F4F3-A question

I believe (from what I’ve been able to find out) that the F4F3-A was the first Wildcat version with folding wings. When were they introduced into the US Navy, and were they in use during the period Dec. 7, 1941, until the Battle of Midway? In particular, were they part of Lexington’s airwing during missions before Midway? I’ve read discrepancies between F4F3’s (fixed wing), and F4F3-A’s (folding wings) on Lexington. Reason being, I’ve already completed a Wildcat wing on deck; some ready for takeoff, and some with wings still folded, on a Lexington model, for the period February, 1942, during the raids on Rabaul, and Lee-Salamaua. Is this correct, or will I have to “un-fold” the wings of the completed Wildcats? :pouting_cat:
:grinning: :canada:

F4F-4 was the version that introduced the folding wings, as well as two more machine guns in each wing, increasing the number from four to six. They started entering fleet service in spring of 1942. Hornet had them onboard for the Doolittle raid in April, but Yorktown and Lexington still had -3s at Coral Sea in May. Lexington never received -4s. I’m not sure when Enterprise got F4F-4s, but she had them at Midway. Yorktown got hers when she exchanged air groups after Coral Sea.
The difference between the F4F-3 and the -3A was the type of engine fitted, not the wings.

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I’m afraid you’ll have to unfold, Stikpusher is correct. I think, though I’m not sure, that the Enterprise got -4s just before the Doolittle raid, but would still have had -3s and -3As in Februrary. The -3A differed from the -3 in the engine used and the air scoops on the cowling. The wings didn’t fold on either of the -3 versions and Lexington never had -4s before she was sunk at Coral Sea.

Michael

Thanks! (Hate to undo finished work :pouting_cat:)
:grinning: :canada:

Sorry that the replies regarding -3s on Lady Lex didn’t help. Had the -4 been available at Coral Sea, that could have altered the final outcome of the battle. Due to the folding wings, more fighters could be carried in an air wing. There were not sufficient fighters available to provide CAP for the carriers and escort the strike groups on May 8, and SBDs were also tasked to help out with CAP over the carriers. Had more F4Fs been available, potentially Lexington could have been better protected against the torpedo bombers and saved.
That aside, after combat at Midway, it was viewed that the F4F-4 was not an improvement armament wise to the -3. The two new additional guns had more weight (along with the wingfold mechanism) and fewer rounds per gun for all six guns, so length of fire and power to weight of the aircraft were negatively affected. So the next Wildcat variant, the General Motors produced FM-1 reverted to four guns with the more rounds per gun of the -3.

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