December 1940.
The 12 profile is a F4F-3, in the same scheme as no. 11 profile. It has a red upper section of the cowling nose, followed also on the cowing with a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center. It has black fuselage code 72-f-2 and a red rudder with white 1867 F4F-3 on it. It was with VF-72 Squadron, aboard the USS Wasp (CV-7) aircraft carrier in December 1940.
The 13th profile is Martlet IV (F4f-4) that is in a wave pattern of extra dark sea-gray, dark slate-gray over sky colored undercarriage. It has small white U.S. Navy under the elevators, followed by black FN112, over white 07 large blue roundel with white star on it, with D. It has a black and white vertical fin flash on the rudder. It was with FN112, Royal Navy Squadron 888, aboard the HMS Formidable during Operation Torch in October 1942.
The 14th profile is a F4F-3 in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. With a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it. Followed by white fuselage code 6-F-6, a small white 6 on the sides of the cowling. It was with VF-6 Squadron aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) November 1941.
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atlantic, the Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during the early part of the Second World War. The disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favor of the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available.
With a top speed of 318 mph (512 km/h), the Wildcat was outperformed by the faster (331 mph (533 km/h)), more maneuverable, and longer-ranged Mitsubishi A6M Zero. US Navy pilots, including John "Jimmy" Thach, a pioneer of fighter tactics to deal with the A6M Zero, were greatly dissatisfied with the Wildcat's inferior performance against the Zero in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. The Wildcat has a claimed air combat kill-to-loss ratio of 5.9:1 in 1942 and 6.9:1 for the entire war.
Lessons learned from the Wildcat were later applied to the faster F6F Hellcat.
While the Wildcat had better range and maneuverability at low speed, the Hellcat could rely on superior power and high speed performance to outperform the Zero. The Wildcat continued to be built throughout the remainder of the war to serve on escort carriers, where the larger and much heavier Hellcat could not be used.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Wing area: 260 sq ft (24 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23009
Empty weight: 4,907 lb (2,226 kg)
Gross weight: 7,423 lb (3,367 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-76 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 331 mph (533 km/h, 288 kn)
Range: 845 mi (1,360 km, 734 nmi)
Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,303 ft/min (11.70 m/s)
Wing loading: 28.5 lb/sq ft (139 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.282 kW/kg (0.172 hp/lb)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns with 450 rounds per gun
Bombs: 2 × 100 lb (45.4 kg) bombs and/or 2 × 58 US gal (48 imp gal; 220 l) drop tanks
THE BOOK:
Stratus is based in Poland. This book was printed there. They are partnered with MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) based in the UK.
This book is hard-bound of 48 pages (4 pages are blank), in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
The cover art shows two color side view profile illustrations of Wildcats.
They both are in schemes of blue-gray over light gray.
The one shown at the top has black fuselage no. F-2, a large dark blue circle with a white star with a red circle in its center. Black 3 on the rudder and red and white horizontal stripes on the rudder flap.
The Wildcat shown at the bottom of the cover art has small white no. 28 on the side of the cowling and repeated as a large white stenciled 28 followed by a star with bars on the sides of the fuselage and 2 diagonal white bars on the rudder.
Both of these illustrations are repeated again in the book. To give further information about them later.
The book contains 30 color side view profiles illustrations of Wildcats, three 2 –views and a 2-view.
The 1st profile is a 3 view, showing the port and starboard sides and top of a F4F-3 in the blue-gray over light-gray scheme. It has a small circular dark blue roundel with a white star with a red center on its fuselage sides and small white F-1. Rudder-flap has the horizontal red and white bars on it. It is Bu No. 3976 of VF-3 Squadron. It has a tiny white illustration of a ball with a black Felix the Cat on it, under the windscreen on both sides.
The 2nd profile is a side view of a F4f-3 in the exact same scheme as the 1st one, including the Felix the Cat illustration. It carries a small white no, 13 on the sides of the cowling and white F-13 on the fuselage sides. It was Bu. No. 3986 of VF-3 Squadron.
