Martlet / Wildcat AL251

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: A US Navy Grumman Wildcat (Martlet) F4F-3

An F4F-3 Grumman Wildcat of US Navy

Photo : [no date] US Federal Government photo released to the public domain.

Aircraft Type and Background

RN (FAA/NAS) Grumman F4F Martlet (Wildcat) / AL251

The Grumman Martlet was a single-seat carrier based fighter aircraft. Essentially, the Martlet was a modified version of the F4F ('Wildcat') used by the US Navy.

The Martlett Mk. I aircraft series entered service with the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) in 1940. These aircraft had been ordered originally by France, but were transferred to Britain in June 1940. This Mk. I version was equipped with four 0.5 inch machine guns. Most of these Martlets were equipped with folding wings for storage on aircraft carriers.

From 1940 until 1944, the aircraft continued to be known as the Martlet. However, during 1944, it reverted to its original US name of Wildcat.

In the early days of RN use, the Grumman Martlet was associated with 804 Naval Air Squadron (NAS). The Squadron embarked initially on HMS Glorious, but were transferred later to HMS Furious at Campbeltown.

BELOW: A Grumman Martlet / Wildcat on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

grumman martlet or wildcat at imperial war museum duxford

Photo: 2007 Robert Stevens / 2008 Ian Dunster. Released by the author(s) to the public domain under the terms of the Creative Commons ShareAlike 2.0 licensing arrangment.

Aircraft Accident Details

Martlet AL251 of 802 Naval Air Squadron took off from Abbotsinch (HMS Sanderling), Glasgow, on a delivery flight to Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife. It crashed at Beinn Bheula on 13/12/40 killing the pilot.

Aircraft Pilot Casualty

The pilot who died in this accident was:

Lt. Godfrey F Russell

Lt. Russell was buried in Douglas Bank Cemetery, Dunfermline

[The information in the above two sections was kindly provided by Alan Leishman]

Crash Site Photos

(The first six photos shown below were taken by Bill Davies on 31 August 2010).

BELOW: The remains of the Grumman Martlet / Wildcat rotary engine still lying on Beinn Bheula.

ramains of martlet engine at beinn bheula

BELOW: Part of cockpit (rear) with armoured plating.

part of cockpit (rear)

BELOW: Wing section with faded Royal Navy roundel

wing section with roundel

BELOW: Main wing remains.

main wing remains

BELOW: Wing showing remains of landing gear.

wing with landing gear

BELOW: Remains of tail fin from Martlet AL251.

remains of tail fin

(The two photos shown below were taken by Alan Leishman in 1996)

BELOW: Alan Thomson supporting one of the larger remaining sections of Grumman Martlet AL251.

larger remaining section from martlet al256. photo taken in 1996

Photo: 1996-2009 Alan Leishman

BELOW: Alan T. with a part of the tail wreckage from the Martlet.

part of tail wreckage from martlet

Photo: 1996-2009 Alan Leishman

Photo Gallery

At the moment, there are no additional photos for this crash site in the Photo Gallery.

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Crash Date / Site

Accident Date: 13 Dec 1940

Accident Site:

Beinn Bheula

Region: Argyll

Nearest town or village:

Invernoaden

Lochgoilhead or

Lettermay

Nearest large town:

Dunoon (S)

(To Gourock / Greenock by ferry)

OS Grid Ref: 63 / 155 973

Other Grid Refs:

N56 08.004 W004 57.973 (wing with roundel still visible)

N56 07.966 W004 58.038 (radial engine)

N56 08.042 W004 57.770 (tail fin)

Present Condition: A large wing section and parts of the engine are the most substantial wreckage remains onsite.

The wreckage, in five main bits, is scattered over about a 300m area. This includes rear of cockpit with armoured plating still attached, and wing section with landing gear. [B. Davies] (See grid refs. above.)