The Navy adapted most of its fighters for the photographic-reconnaissance mission. The big Grumman F7F Tigercat was no exception and it was probably the most capable of the propeller-pulled ones. Its five-camera capability included tri-metrogon coverage, which was basically three cameras providing horizon to horizon photographs that could be merged into one. The most forward camera station was for detailed vertical pictures; the pilot was provided with a periscope to aim it. The fifth camera took "flat" oblique pictures to the left side of the airplane.
The aft cockpit was usually occupied by the removable reserve tank since there was nothing for a second crewman to do and the belly tank would block the periscope view. A metal panel often replaced the aft cockpit's plexiglass canopy.
The periscope hatch in the belly just aft of the cockpit was provided with louvers that the pilot opened when taking vertical pictures, pictured here from the left side of the fuselage.
The pilot viewed the image in a mirror located on the floor just left of center.
When not in use, the open camera ports were covered by metal plates slid into and out of place by cables pulled by electric motors.
The bottom ports and access hatches, looking aft from the right side:
The right-side port (the cover isn't fully closed):
The left-side ports:
The four cannons located in the wing leading edge between the fuselage and engines were removed. However, it appears that there were at least provisions for the .50-caliber machine guns mounted in the nose since the gun ports are present.
For a summary of the various Tigercat versions, see https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2016/11/grumman-f7f-tigercat-variations.html
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