McDonnell F2H Banshee

The McDonnell F2H Banshee was a remarkable single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft that was designed and produced by McDonnell Aircraft. It was an early jet fighter operated by the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) and was also the only jet-powered fighter to ever be deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The aircraft's name was derived from the banshee of Irish mythology, which was known for its distinctive wailing sound before a death occurred.

The Banshee was developed during the mid to late 1940s and was a derivative of the earlier FH Phantom. It had a sleek and sporty design and was considerably larger, more heavily armed, and furnished with more powerful engines than its predecessor. The aircraft incorporated several recent innovations, including a pressurized cockpit, "kneeling" nose landing gear, and an ejection seat, which the Phantom lacked. It also had a large number of improvements to other aircraft systems, making it an advanced fighter jet for its time.

On 11 January 1947, the prototype performed its maiden flight, showcasing its impressive capabilities. In August 1948, the first F2H-1, the initial production model, was completed. The F2H-2 was the basis for three sub-variants; the nuclear-armed F2H-2B, the F2H-2N night fighter, and the F2H-2P photo reconnaissance aircraft. The F2H-2N was the first carrier-based jet-powered night fighter flown by the USN, albeit only in limited numbers. The F2H-2P was also the service's first jet-powered reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art cameras for capturing images in various lighting conditions.

Upon its introduction in late 1948, the Banshee proved to be slower than the latest land-based fighters, which has been largely attributed to its use of a straight wing rather than a swept wing configuration. Nevertheless, several variants were procured, and the US Navy and Marine pilots often referred to the F2H as the "Banjo". It played a significant role during the Korean War, where it was primarily flown as an escort fighter and reconnaissance aircraft.

During the mid-1950s, the USN and USMC started replacing their Banshees with newer and more capable jet aircraft, such as the swept-wing Grumman F-9 Cougar and McDonnell F3H Demon, and the delta wing Douglas F4D Skyray. Several of these aircraft were acquired by Canada for the RCN as production of the Banshee was terminated in 1953. Introduced to Canadian service in 1955, the type became the sole fighter operated following the retirement of the piston-engine Hawker Sea Fury. It operated at sea from HMCS Bonaventure or shore bases as NORAD interceptor aircraft, playing a crucial role in protecting Canadian airspace. However, due to decreasing reliability and a reorientation towards anti-submarine warfare, Canada withdrew its last Banshees without any direct replacement in September 1962, marking the end of an era for this legendary fighter jet.

Design

The F2H-2 Banshee was a remarkable fighter jet that was the basis for three sub-variants, each with its unique features. The F2H-2B was designed with strengthened wings and an additional pylon adjacent to the intake on the port side, enabling it to carry an impressive 1,650 lb (750 kg) Mark 7 nuclear bomb or a 3,230 lb (1,470 kg) Mark 8 nuclear bomb. The F2H-2N was the first carrier-based jet-powered night fighter flown by the US Navy, and the F2H-2P was the service's first jet-powered reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with six cameras in a 2 ft 5 in (0.74 m) longer nose, allowing for capturing images in various lighting conditions.

The F2H-3 was an all-weather fighter that incorporated a larger diameter Westinghouse AN/APQ-41 radar and had a longer fuselage, increasing its internal fuel load by over 50%. This allowed for an increased ammunition capacity of up to 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles were cleared for use. The detachable wingtip fuel tanks were reduced to 170 US gal (640 L; 140 imp gal) each, and the cannons were moved back to make room for its radar while allowing for an increased ammunition capacity. The horizontal stabilizers were lowered from the fin to the fuselage and were given dihedral. Furthermore, large triangular fillets were added to the leading edges of the aircraft. The F2H-3 also added provisions for aerial refuelling consisting of an as-needed bolt-on, in-flight refuelling probe that replaced the upper port cannon.

The F2H-4 was externally indistinguishable from the F2H-3 but was equipped with a more powerful engine, which increased the aircraft's service ceiling even further to 56,000 ft (17,000 m). The F2H-4 had a Hughes AN/APG-37 radar and slightly more powerful Westinghouse J34-WE-38 3,600 lbf (16,000 N) engines. It was also equipped with a pair of underwing pods that each contained 20 flash cartridges for night photography.

