Early in the Pacific War in WWII the Grumman F4F Wildcat was the best fighter aircraft the U.S.
had but was out performed by the Japanese Zero. The Wildcat’s folding wings allowed for a
greater number of aircraft that could be carried but added extra weight and reduced the aircraft
performance. New features such as self-sealing fuel tanks, heavy armor made up for the
Wildcat’s lesser performance. By the end of WWII the F4F had flown approximately 15,500
sorties with a kill ratio of 6.9 victories to 1.
With the Japanese carriers eliminated in the Pacific some smaller USN escort carriers were
redeployed to the Atlantic to help protect convoys from German U-boats that had been exacting a
heavy toll. The Bogue, Card, Core and Croatan became Hunter-Killer carriers equipped with
Wildcats and Avengers. VC-12 was established on October 6, 1943 at NAS Sand Point, Seattle,
Washington and spent the winter of 1943/44 onboard the USS Core. During this period VC-12
logged thirty four engagements. VC-12 was disestablished on June 7, 1945.