Grumman F4F (FM-2) Wildcat Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

Book excerpt: The Grumman F4F Wildcat was the primary Marine Corps and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft during the opening year of WWII. Although the Japanese Zero outperformed it, Wildcat pilots more than held their own during the crucial battles at Coral Sea and Midway. Almost 8,000 Wildcats were built during the war, many of them by General Motors. The G.M. versions, designated FM-1 and later the improved FM-2, entered service after the faster Corsairs and Hellcats were deployed. As a result most FMs flew from escort carriers, most notably during the Battle off Samar where Wildcats helped turn back the Japanese fleet. Originally printed by Grumman and the U.S. Navy, this FM-2 flight operating handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Once classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.