Tuesday, August 31, 1943. Debut of the F6F.
Grumman F6Fs made their combat debut.
The fighter was a leap in Navy fighter technology, joining the Corsair as a new generation of flattop launched fighter aircraft. The plane would be responsible for approximately 2/3s of the Japanese aircraft shot down by the U.S. Navy during World War Two.
The carrier born first use was in a day-long raid on Marcus Island.
Radar equipped F6F's would remain in service until 1954, completing their service as night fighters.
On the same day, the 14th Air Force bombed Gia Lam, Co Bi, Ichang Airfiled, Stonecutters Island and the Yoyang rail yards. The 5th Air Force hit trages in Saint George Channel and the Dutch East Indes.
