The rare “Wildcatfish” — not a “wild catfish”

The rare “Wildcatfish” — not a “wild catfish”

During World War II the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) flew the Nakajima A6M-2N Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber — which had the Allied codename of “Rufe” — a modified Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. Employed often by night, and unchallenged in those early days prior to the advent of radar, Rufes especially challenged the U.S. Navy’s glamorous PT boats in southwest Pacific but also were initially effective in the north Pacific, as well.

The U.S. Navy (USN) investigated the utility of placing floats on the F4F Wildcat for the same reason as the IJN’s Rufe — these aircraft could be relatively easily operated from forward areas without airfields. The wide expanses of water in the Pacific Theater of Operations combined with the remoteness of many of the combat areas gave float planes, as well as flying boats, advantages over the penalty of additional drag inherent to their design which their airfield or flight deck dependent kin did not share.

A single F4F-3 Wildcat was modified with the addition of Edo made floats, becoming the F4F-3S, but better known by its “Wildcatfish” nickname. Like the Rufe the F4F-3S incurred a massive speed penalty with its floats making it all but helpless against conventional fighter aircraft of the day. Unlike the IJN, the USN did not have to accept the drag penalty of float equipped fighters since their Seabees proved adept at rapidly building airfields — one of the deciding factors leading to the Allied victory since the IJN did not construct airfields readily or as often. This proved to be decisive especially in the Battle for Guadalcanal when the IJN were operating from Rabaul which was a great distance (mission times were several hours) from Guadalcanal.