The Hellcat was originally to have been named Gannet in Royal Navy service,
this one lingered on in storage at Lossiemouth until the CO had it brought
to flying condition for use as a hack. Strictly speaking, it should have
been returned to the USA under the terms of Lend-Lease, but the paperwork
must have got mislaid! When this photo was taken, in the 60s, it shared
gate-guardian duties with the Fulmar in the background, both of them, I
believe, now in the FAA Museum at Yeovilton. I understand the only reason
this Fulmar survived was because it was in fact the prototype and never
entered sercice with the Navy, being used as a runabout by the Fairey
company. Another fortuitous accident!

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