Hobby Master HA1105 Grumman F6F-5N, Hellcat Night Fighter USS Independence CVL-23, Lt. William E. Henry Executive Officer (XO) VF(N)-41, Top USN Night Fighter Ace

The Aircraft:

William Henry F6F-5N Night Fighter
September 12, 1944 saw the introduction of the new F6F-5N’s for VF(N)-41 flying from
the deck of USS Independence CVL-23. There were 1,432 of the Night Fighter version
built with APS-6 radar housed in a pod attached to the starboard wing. This provided
pilots with a radar picture of another aircraft up to 5.5 miles away and a ship up to 20
miles.
F6F-5N pilots had to undergo a rigorous 29 weeks of schooling where they would learn
how to rely totally on their instruments since they would be flying at night in the dark with
no visual reference for navigation or altitude.
Originally armed with 6 .50 caliber machine guns, 3 per wing, some of the later versions
came with 4 .50 caliber machine guns and 2 long barrel Hispano 20mm cannons that
replaced the 2 inner .50 caliber guns. The Night Fighters were given strict orders that
once they located a plane on radar they couldn’t fire a shot until they could get close
enough to identify the target as friend or foe. As it turned out most of the F6F-5N’s flew
daytime missions with other versions of the F6F. This would allow the radar equipped
Hellcats to locate the enemy and guide their group towards them.
The top USN Night Fighter ace was Lt. William E. Henry, Executive Officer (XO) of the VF
(N)-41 squadron. He was credited with 6.5 nighttime and 4 daytime victories and the last
victory for the USN F6F-5N.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1105
Grumman F6F-5N, Hellcat Night Fighter
USS Independence CVL-23, Lt. William E. Henry
Executive Officer (XO) VF(N)-41, Top USN Night Fighter Ace

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT
THE RETAIL VERSION

First Delivered: September 1944
Number Built: 1,432

Speed: 376 mph
Climb Rate: 3,240 ft/min
Ceiling: 37,403 ft
Range: 1,090 mi
Extended Range: 1,305 mi

Weight Empty: 9,153 lb
Weight Loaded: 11, 381 mi
Maximum Weight: 15,412 lb

Crew: 1
Powerplant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W 2,175 hp

Armament: Early versions – 6 x .50 caliber machine-guns 3/wing
Later versions – 4 x .50 caliber machine-guns 2 /wing and 2 x long barrel
Hispano 20mm cannons 1/wing replacing the inner most .50 caliber machine-gun.
Rounds Per Gun: Each .50 caliber had 400
Each 20mm cannon had 220