The first American carrier aircraft arrive around 1941

When did the Royal Navy begin receiving American carrier aircraft?

Around 1941, though the earliest Wildcats supplied to Britain lacked folding wings and were not ideal for every carrier.

The exchange places the first American naval aircraft in Royal Navy service around 1941. The initial Wildcats supplied to Britain did not have folding wings, an important practical qualification. British carriers often had tighter hangar and lift constraints than their American counterparts. Receiving an aircraft type therefore did not automatically make it an ideal fit for every British flight deck.