The 3rd profile is a F4F-3 side view. It is overall light-gray. It has a small dark blue roundel with a white star with a red center on the sides of its fuselage, followed by white no. 5-F-2. It was based on USS Yorktown (CV-5) aircraft carrier at the turn of 1940-1941.
The 4th profile is also a F4F-3 that is also in overall light-gray. It has white fuselage code 121-F-17, followed by a large blue roundel with a white star on it with a red center. It was with U.S. Marines VMF-121 Squadron.
The 5th profile is also a F4F-3 that is in the pattern of blue-gray over light-gray. It has the red and white horizontal bars on the rudder flap and a black fuselage code F-10, followed by a huge blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it and a small white 10 on the sides of the cowling. It belonged to the VF-6 Squadron based on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier in April 1942.
The 6th profile is also a F4F-3 that is in the blue-gray and light-gray pattern. It has a white score card with 30 victories on it on the rudder, below a diagonal white bar. It has a huge blue roundel with a white star on it, followed by black number 13 that is repeated small in white on the sides of the cowling. It was also with VF-6 Squadron.
The 7th profile is a 2-view. It is a F4F-3, in the blue-grey light-grey scheme. It has a small black 2 on the sides of the cowling and a black F-2 on the sides of the fuselage, followed by a huge blue roudel with a white star with a red center. It has the horizontal red and white stripes across the rudder flap and small black 2’s inboard above both wings. It was with VF-42 Squadron aboard the USS Yorktown in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The 8th profile is a F4F-3, that is also in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with a white cowing front, black no. 8, followed by huge blue roundel with white star on it. It was with U.S. Marines VMF-212 Squadron.
The 9th profile is a F4F-3, it also is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage code 211-F-11, followed by a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it. It was with VMF-211 U.S. Marines Squadron, Wake Atoll, December 8, 1941.
The 10th profile is a F4F-3, it also is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a red cowling front, white fuselage code MF-1, followed by huge blue roundel with white star on it. It was with VMF-224 USMC Squadron, Guadalcanal, December 1942.
The 11th profile is a F4F-3. It is a 2-view, it is overall covered in light-gray metallic paint, with a white cowling and red rudder. It has small blue roundels with a white star with a red center on the sides of its nose, a wide white fuselage band with black fuselage code 4-F-4 over the band, a small white 1850 F4F-3 across the rudder. The tops of the wings are bright yellow with medium sized blue roundels with white stars with red centers on them on both wings, followed by inboard diagonal white stripes and small black 4’s. The elevators are red too. It was with VF-41 Squadron , based on the USS Ranger in December 1940.
The 12 profile is a F4F-3, in the same scheme as no. 11 profile. It has a red upper section of the cowling nose, followed also on the cowing with a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center. It has black fuselage code 72-f-2 and a red rudder with white 1867 F4F-3 on it. It was with VF-72 Squadron, aboard the USS Wasp (CV-7) aircraft carrier in December 1940.
The 13th profile is Martlet IV (F4f-4) that is in a wave pattern of extra dark sea-gray, dark slate-gray over sky colored undercarriage. It has small white U.S. Navy under the elevators, followed by black FN112, over white 07 large blue roundel with white star on it, with D. It has a black and white vertical fin flash on the rudder. It was with FN112, Royal Navy Squadron 888, aboard the HMS Formidable during Operation Torch in October 1942.
The 14th profile is a F4F-3 in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. With a medium sized blue roundel with a white star with a red center on it. Followed by white fuselage code 6-F-6, a small white 6 on the sides of the cowling. It was with VF-6 Squadron aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) November 1941.
The 15th profile is F4f-3P, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has an illustration of a white cloud with a black octopus on it carrying cameras on the sides of the nose. It has black fuselage code under the cockpit of 251MOI and a huge roundel with a white star on it. It was with reconnaissance Squadron VMO-223 USMC, Espirito Santo Island, New Hebrides, November 1942.
The 16th profile is a F4F-3. It is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage no. 8, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. It was US Navy VF-26 Squadron.
The 17th profile is a F4F-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage no. 22, followed by a huge roundel that is outlined in yellow and has a white star on it. It was with VF-41 Squadron, USS Ranger (CV-4).
