In 1942-43 the F4U program was bogged down with delays and the USN needed a top notched carrier-based fighter. The Grumman F6F-5 was exactly what they were looking for with the first production model flying in October 1942 and 12,274 Hellcats built by the end of the war. In terms of size, the Hellcat was the second largest single engine fighter of the war, being just slightly smaller than the Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt".
From March 18 – 21 1945 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” were aboard the USS Hornet. On March 19, 1945 VF-17 Hellcats encountered and destroyed twenty Japanese Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-kai (George) with the loss of six Hellcats. During March and April of 1945 VF-17 downed a total of 146 aircraft and was involved in supporting attacks on Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Battleship Yamato. Fifteen VF-17 pilots became Aces, more than in any other Pacific fighter unit.