1/48 Grumman F4F4 Wildcat Operation Torch Lt. DCdr. John Raby VF9 USS Ranger Nov 1942

Operation Torch was an Anglo-American invasion of French Morocco and Algeria that were the bases for the Vichy French forces and navy. On November 8, 1942 the invasion began and was completed on November 16. Part of Task Force 34 was the USS Ranger with VF-9 as one of the squadrons onboard. One sortie carried out by VF-9 included nine F4F led by Lt. Cmdr Jack Raby. The aircraft made three-abreast passes over Cazes airfield located southwest of Casablanca destroying many aircraft still on the ground. VF-9 also shot down six Vichy airborne aircraft.

Designed to meet a US Navy requirement for a new carrier-based fighter, the F-4F was first flown on September 2nd, 1937. Originally used by the British (who called it the Martlet) against the Luftwaffe, the Wildcat also became the United States Navy’s primary carrier fighter in the Pacific Theatre. The Wildcat was no match for the maneuverability of the Japanese Zero, but the two airplanes were roughly equal in speed and the F-4F was able to absorb far more damage. With its array of 6 x 12.7mm machine guns and its distinctive Thach weave maneuver, two Wildcats could handle four or five Zeros.