The 18th profile is a Wildcat V (FM-1). In a wave pattern camouflage of extra dark sea-gray and dark slate-gray over a sky undercarriage. It has white fuselage code C roundel 9N. There is a black and white vertical flash on the rudder. It was with 733 Royal Navy Squadron.
The 19th profile is a F4F-4 in a pattern of light-grey over insignia white undercarriage. It carries black fuselage no. 14, followed by a huge roundel with white star on it and bars. It was with VC-55 Squadron aboard USS Block Island escort carrier (CVE-21), Atlantic 1943.
The 20th profile is a F4F-4 that is in the blue-grey light-grey pattern. It carries the fuselage code black 22-F white - 12, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. It was with VF-22 Squadron aboard the light carrier USS Independence (CVI-22) Pacific, first half of 1943.
The 21st profile is a Martlet 11, It is in a wave pattern of extra dark sea-gray and dark slate grey over a sky undercarriage. It has a red, white and blue vertical fin flash, small black fuselage code AJ132 and a British roundel. It was with the Royal Navy Squadron 881.
The 22nd profile is a 2-view. It is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a small white 18 on the sides of the cowling and larger on the fuselage sides, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. Sane type roundels above both wings with small white no. 18 inboard. It was with VF-6 Squadron aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) Pacific, August 1942.
The 23rd profile is another 2-view. It is a F4F-4. It too is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a small white no. 28 on the sides of the nose and a large white 28 on the fuselage sides, followed by a roundel with a white star on it and bars. It has the roundel with bars atop the left wing only. It was with VC-19 Squadron, aboard the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) Pacific, late 1943.
The 24th profile is a F4F-3, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a huge white fuselage code G8, followed by huge roundel with white star and bars. It was with a USMC Training Squadron. Probably at Cherry Point, California, mid 1943.
The 25th profile is a F4f-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It carries the black fuselage code 30GS-23, followed by a huge roundel with a star on it. It was with VGS-30 Armed Scouting Squadron USMC. Aboard the USS Norfolk, September 1942.
The 26th profile is a F4F-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It carries the black fuselage code 29-GF white I, followed by a huge roundel outlined in yellow with a white star on it. It was with VCF-29 Squadron aboard the USS Santee escort carrier (CVE-29) Operation Torch, November 1942.
The 27th profile is a General Motors FM-2. It is over-all glossy sea-blue. It has a small white 8 on the sides of the cowling, three yellow stripes across the bottoms of the wings, a large white no. 8, followed by a huge roundel with a star on it and with bars, partially over 2 narrow yellow fuselage bands. It has a wide white vertical stripe on the rudder. It was with VC-99 Squadron. Aboard the escort carrier USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) June 1945.
The 28th profile is another General Motors FM-2, it is in a non-spectacular sea-blue and intermediate blue wave pattern over a white undercarriage. It has a small white 11 on the sides of the cowling and a large white 11 on the sides of the rudder, below a white triangular stripe. It only carries a huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-89 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) Phillipines area, November 1944.
The 29th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a white outline of a four-leafed clover on the sides of its rudder, a large roundel with white star and bars, followed by a white no. 15 on its fuselage sides. It was with VC-93 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Okinawa area, April 1944.
The 30th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is also overall glossy sea-blue. It has a white no. 35 on the sides of the cowling and again on the rudder over a downward pointing arrow. It only has a huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-27 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Savo Island (CVE-78), Philippines area, January 1945.
The 31st profile is another General Motors FM-2, It is in non-spectacular sea-blue and intermediate blue wave pattern over white undercarriage. It has a small white no. 19 on the sides of the cowling, a huge white letter B, followed by white 19 on the rudder. A huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-10 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), Philippines area, October 1944.
The 34th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white no. 20 on the sides of the cowling, repeated larger in white, high on the rudder sides over two white lightning flashes. On the fuselage sides is just a huge roundel with white star and bars. It was with VC-88 Squadron aboard the escort carrier USS Hoggatt Bay, Okinawa region, April 1944.
The 35th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has an illustration of a white three-leafed clover over crossed pipes high on the rudder over large white no. 16. Huge roundel with white star and bars on fuselage sides. It was with VC-94 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), Okinawa region, April 1944.