McDonnell created at least 48 proposals for various modifications to the Banshee, including long-range escort fighters, two-seat night fighters and trainers, single-seat interceptors, and more. Some of the proposed modifications included swept wings, afterburners, and various engine and radar installations. However, few of these proposals were ever built. Plans for adding afterburners were cancelled after a test aircraft suffered extensive damage to the wing and tail. An F2H-3P reconnaissance variant was proposed to replace the F2H-2P but was ultimately not built.

The F2H Banshee played a significant role in the US Navy and Marine Corps, and also the Royal Canadian Navy. The Banshee was introduced in late 1948 and played a crucial role during the Korean War, where it was primarily flown as an escort fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Radar-equipped Banshees were also used for all-weather fleet defence. Furthermore, in 1955, 27 overflights of potential Chinese staging areas were conducted by USMC Banshees in response to a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, highlighting the aircraft's versatility.

The F2H Banshee was an advanced fighter jet for its time, incorporating several recent innovations, including a pressurized cockpit, "kneeling" nose landing gear, and an ejection seat. The aircraft was considerably larger, more heavily armed, and furnished with more powerful engines than its predecessor, the FH Phantom. It proved to be slower than the latest land-based fighters due to its use of a straight wing rather than a swept wing configuration. Nonetheless, the F2H Banshee was an exceptional fighter jet that played a significant role in the history of military aviation.

Development

By the late 1940s turbojet technology had advanced to the point that the U.S. Navy, which already had some jet fighters in service, began converting all its carrier fighter squadron aircraft to jet power. Comprising this second generation of Navy jet fighters were the Grumman F9F Panther and the McDonnell F2H Banshee.1 The F2H was a much-improved successor to McDonnell's earlier FH-1 Phantom. The twin-engine F2H was almost twice the weight of its predecessor, had more powerful engines, and was fitted with four 20-mm cannon in place of the FH-1's four .50-caliber machine guns. Still, Herman D. Barkley and his design team retained the proven design of the earlier jet.2

The first of two XF2H-1 prototypes flew on 11 January 1947, and, like the competitor F9F, was quickly placed in production. The F2H-2 variant was slightly faster than the Panther and had an impressive range; in 1954 one flew nonstop from Los Alamitos, California, to Cecil Field, Florida-a distance of 1,900 miles in 3 hours, 58 minutes without refuelling in flight. The F2H was one of the highest-flying combat aircraft of its time with a ceiling of some 48,500 feet.

Specifications (F2H-3)

General characteristics

    Crew: 1

    Length: 48 ft 2 in (14.68 m)

    Wingspan: 41 ft 9 in (12.73 m)

    Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)

    Wing area: 294 sq ft (27.3 m2)

    Airfoil: wing root: NACA 65-212, wing tip: NACA 65-209

    Empty weight: 13,183 lb (5,980 kg)

    Gross weight: 21,013 lb (9,531 kg)

    Max take-off weight: 25,214 lb (11,437 kg)

    Powerplant: 2 × Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojet engines, 3,250 lbf (14.5 kN) thrust each

Performance

    Maximum speed: 580 mph (930 km/h, 500 kn) at sea level

    Cruise speed: 461 mph (742 km/h, 401 kn)

    Combat range: 1,168 mi (1,880 km, 1,015 nmi) on internal fuel

    Ferry range: 1,710 mi (2,760 km, 1,490 nmi) with two 170-gal drop tanks

    Service ceiling: 47,000 ft (14,000 m)

    Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)

Armament

    4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon, 220 rounds/gun (upper pair), 250 rounds/gun (lower pair)

    8 × 60 lb (27 kg) High Explosive rockets

        or

    6 × 500 lb (230 kg) bombs and 2 × 60 lb (27 kg) H.E. rockets

        or

    2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles (Both in US Navy & Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) service)