Warplanes of the USA: McDonnell F3H Demon

McDonnell F3H-2N Demon

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McDonnell F3H -1N Demon (BuNo. 133492), 104 and F3H-2/F-3B Demon (BuNo. 146715), 105, Fighter Squadron VF-13 "Night Cappers" in flight.

The McDonnell F3H Demon is a subsonic swept-wing carrier-based jet fighter aircraft designed and produced by the American manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. It was the first swept wing jet fighter and the only single-engined carrier-based fighter the company produced. The Demon was developed during the late 1940s and early 1950s to fulfill a United States Navy requirement for a high-performance swept wing naval fighter to succeed the F2H Banshee. On 7 August 1951, the XF3H-1 performed its maiden flight, flown by test pilot Robert Edholm. The original design for a short-range interceptor was reworked into a heavier medium-range all-weather fighter to counter the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter being encountered during the Korean War; however, the addition of about 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) of weight negatively impacting the Demon's performance. The Demon was originally designed to be powered by the Westinghouse J40 turbojet engine, which suffered severe problems including low thrust output and poor reliability, and was ultimately abandoned after the matter became politically controversial in 1955. This outcome necessitated another major redesign of the aircraft to accept the alternative Allison J71 powerplant.

On 7 March 1956, the Demon was introduced to operational service. Though the aircraft had insufficient power for supersonic performance and insufficient endurance for its intended general-purpose role, it complemented day fighters such as the Vought F8U Crusader and Grumman F11F Tiger as an all-weather, missile-armed interceptor. The Demon was withdrawn in 1964 and thus did not participate in the Vietnam War. Both it and the Crusader were replaced on Forrestal-class and similar supercarriers by the more capable and versatile McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, which bears a strong family resemblance, as it was conceived as an advanced development of the Demon. The supersonic F-101 Voodoo of the United States Air Force was similar in layout, but was derived from the earlier XF-88 Voodoo, which also influenced the Demon's layout. (Wikipedia)

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNo. 133572) in flight near the McDonnell plant in St. Louis, Missouri, 4 June 1956.

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Two U.S. Navy McDonnell F3H-2N Demon fighters (BuNos. 136992, and 137018) from Fighter Squadron VF-31 Tomcatters in flight. VF-31 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 3 (CVG-3) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60) for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 1 February to 1 October 1958.

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(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

(Aaron Headly Photo)

(Eric Salard Photo)

McDonnell F-3B Demon (Serial No. 145221), USS Shangri La. Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

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McDonnell F3H-2M Demon (BuNo. 137078), c/n 259, 301. National Museum of Naval Aviation (NMNA), Pennsacola NAS, Florida.

(Max Smith Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNo. 146739), painted as (BuNo. 133566, C/N 78, E, AF-105. Intrepid S, New ea, Air & Space Museum, New York City, New York.

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U.S. Navy Lt. F.A.W. Franke takes off in a McDonnell F3H-2M Demon (BuNo 137003) of Fighter Squadron VF-61 "Jolly Rogers" from aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) during carrier qualifications, in April 1957. VF-61 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8). The squadron actually never deployed with CVG-8 while flying the F3H, it only made a single deployment aboard USS Saratoga (CVA-60), assigned to CVG-7, before being disestablished in 1959.

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNo 136981) of Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124) "Moonshiners" in flight. VF-124 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVA-16) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 19 April to 17 October 1957.

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNo 133550) of fighter squadron VF-151 Vigilantes on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) during the ship's Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) off Hawaii, 18 December 1961. The aircraft was assigned to LCdr. J.H. Dozier, the squadron executive officer.

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNo 137026) of Fighter Squadron VF-31 "Tomcatters" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60). VF-31 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 3 (CVG-3) aboard the Saratoga for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 1 February to 1 October 1958.

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McDonnell F3H-2 Demon fighter (BuNo 143428) of experimental squadron VX-4 on the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) in 1957. the aircraft is armed with AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. 1957.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

McDonnell F3H Demons on board the USS Ranger.

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U.S. Navy McDonnell F3H-2N Demon aircraft of Fighter Squadron VF-124 Moonshiners and an North American FJ-3 Fury of VF-121 Peacemakers in flight over Southern California. Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12) which was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVA-16) to the Western Pacific from 19 April to 17 October 1957. VF-124 was disestablished on 10 April 1958, and VF-121 became a training squadron two days later. 1957.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

McDonnell F3H-2M (BuNo. 137056) VF-112, NAS Miramar, San Diego, California, 10 August 1957.

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McDonnell F3H-2 Demon of Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213) "Black Lions" just after launching from the port bow catapult of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVA-16) on 11 April 1961. VF-213 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21) aboard the Lexington for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 29 October 1960 to 6 June 1961.

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U.S. Navy McDonnell F3H-2 Demon (BuNo 145205) of Fighter Squadron VF-21 "Free Lancers" refueling from a U.S. Air Force Boeing KB-50J Superfortress. VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 2 (CVG-2) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 15 August 1959 to 25 March 1960.

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McDonnell F3H-2 Demon (BuNo 133555) of Fighter Squadron VF-114 "Executioners" at Naval Air Station North Island, California (USA). VF-112 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19).

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McDonnell F3H-2N Demon (BuNos. 133594, and 133604) of Fighter Squadron 141 (VF-141) "Iron Angels" in flight over California (USA). VF-141 was assigend to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVA-16).