[tanknetter]

Interesting. I’ve never heard that we reverse engineered Zero tech during the War. I’d like to read more about it.

Good information to start with here

There have been a number of discussion on the subject over on the forums at WIX as well

[Dysart]

Thank you for the excellent resources. I like this part...

During "The War," Grumman was an outstanding example of American productivity, employing 20,000 workers, few of whom had ever worked in the aircraft industry before; many of them were women. Bethpage was a happy place; there were no strikes, work stoppages, nor unions. Grumman took care of its employees with daycare centers for working mothers, social events for all, Christmas turkeys, and the famous "Green Car Service" to help employees with dead batteries and other minor problems. 12,000 planes in 3yrs. Wow.

And also this one re the Hellcat from one E Valencia: " one of the Navy's top aces, quipped. "I love this airplane so much, that if it could cook, I'd marry it."

(Could he get away with that comment now without being vilified?===rhetorical)