The Grumman F6F Hellcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II and the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. Its first flight was 26 June 1942. 12,275 planes were produced between 1942 and 1945. Primary users included the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the Royal Navy, and the French Navy. After the war, the Hellcat was phased out of frontline service, but it remained in service until 1954 as a night fighter.