GIN123 Naval Fighter #123 - Grumman J4F-1/2 Widgeon/Gosling

By Steve Ginter

40-pages, 126 b&w photos, 5-color photos, 18-drawings

Grummans success with its famous JRF/G-21 “Goose” was great that Grumman saw the need for a less costly, smaller version that targeted smaller companies, executives, celebrities and sportsmen. This became the G-44 “Widgeon”. It cost about $30,000, which was 1/2 the price of a “Goose”. Thirty were built for civilian customers by 7 December 1941 after which most of these were impressed into USAAC service or the Civil Air Patrol. Just prior to WWII, the Coast guard ordered 25 as J4F-1s which differed from the G-44 by having a upper fuselage stretcher hatch instead of a cabin door. During the war the USCG used these and 11 Navy J4F-2s on anti-submarine patrols. Also 12 were purchased by Portugal, 131 J4F-2s with cabin doors went to the Navy, 17 were Lend Leased to England as “Gosling” and one was acquired by Paraguay. Brazil also received 14 J4F-2s. Post-war “Widgeons” were operated by Thailand’s and Israel’s military too.