Banshees That Never Wailed
The proposed F2H-3P photo-reconnaissance variant was canceled before reaching production. Proposals for a two-seat version of the F2H-3, an F2H variant with afterburning engines, and a swept-wing version of the F2H were also canceled. The final production variant of the Banshee was the F2H-4. These Banshees were equipped with the Hughes AN/APG-37 radar and uprated J34 engines. After 895 Banshees were completed, production ended on 24 September 1953. Thanks to the 1962 unified designation system the F2H was redesignated the F-2, but by that time the few Banhsees in service were with Naval Reserve units and never flew under the F-2C or F-2D designations. Banshees equipped a total of 20 US Navy and seven US Marine Corps squadrons.
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Replaced by Legends
The Navy deployed the new radar-equipped F2H-3 and F2H-4 for all-weather fleet defense after the conclusion of the Korean War, but only as a stopgap measure until the much faster Grumman F9F Cougar, McDonnell F3H Demon, and Douglas F4D Skyray could be deployed in significant numbers. The later variants of the Banshee served for only a few years on the front lines and saw no action. Even their careers with Naval Reserve squadrons were short. The F2H-2P was superseded by the F9F-8P (later RF-9J) variant of the F9F Cougar and the Vought F8U-1P (later RF-8A) variant of the Vought F8U Crusader as these faster aircraft became available.
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Banshee Trivia
Even though Banshees played a central role in the 1953 James A. Michener novel The Bridges at Toko-Ri, in the movie Grumman F9F Panthers are utilized in place of the F2H-2s. But look closely- in several shots Banjos can be seen on deck aboard the “Savo”.
In 1954, a Banjo flew coast-to-coast, nonstop without refueling, approximately 1,900 miles from NAS Los Alamitos in California to NAS Cecil Field in Florida, taking about four hours to complete the flight.
A proposal for F2H-2P Banshees to photograph the Soviet Union, dubbed Operation Steve Brody, was submitted in May of 1952. Four F2H-2Ps were to launch from an aircraft carrier operating in the eastern Mediterranean and fly north at high altitude snapping pictures of Russia along the Black Sea. Defense Secretary Robert Lovett (wisely) refused to present to proposal to President Truman.
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In 1955 another shadowy F2H-2P mission involved photo recon flights over Communist China in support of Taiwan. Tension over a potential invasion of Taiwan by the ChiComs prompted the high-altitude photo reconnaissance of sights at which invasion preparation might be taking place. 27 F2H-2P photo recon missions, escorted by South Korea-based Marine Corps F2H-2s, took place without incident during 1955.
Some of the photo reconnaissance Banjos were utilized for test duties by the Pacific Missile Test Center. One such test took place on 16 December 1952. A pair of F2H-2Ps were launched from the carrier USS Princeton (CVA-37) and then guided a SSM-N-8 Regulus cruise missile to a target off the coast of southern California.
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Aside from the US Navy and US Marine Corps, the only other operator of the Banjo was the Royal Canadian Navy. 39 F2H-3s were acquired at NAS Quonset Point between 30 November 1955 and 16 June 1958. These Banshees, the first and only jets operated by the RCN, equipped two squadrons (VF-870 and VF-871) aboard the RCN carrier HMCS Bonaventure (RML 22 / RRSM 22 / CVL 22) along with test squadron VX-10. In 1959 the jets were modified to enable them to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The Canadian Banjos were somewhat unceremoniously retired on 12 September 1962.
To the Videos
Here’s a video of Banshees refueling in flight from North American AJ Savage carrier-based bombers. It was uploaded to YouTube by airailiamges. Enjoy!
Here’s a link to a video about early jet propulsion that features the Banshee. Enjoy!