Following the success of the FH-1 Phantom in US Navy and US Marine service, McDonnell was requested to submit its design for a new and improved jet fighter to supersede the FH-1. The company's design submission led to the receipt of a contract in early 1945 for three McDonnell XF2D-1 prototypes, these later gaining the name Banshee. McDonnell's design covered an improved version of the Phantom of increased size, incorporating folding wings, and with a lengthened fuselage to house more fuel, and with similarly-mounted and more powerful Westinghouse turbojet engines. The first prototype was flown on 11 January 1947, by then redesig-nated XF2H-1, and successful testing and evaluation led to contracts that were to call eventually for a total of 892 production aircraft of which details are given under Variants. Initial deliveries of production F2H-1s, to US Navy Squadron VF-171, began in August 1948, and the type proved of great value as an escort fighter during the Korean War. By the end of that conflict the F2Hs had been superseded by more advanced fighters, but continued in use in a reconnaissance role for a number of years and, in service with US Navy Reserve units, were flown until the mid-1960s. In November 1955 a total of 39 ex-US Navy F2H-3s was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, these being that service's first operational jet fighters; when the last were retired, in September 1962, they also proved to be the last carrier-based fighters in Canadian service.
McDonnell F2H Banshee on YOUTUBE
Specification
MODEL
F2H-3 "Banshee"
CREW
1
ENGINE
2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbo-jet, 14.4kN each
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight
11437 kg
25214 lb
Empty weight
5980 kg
13184 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan
12.73 m
42 ft 9 in
Length
14.68 m
48 ft 2 in
Height
4.42 m
15 ft 6 in
Wing area
27.31 m2
293.96 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Ceiling
14205 m
46600 ft
Range
1883 km
1170 miles
ARMAMENT
4 x 20mm cannon, 2 x 227kg bombs
3-View
A three-view drawing of F2H-4 Banshee (1660 x 1130)
I notice there is no mention of the F2H2. It was a great aircraft. I was an Aircraft Mechanic in VF-11 in 1952 and 1953 aboard the USS Kearsarge CVG 33, Air Group 101 in Task Force 77. The Banshee was a great aircraft to work on and we had a full compliment in our squadron, all F2H2's. For such a great aircraft for that time period, I am dismayed that even MacDonalds does (or did not)display this model in their Museum in St. Louis when I visited it. They only had on display a F2H3 to represent the F2H2.
I was employed at McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1946-47. One day all the employees were summoned to asemble outside the plant (Lambert Field, St. Louis). They rolled a Banshee out of the hanger in a "genuflect" position (nose down - tail up), changed to take off mode and took off with a roar. It seemed to go straight up. We had not seen anything like before.
I was on the Randolf (CVA15) in the Med from Nov. 1957 to April 1958 and I was a aviation electrician for fighter squadron VF22 and when we returned to JAX Naval Air stattion our squadron was decommissioned. One our planes ended up at the Kennedy Space Center for show.
I believe I made the last carrier landing the Banshee made. It was on the USS Randolf CVA15 with VF71 on March 13, 1959 on our way back to Norfolk on a Med cruise. VF 71 was decommissioned upon arrival in Oceana in March 1959.
1958 I did a Med cruise on the Essex in VF-11 The red Rippers. They flew the F2H-4. Ended up in the far east (Kemoy,Matsue). Went back to Mayport via Singapore, Ceylon, South Africa, Brazil... long boat ride.
IN 1954 I WAS A MECH. AT N.A.S. COLUMBUS, OHIO,SERVICING TRANSIENT A.C. ONE DAY AN F2H-3,OR4, TOOK OFF AND RETURNED IN A VERY SHORT TIME WITH THE LEFT ENGINE MINUS IT'S TURBINE WHEEL--JUST DISINTEGRATED AND THREW PIECES MOSTLY THRU THE FUSALAGE MISSING CONTROL CABLES BY, AS I REMEMBER,JUST INCHES. THE PILOT WASN'T FAZED AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE TO THE FUEL TANK THE FRAGMENTS WENT--MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY HAD THEY PENETRATED.
I was in VMF 214 at El Toro from June of 53 to Dec. 53. I was a parachute rigger, and filled the F2H4's with oxygen. I had another rigger who was suppoed to disconnect the oxygen bottles, and battery. He aid he had finished doing that, but hadn't When the oxygen regulater was about off, it was blown out of the cockpit, and came back in, and landed on the circut wires, and burned every wire in the plane.
I was in VMF 214 at El Toro from June of 53 to Dec. 53. I was a parachute rigger, and filled the F2H4's with oxygen. I had another rigger who was suppoed to disconnect the oxygen bottles, and battery. He aid he had finished doing that, but hadn't When the oxygen regulater was about off, it was blown out of the cockpit, and came back in, and landed on the circut wires, and burned every wire in the plane.
I WAS IN VMF-214 ( BLACK SHEEP ) AS A MECHANIC 1953-1955 IN EL TORO AND KANOHE MARINE AIR STATIONS. THE F2H-4 REPLACED THE CORSAIR. WE LOST ONE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING DURING CARRIER QUALIFICATIONS ABOARD THE CARRIER WASP OFF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Just like O J (Ollie) Semmes I too was with VF71 during 1956 to 1958.Quonset Pt, Key West, Leeward Pt, FDR, Intepid, Forrestal and Oceana where we operated. The "Banjo"s nose wheel extended for the cat shot and one snowy day the base CO (Quonset) had us taxing noseup to melt the taxiways. You had to have been there - the US Navy in action. On one of my fam hops when I got to the squadron I was to engage the auto-pilot; it was a two lever operation - pitch and roll. I don't remember which lever I moved but the violent maneuver that occurred was all I needed to never try to use it again. The plane was great otherwise.
Flew F@H-3's amd 4's in VF-71. When I reported right out of the training command, the weather was below minimums and two flights were up practicing GCA approaches. VF 71 was always up when the WX was down. Aboard Hornet had night deck crash that I walked away from...slightly fast and high at cut...the SPN-12 gear was out...lousy night...no wind. During same cruise John Mitchell landed a Banshee one night between the two stanchions on the fantail of Bon Homme Richard or maybe Oriskany..and walked down to sick bay afterward. Also flew it during Operation Strikeback in North Atlantic. It was great platform but electronics packages did not have the reliability we now have.
In 1951, VMF-224, I put a Banshee into the round-down of the Coral Sea, Blew up; burned. exited the bird over the side, under water; wish I had a copy of the "crash camera" films of that episode. Great aircraft!!
I was in Navy CAG-21, VF213, in 1956, and it was an active day night fighter, but do not know how long it had been in service prior to 1956. I believe it was retired in late 56 or in 1957. We were stationed at NAS Moffet Field at that time.
The Banshee was a fun airplane to fly. It did well on one engine and had remarkable range at altitude or at treetop level using one engine and switching them each half hour or so. It was a high flyer, I had a photo version up to 54,000', which stretched it's abilities a bit. It was a good carrier airplane; had good visibility and low speed responsiveness coming aboard a straight deck. It was a blast to watch the wings wave on cat shots.
