Grumman F3F

The Grumman F3F was the last American biplane fighter aircraft delivered to the United States Navy, and served between the wars. Designed as an improvement on the single-seat F2F, it entered service in 1936. It was retired from front line squadrons at the end of 1941 before it could serve in World War II, and was first replaced by the Brewster F2A Buffalo.

Grumman F3F in Days of Infamy
The last of the F3F were withdrawn from active combat at least two months before the attack on Peral Harbour, and used by the Navy as advanced trainers. Joe Crosetti revived his final training in an F3F at Buffalo, New York, as he used the plane to practice landing on the USS Wolverine. Joe was glad that the planes had been withdrawn from combat and dreaded the though of flying them against Zero's, especially if war had broken out over the Panay incident.