It is to bad that the F7F didnt have the chance to fight IJs.
Marine F7F-2Ns were just beginning operations out of Okinawa when Japan surrendered.
In Korea, the Tigercats owned the night skies. Only after the F3D Skyknight was introduced were the highly effective F7Fs retired.
Navy Captain Fred M. Trapnell was the Navy's Chief Test Pilot. He described the attributes of the F7F as follows:
"The excess power of its two engines is wonderful for aerobatics; the cockpit planning and the forward visibility in the carrier approach is the best in any fighter ever built; the tricycle landing gear allows much faster pilot checkouts; the roll with the power boost rudder is faster than the ailerons; and it has a greater range than any fighter in inventory. It's the best damn fighter I've ever flown."
No faint praise from the guy who flew the Acceptance Tests for most Navy and Marine fighters during WWII. These included the XF6F-3, XF4U-4 and XF8F-1.
My regards,
Widewing
