FM-2 Wildcat

General Motors/Eastern Aircraft produced a total of 5,280 FM variants of the iconic Wildcat fighter during the course of World War II. While Grumman’s production of the original Wildcat models ceased in early 1943, General Motors continued its manufacturing efforts, ensuring a steady supply of Wildcats for both the United States Navy and the British Fleet Air Arm. As the war progressed into its later stages, the Wildcat became increasingly seen as obsolete in the role of a front-line fighter. However, the FM-2 Wildcat remained adequate for operations aboard smaller escort carriers that were primarily tasked with countering submarine and shore threats. These relatively modest ships, which played a crucial role in naval warfare, typically operated only two types of aircraft. The Wildcat’s notably lower landing speed and its ability to take off without the need for a catapult made it especially suitable for the shorter flight decks of these escort carriers. Initially, General Motors (GM) produced the FM-1 variant, which was nearly identical to the F4F-4, but with a reduction in the number of guns to four and the addition of wing racks capable of carrying either two 250 lb. bombs or six rockets for ground attack missions. Eventually, production transitioned to the improved FM-2 model, which was optimized specifically for small carrier operations, featuring a more powerful engine— the 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-56— and a taller tail designed to better cope with engine torque during flight operations.