Displayed in its early USN colours, this Wildcat was taken on charge in June 1941 and assigned to VF-72 as NAS Norfolk with a short period on loan to FAA 892 Sqdn in mid-1942. The F4F-3 was the first version of the Wildcat to be produced in quantity for the Navy and unlike later models, did not have folding wings. In 1943 it was allocated to the Carrier Qualification Training Unit (CQTU) at NAS Glenview, IL and was yet another aircraft lost in Lake Michigan when it ditched during at attempted take-off from USS Wolverine in August that year, lying in the depths till recovery in 1991

This F4F-3 was assigned to VF-72 from 24 June 1941 through 6 December 1941. It later served with VF-9, and was briefly loaned to FAA Squadron 892 for training use in the U.S. during July - September 1942. Its last assignment, from May - August 1943 was with the Carrier Qualification Training Unit (CQTU) at NAS Glenview, IL. It was lost in Lake Michigan on 17 August 1943. The a/c was recovered from the lake on 22 August 1990, restored, and is on display inside the main museum building.