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6 Bearcats, 22,800 Steel Plates, 1 Lost War: The Final Stand at Dien Bien Phu

Six Grumman F8F Bearcats were deployed to defend Dien Bien Phu, striking from a newly built airstrip of 22,800 steel plates. Outnumbered and bombarded by 80,000 Viet Minh troops, the aircraft were ...
Aviation Republic on MSN

2,100 HP, 421 MPH: The Piston Fighter That Outclimbed Jets but Missed the War

The Grumman F8F Bearcat was one of the fastest piston-engine fighters ever built, capable of 421 mph and a climb rate that rivaled early jets. Designed for carriers and powered by a 2,100-horsepower ...