The mass production of the fearsome Grumman F6F HellCat begins in American factories; in the short three-year period of its production, 12,272 units will be produced; and it will provide a fundamental contribution to the conflict: out of 6,477 Japanese aircraft shot down in flight in dogfights, more than 5,000 will be shot down by this fighter which also boasts, like many American aircraft, a notable robustness and armor which in turn penalizes its weight.