The 36th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white 20 on the sides of the cowling, a white fuselage code of a large 20, followed by a huge roundel with white star and bars, that has a bar with 2 yellow fuselage bands over it. On the rudder there is a small white no. 20 and an illustration of a white arrow-head pointing downward. It was with VC-8 Squadron, based on the escort carrier USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74), Japan area, August 1945.
The 37th profile is a General Motors Wildcat V1. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white letter C on the sides of the cowling, a medium-sized white letter C British-roundel-large white letter S and small white Royal Navy over white IV884 on the fuselage sides. It has a white vertical bar on the rudder and a white horizontal bar on the rudder flap. It was with the Royal Navy Squadron 882, aboard the carrier HMS Searcher, East Indies Fleet 1945.
The last page of the book has 6 black and white cover arts shown of other books that Stratus-MMP publish in their Spotlight On Series:
Dassault Mirage III & 5
Spad 13C-1
Me-163 Komet
ILyushin IL-2
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Battle of Britain Defenders
On the back cover there is a color photo of the books author Zbigniew Kolacha.
He was born in Poland in 1968. He originally trained as a builder, but in 1992 began working as a painter, graphic designer, and illustrator of military books.
He produces artwork in physical media, with brush and airbrush, and using the range of software for digital air so necessary to graphic design today. Since he took up art, Zbigniew has created over 5,000 color profiles of aircraft, tanks and ships, published in more than 150 books.
He has also created artwork for around 100 magazine and book covers. Zbigniew is also an amateur historian, specializing in military aircraft camouflage and markings. He has worked for numerous publishers in Poland, Czechia, Germany, Canada and the UK and some of his works are available at
The 16th profile is a F4F-3. It is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage no. 8, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. It was US Navy VF-26 Squadron.
The 17th profile is a F4F-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme, with black fuselage no. 22, followed by a huge roundel that is outlined in yellow and has a white star on it. It was with VF-41 Squadron, USS Ranger (CV-4).
The 18th profile is a Wildcat V (FM-1). In a wave pattern camouflage of extra dark sea-gray and dark slate-gray over a sky undercarriage. It has white fuselage code C roundel 9N. There is a black and white vertical flash on the rudder. It was with 733 Royal Navy Squadron.
The 19th profile is a F4F-4 in a pattern of light-grey over insignia white undercarriage. It carries black fuselage no. 14, followed by a huge roundel with white star on it and bars. It was with VC-55 Squadron aboard USS Block Island escort carrier (CVE-21), Atlantic 1943.
The 20th profile is a F4F-4 that is in the blue-grey light-grey pattern. It carries the fuselage code black 22-F white - 12, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. It was with VF-22 Squadron aboard the light carrier USS Independence (CVI-22) Pacific, first half of 1943.
The 21st profile is a Martlet 11, It is in a wave pattern of extra dark sea-gray and dark slate grey over a sky undercarriage. It has a red, white and blue vertical fin flash, small black fuselage code AJ132 and a British roundel. It was with the Royal Navy Squadron 881.
The 22nd profile is a 2-view. It is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a small white 18 on the sides of the cowling and larger on the fuselage sides, followed by a huge roundel with a white star on it. Sane type roundels above both wings with small white no. 18 inboard. It was with VF-6 Squadron aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) Pacific, August 1942.
The 23rd profile is another 2-view. It is a F4F-4. It too is in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a small white no. 28 on the sides of the nose and a large white 28 on the fuselage sides, followed by a roundel with a white star on it and bars. It has the roundel with bars atop the left wing only. It was with VC-19 Squadron, aboard the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) Pacific, late 1943.
The 24th profile is a F4F-3, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It has a huge white fuselage code G8, followed by huge roundel with white star and bars. It was with a USMC Training Squadron. Probably at Cherry Point, California, mid 1943.
The 25th profile is a F4f-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It carries the black fuselage code 30GS-23, followed by a huge roundel with a star on it. It was with VGS-30 Armed Scouting Squadron USMC. Aboard the USS Norfolk, September 1942.
