The Grumman F7F Tigercat was designed to meet a 1941 Navy requirement for a twin engine fighter that could get to altitude fast, had long range, a lot of firepower. The first flight was in December 1943 but the aircraft failed carrier landing tests because of low speed stability issues when operating on a single engine. This was corrected with the F7F-3 in 1945 with enlarged vertical stabilizer and rudder. A late variant (F7F-4N) was certified for aircraft carrier operations.

The Marine Corps preferred the firepower of the F7F for close air support: four 20 mm cannons and four .50 cal. machine guns, as well as underwing and under fuselage hard points for bombs and torpedoes. Two squadrons of Marine F7Fs were in training when Japan surrendered.