In this installment, we take a look at the Grumman F9F Panther in Korea. Specifically, how the Panther became the first United States Navy (USN) jet aircraft to see air to air combat and score victories.
But before we get into that, here’s some quick background on Grumman’s first jet-powered ‘Cat’.
A Fast Feline
Development of the Grumman F9F began near the end of the Second World War. Jet-powered aircraft were coming to the fore in the aeronautical world, and Grumman was eager to jump on the jet bandwagon.
Grumman’s original jet design, the G-75, was to be a two-seat nightfighter for the United States Navy (USN). Though the Navy selected the Douglas F3D Skyknight, Grumman was awarded a contract for two G-75 prototypes in April of 1946.
Designated XF9F-1 by the USN, Grumman soon decided that the G-75 lacked potential, and development was abandoned. In its stead, Grumman submitted the G-79 to the USN, and the contract was altered to substitute the new design.
Three prototypes of the G-79 would be built: two under the designation XF9F-2 and the third as the XF9F-3. First flight of the XF9F-2 took place in 1947, and the type entered operational service two years later, in mid 1949.
The passing of a year or so would see the F9F Panther in Korea.
First Combat Mission For the F9F Panther in Korea
The Korean War began at dawn on 25 June 1950 when the Korean People’s Army (KPA) crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea.
Anchored in Hong Kong Harbor, USS Valley Forge (CVA-45) was the closest USN aircraft carrier to Korea. ‘Happy Valley’, as she was called, left Hong Kong on 26 June. After stops at Subic Bay in the Philippines and at Okinawa, she arrived off the coast of North Korea on 1 July 1950.
Among the squadrons embarked as part of Carrier Group Five (CVG-5) on ‘Happy Valley’ was VF-51 Screaming Eagles. They and their sister squadron, VF-52 Knightriders, were the first outfits to fly the F9F Panther in Korea.
On the morning of 3 July, VF-51 would fly the first combat sorties for a jet-powered USN aircraft. The targets that morning were airfields in the area of Pyongyang, North Korea.
Flying as high cover for CVG-5 Skyraiders and Corsairs attacking Heijo Air Base, were eight VF-51 F9F-3s. They would soon engage enemy aircraft for the first time.
First Blood For the F9F Panther in Korea
Several North Korean Yak-9s were able to get into the air. Two were quickly destroyed by Lieutenant Junior Grade (Lt.JG) Leonard H. Plog and Ensign (Ens.) Elton W. Brown.
Your author has come across accounts of these combats from numerous sources, and there is some conflict in chronology and minor details. But the essentials are as follows, in each pilot’s words.
Lt.JG Plog:
“A second Yak-9 taxied out of the hangar and took off from the taxiway. I banked over to my right and pulled up behind him. By the time I got into firing position he was well airborne, about 350 feet in the air.”
The pilots of VF-51 had been strafing the airfield, enabling Plog to to catch this Yak so quickly and close to the ground. He continues:
“I was in perfect position and let loose a short burst from the four 20mm cannon. I got a couple of lucky hits on his starboard wing and it just peeled away. The Yak flipped over and crashed into the ground.”
A Quick Follow-Up
Ens. Brown tells of how he bagged a Yak that had attacked Lt.JG Plog:
“I saw him at three o’clock, coming in. He passed over me and fired bursts at Plog who, by then, had turned for home. I made a 360-degree turn and went after him. I rolled out on his tail, had the throttle all the way up, and closed on him pretty fast.”
‘Tis an interesting illustration of the speed differential between jets and props. And a simple but clear description of how the jet pilots could easily outmaneuver the Yaks. Brown continues:
“I had time only for a short burst. It blew his tail off. The aft section came off and the main fuselage went into a steep dive. He was on fire. The tail came flying back at me. I flew between his tail and main fuselage, and then headed for home.”
And thus was blooded the Grumman F9F Panther in Korea…