The 26th profile is a F4F-4, in the blue-gray light-gray scheme. It carries the black fuselage code 29-GF white I, followed by a huge roundel outlined in yellow with a white star on it. It was with VCF-29 Squadron aboard the USS Santee escort carrier (CVE-29) Operation Torch, November 1942.
The 27th profile is a General Motors FM-2. It is over-all glossy sea-blue. It has a small white 8 on the sides of the cowling, three yellow stripes across the bottoms of the wings, a large white no. 8, followed by a huge roundel with a star on it and with bars, partially over 2 narrow yellow fuselage bands. It has a wide white vertical stripe on the rudder. It was with VC-99 Squadron. Aboard the escort carrier USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) June 1945.
The 28th profile is another General Motors FM-2, it is in a non-spectacular sea-blue and intermediate blue wave pattern over a white undercarriage. It has a small white 11 on the sides of the cowling and a large white 11 on the sides of the rudder, below a white triangular stripe. It only carries a huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-89 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) Phillipines area, November 1944.
The 29th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a white outline of a four-leafed clover on the sides of its rudder, a large roundel with white star and bars, followed by a white no. 15 on its fuselage sides. It was with VC-93 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), Okinawa area, April 1944.
The 30th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is also overall glossy sea-blue. It has a white no. 35 on the sides of the cowling and again on the rudder over a downward pointing arrow. It only has a huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-27 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Savo Island (CVE-78), Philippines area, January 1945.
The 31st profile is another General Motors FM-2, It is in non-spectacular sea-blue and intermediate blue wave pattern over white undercarriage. It has a small white no. 19 on the sides of the cowling, a huge white letter B, followed by white 19 on the rudder. A huge roundel with white star and bars on the fuselage sides. It was with VC-10 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), Philippines area, October 1944.
The 34th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white no. 20 on the sides of the cowling, repeated larger in white, high on the rudder sides over two white lightning flashes. On the fuselage sides is just a huge roundel with white star and bars. It was with VC-88 Squadron aboard the escort carrier USS Hoggatt Bay, Okinawa region, April 1944.
The 35th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has an illustration of a white three-leafed clover over crossed pipes high on the rudder over large white no. 16. Huge roundel with white star and bars on fuselage sides. It was with VC-94 Squadron, aboard the escort carrier USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), Okinawa region, April 1944.
The 36th profile is another General Motors FM-2. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white 20 on the sides of the cowling, a white fuselage code of a large 20, followed by a huge roundel with white star and bars, that has a bar with 2 yellow fuselage bands over it. On the rudder there is a small white no. 20 and an illustration of a white arrow-head pointing downward. It was with VC-8 Squadron, based on the escort carrier USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74), Japan area, August 1945.
The 37th profile is a General Motors Wildcat V1. It is overall glossy sea-blue. It has a small white letter C on the sides of the cowling, a medium-sized white letter C British-roundel-large white letter S and small white Royal Navy over white IV884 on the fuselage sides. It has a white vertical bar on the rudder and a white horizontal bar on the rudder flap. It was with the Royal Navy Squadron 882, aboard the carrier HMS Searcher, East Indies Fleet 1945.
The last page of the book has 6 black and white cover arts shown of other books that Stratus-MMP publish in their Spotlight On Series:
Dassault Mirage III & 5
Spad 13C-1
Me-163 Komet
ILyushin IL-2
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Battle of Britain Defenders
On the back cover there is a color photo of the books author Zbigniew Kolacha.
He was born in Poland in 1968. He originally trained as a builder, but in 1992 began working as a painter, graphic designer, and illustrator of military books.
He produces artwork in physical media, with brush and airbrush, and using the range of software for digital air so necessary to graphic design today. Since he took up art, Zbigniew has created over 5,000 color profiles of aircraft, tanks and ships, published in more than 150 books.
He has also created artwork for around 100 magazine and book covers. Zbigniew is also an amateur historian, specializing in military aircraft camouflage and markings. He has worked for numerous publishers in Poland, Czechia, Germany, Canada and the UK and some of his works are available at
This is a neat book on Wildcat variants and colors. It will be of interest to modelers and aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Stratus-MMP Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Stratus-MMP Books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly Recommended.