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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # 80-G-94875:  FM-2 fighter gets a wave-off while attempting to land on USS Makin Island, circa 1944-1945

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT -- 1922-1962 DESIGNATION SYSTEM --

General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighters (part II)


This page features more selected views of General Motors FM-2 fighters.

For more pictorial coverage of FM-2 "Wildcat" fighters, see:

  • General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighters.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 94875

    General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter


    Gets a "wave-off"from the Landing Signal Officer, while attempting to land on USS Makin Island (CVE-93), circa 1944-45.

    Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-354753

    General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter


    Upended after a barrier crash on board USS Sable (IX-81), during pilot training in the Great Lakes, May 1945.
    Another FM-2 is flying past in top center.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 94872

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    Crewmen pull a FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter back from the forward edge of the flight deck, after it flipped over in a "freak accident", circa 1944-1945.

    Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 150KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-243864

    Ensign Darrell C. Bennett, A-V(N), USNR


    Stands beside his plane, a General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter, on board USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), 1 August 1944.
    Note pinup art and nickname "Smokey's Lucky Witch" adorning the engine cowling; what appears to be a Composite Squadron Ten (VC-10) insignia below the cockpit windshield; plane numbers ("27") in white on the wing leading edge and and in black under the lip of the cowling; and Ensign's Bennett's flight gear and .45 caliber M1911A1 pistol carried in a shoulder holster.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 94KB; 605 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     

    For more pictorial coverage of FM-2 "Wildcat" fighters, see:

  • General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighters.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 21 January 2001
    Coding updated 6 May 2009