The Hellcat was the perfect blend of performance, armament, airframe, engine, and good handling. 12,275 were built at Bethpage, NY, between June 1942 and November 1945. Service began with VF-9 aboard the U.S.S. Essex in January 1943. By wars end, Hellcat pilots accounted for 5156 aerial victories, a 19.1 to one kill ratio. Post-war, F6F's remained in USN service until 1959. The Blue Angels began with the Hellcat.

The Planes of Fame Hellcat is a composite airframe using Bureau Number 94473. This aircraft was an F6F-5N night fighter and served post war with a Night Composite Squadron VCN-1, the Oakland Naval Air Reserve, and a training unit until converted to an F6F-SK target drone. It was retired in February 1959 from Naval Air Facility China Lake. It was stored until restoration to flying condition in 1984. It is one of only six Hellcats said to be still flying. Today it wears the markings of an F6F-3 flown by Ens. W.B. "Spider" Webb, aboard the U.S.S. Hornet with VF-2 during the Marianas "Turkey Shoot." He shot down six "Val" dive bombers during that famous action.