Subject: New Fighter Series--McDonnell F-2 Banshee (2 of 5)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 6 Apr 94 16:07:07 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The F2H-2 version of the Banshee differed from the F2H-1 by being 
fitted with 200-gallon wingtip tanks.  It also differed by being 
fitted with external racks which could carry two 500-pound bombs or 
six 5-inch rockets.  The fuselage of the F2H-2 was slightly longer 
than that of the F2H-1 and larger capacity fuel tanks were fitted.  
All of these changes naturally increased the weight as compared to 
that of the F2H-1, but the increased weight was partially offset by 
the use of 3250 lb.s.t. Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojets.  

The F2H-2 was first ordered in May of 1948, and the first example 
(BuNo 123204) flew on August 18, 1949.  A total of 364 F2H-2 Banshees 
were built, the first being delivered in the winter of 1949 and the 
last in May of 1952.  

There were three variants on the basic F2H-2 theme--the F2H-2B,
the F2H-2P, and the F2H-2N.  These were produced in parallel
with the basic F2H-2. 

The F2H-2B was a nuclear strike version of the F2H-2.  It was 
externally similar to the F2H-2, but had some local strengthing of the 
wings so that the aircraft could carry a 1650-lb Mk 7 or a 3230 lb Mk 
8 nuclear bomb underneath the port wing.  The F2H-2B was manufactured 
alongside the "stock" F2H-2 on the McDonnell production line.  
Fortunately, the F2H-2B was never called upon to carry out its
assigned nuclear mission.

The F2H-2P was an unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the 
F2H-2.  It had the distinction of being the first jet-powered 
reconnaissance aircraft built for the Navy.  It differed from the 
standard F2H-2 in having a widened and longer nose to provide space 
for six vertical and oblique cameras.  Total length was increased to 
42 feet 5.2 inches.  All armament was removed.  For night photography, 
a container for 20 flash cartridges could be carried underneath each 
wing.  The first F2H-2P (BuNo 123366) was started down the line as the 
184th F2H-2, but was modified during production.  It flew for the 
first time on October 12, 1950.  A total of 89 F2H-2Ps were built, the 
last example being delivered May 28, 1952, this being the last F2H-2 
of any type delivered.  

Some photographic Banshees were used for special tests, including one 
on December 16, 1952 when two F2H-2Ps were launched from the USS 
*Princeton* (CVA-37) and guided a Regulus cruise missile to a target 
off the coast of southern California.  

The F2H-2N was the single-seat night-fighter version of the F2H-2.  It 
differed from the standard F2H-2 in having a 2-foot 9.6-inch longer 
nose that housed a AN/APS-19 radar set.  The first three F2H-2Ns 
(BuNos 123300/123302 respectively) started as the 66th to 68th F2H-2 
airframes, and were modified during production.  The F2H-2N flew for 
the first time on February 3, 1950.  The next eleven F2H-2Ns came off 
the line one at a time in the midst of batches of standard F2H-2s.  
This completed the small batch of F2H-2N night fighters.  

F2H-2N BuNo 123311 was modified to serve as an aerodynamic prototype 
for the F2H-3 all-weather fighter version.  

The F2H-2 Banshee was delivered to the following Navy and Marine Corps 
squadrons: 
VF-11, VF-12, VF-22, VF-62, VF-171, VF-172, VMF-122, VMF-224, and VMJ-1 

The first Banshees to serve in Korea were F2H-2Ps.  A detachment of 
three F2H-2Ps from Composite Squadron 61 (VC-61) embarked aboard the 
USS *Valley Forge* (CV-45) in June of 1951.  

The high climb rate and the good altitude performance of the F2H-2 
made it attractive as an escort fighter.  VF-172 arrived in Korean 
waters aboard the USS *Essex* (CV-9) in August of 1951.  Their first 
mission was to escort a flight of USAF B-29s in an attack on some 
North Korean railroad marshaling years on August 25, 1951.  

This combat cruise ended in November 1951.  Since Banshees were 
assigned with higher priority to the Sixth Fleet in the Atlantic and 
the Mediterranean, the Navy F2H-2s did not return to the Korean War 
zone until the autumn of 1952. 

In September 1952, the Banshee returned to Korean waters, with VF-11 
deploying aboard the USS *Kearsarge* (CV-33).  They were followed by 
VF-22 and VF-62 in June of 1953, deploying aboard the USS *Lake 
Champlain* (CVA-39).  

The F2H-2Ns and F2H-2Bs were deployed only twice--with a detachment of 
VC-4 aboard the USS *Franklin D. Roosevelt* (CVB-42) and with VF-82 
aboard the USS *Lake Champlain* (CVA-39).  Strike fighters were 
operated at sea from several carriers by detachments from VC-3 and 
VC-4.  

With the Marine Corps, the F2H-2 operated with VMF-122 and VMF-124.  
F2H-2Ps served with VMJ-1 and VMJ-2.  The only Marine Banshee outfit 
to see combat in Korea was VMJ-1, which operated from Pohang Airfield 
in Korea from March 1952 until the end of the Korean War in July 1953.  

Detachments of F2H-2P reconnaissance aircraft from VC-61 and VC-62 
operated from several carriers until replaced in the mid-1950s by 
Grumman F9F-6P and F9F-8P Cougars.  

Following the the end of the Korean War, the F2H-2 was rapidly 
replaced aboard Navy carriers by higher-performance aircraft.  The 
F2H-2 fighters then went to reserve units, where they soldiered on for 
a few more years before being finally retired.  

Serials of the F2H-2 Banshee: 

123204/123299		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
123300/123313		McDonnell F2H-2N Banshee
123314/123365		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
123366			McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee
123367/123382		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
124940/125029		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125030/125031		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125032/125053		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125054			McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125055			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125056			McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125057			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125058/125059		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125060			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125061/125062		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125063			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125064			McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125065			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125066/125067		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125068			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125069/125070		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125071			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125072/125079		McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee
125500			McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125501			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125502			McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125503			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125504/125505		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125649			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125650/125651		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125652			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125653/125654		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125655			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125656/125657		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125658			McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125659/125662		McDonnell F2H-2B Banshee
125663/125679		McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
125680/125706		McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee
126673/126695		McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee
128857/128886		McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee

Specification of the F2H-2 Banshee: 

Two Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojets, 3250 lb.s.t. each.  Maximum 
speed 575 mph at sea level, 532 mph at 35,000 feet.  Initial climb 
rate 7300 feet per minute.  Landing speed 101 mph.  Service ceiling 
48,500 feet.  Normal range was 1200 miles, combat range was 620 miles, 
and maximum range was 1475 miles.  Normal fuel capacity was 877 US 
gallons.  With the two wingtip tanks fitted, a total of 1277 US 
gallons could be carried.  Weights were 11,146 pounds empty, 20,555 
pounds loaded, 21,000 pounds maximum takeoff.  Dimensions were 
wingspan 44 feet 11.9 inches (with wingtip tanks fitted), wingspan 41 
feet 8.8 inches (without wingtip tanks), length 40 feet 0.4 inches, 
height 14 feet 5 1/2 inches, wing area 294.1 square feet.  Armament 
consisted of four 20-mm M3 cannon with 150 rpg.  For the F2H-2, an 
maximum external offensive load of 1000 pounds could be carried.  A 
typical load consisted of two 500-pound bombs or six 5-inch rockets.  

Sources:

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers,
  Orion, 1987.

  The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966. 

  The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston,
  Orion, 1988. 

  McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920, Rene J. Francillon,
  Naval Institute Press, 1990.

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
263 Shuman Boulevard 		Naperville, Illinois 60566-7050