0413&:$0.#"5"*3$3"'5t F9F PANTHER UNITS OF THE KOREAN WAR
Warren Thompson
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com SERIES EDITOR: TONY HOLMES OSPREY COMBAT AIRCRAFT 103 F9F PANTHER UNITS OF THE KOREAN WAR
WARREN THOMPSON
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 6
CHAPTER TWO THE WAR DRAGS ON 18
CHAPTER THREE MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 50
CHAPTER FOUR INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 60
CHAPTER FIVE MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 72
APPENDICES 87 COLOUR PLATES COMMENTARY 89 INDEX 95
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 6 CHAPTER ONE T STRIKE EARLY US NAVY PANTHERS HMS coast ofNorth Korea on1July. Here, itwas joinedby theBritish carrier Bay, inthePhilippines, inorder tomaketheshipready forcombat. recalled tothecarrier, whichdulyweighed anchorandsteamedforSubic hours ofthecommunistinvasion of South Korea allpersonnelhadbeen harbour, withitscrew enjoying rest andrecuperation ashore. Within from Korea. The USSValleyForge However, theonlyvessel intheFar Eastwasmore thanathousandmiles air power intheregion by deploying itsaircraft carrierstotheregion. restricted. This pointedtotheneedforUSNavy tobolsterAmerican their loitertimeover enemycolumnsalready inSouth Korea wasseverely Star fighter-bombers lackedtherangetohitNorth Korean targets,and immediately withwhatithadinJapan andOkinawa. been intheprocess ofmoving toanall-jetforce intheregion, responded North Korean military. The United States AirForce (USAF),whichhad to atokenforce thatwasillequipped toopposetheSoviet-backed powersouth. Americanmilitary intheFar Easthadby thenbeen reduced North Korea crossed the38thParallel andinvaded theirneighbourtothe Kimpo airfield aweek earlier,Kimpo airfield and Korean fightershadbeenactive over faster F9F-3Panthers. North first, followed by theappreciably AD-2/4Q Skyraiders) takingoff driven types(F4U-4BCorsairsand launch thatwouldseethepropeller- timed withaperfectly starting be carriedoutthenextmorning, Pyongyang. The operationwasto the North Korean capital, around strike onthemainairfields tasked withmountingamajor CVG-5’s missionplannerswere of F9F-3swouldbethefirstUSNavy unitstoseecombatinjetfighters. Carrier AirGroup (CVG) and 5,anditstwosquadrons (VF-51 VF-52) Following ahastyturnaround atSubic Bay, CV-45 arrived offthewest The biggestproblem fortheUSAF, however, wasthatitsF-80Shooting On theafternoonof2July Triumph within Task Force 77.ValleyForgewashometo (TF) f 5 June 1950whentroops from thecommuniststateof 25 of recovery shattered wasabruptly onthemorning and economic he United States’ briefperiodofpost-World War 2peace (CV-45) wasanchored inHong Kong © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com VF-51 pilots(Frank Jones) were scored on3July1950 by two and theUSNavy’s firstaerial kills during thefirstfew weeks ofthewar, North Korean propeller-driven aircraft squadron’s pilotswould encounter operated by VF-51. Many ofthe CVG-5. The Panther shown here was squadrons underthecontrol of Korean War, withitstwo F9F-3 first American carrier to enter the USS Valley Forge (CV-45) was the US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 7 were Valley Forge Triumph and VF-51 would make Naval Naval VF-51 would make personnel intelligence TF 77’s Valley Forge according to intelligence personnel to intelligence according there that it was likely TF 77 in over many more would be had been on there than Pyongyang Twin F-82 when USAF 27 June, F-80s had last and Mustangs them. encountered history of on the morning Aviation it became the first US as 3 July, to fly a combat jet squadron Navy the course of mission. And during pilots would that mission one of its claim the first aerial victory for a US jet. Navy when they had indeed been right Korean that the North predicted would (NKPAF) Air Force People’s www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ‘I was one of several Panther pilots who took off from the pilots who took off from Panther ‘I was one of several ‘My wingman and I broke off from our strafing runoff from to go after the wingman and I broke ‘My while results excellent had achieved Corsairs and Skyraiders ‘Our both after the initial strikes, Soon probably be airborne at the time of the attack, as several Soviet-built Soviet-built airborne at the time of the attack, as several be probably in the arrived when the Panthers Pyongyang in the air over were Yak-9s however. in for, The enemy pilots had no idea what they were target area. Yak-9s Two seen a jet before! never fact most of them had probably In of the successful Naval VF-51 pilots. One subsequently fell to the guns of who recalled; H Plog, was Lt(jg) Leonard Aviators Yak that had just taken off. As I lined up behind it, out of the corner of As I lined up behind had just taken off. Yak that evidently misjudged another one coming straight at me. He I saw my eye Yak saw a Brown Eldon because he missed. Ens the speed of my Panther group This consisted of our air coming in on another element of F9Fs. He Gortney. Lanham, and his wingman, Lt Bill Cdr Peter commander, This apart with his 20 mm cannon. Yak closed on it quickly and blew the a burst. A split I lined him up and fired Yak. on my me to re-focus allowed and I had shot Brown second later I saw his right wing disintegrate. Ens fighters in a short two enemy prop-type span of time. down carrier with no losses. to our then returned We the airfieldworking over. same airfield, launched another strike against the That afternoon we but very few were targets left untouched after the morning attack. there was minimal on both strikes.’ fire Anti-aircraft at 0600 hrs. We were part of a large strike force that included two part that included two of a large strike force were We at 0600 hrs. Our of AD-4 Skyraiders. F4U-4B Corsairs and a squadron of squadrons We the bombers. away from job was to keep any airborne enemy fighters and our main priority was to the strike force, target before at the arrived commenced we as on the airfield. parked Just any enemy aircraft destroy and taking off, Yak-9 our strafing runs a one of our pilots reported airborne. evidently a couple of others had also just gotten ordered south for a good reason. US military uncertain south for a good reason. about leaders were ordered that the invasion and Chinese intentions, and it was feared Korean North Osprey © in September 1950. VF-112 spent eight VF-112 1950. September months in combat on its first cruise ) (US Navy F9F-2Bs of VF-112 are readied on the readied are VF-112 of F9F-2Bs of Philippine Sea flightdeck 8 CHAPTER ONE explosive incendiary andarmour-piercingrounds]. explosive incendiary [High Velocity Aircraft Rockets] and20mmammunition [bothhigh- was friendlyandwhowasn’t. Our Panthers were loadedwith5-inHVARs They were clearlyvisible toallofus,sothere wasnodoubtaboutwho troops literallycovered halfofthehillasthey approached theridgeline. North Korean unitandwasontheverge ofbeingoverrun. The enemy was flyinglead.AMarine companywas engaginganumericallysuperior aircontrollerairborne forward [FAC] sawusandcontactedourCO,who At the beginning ofaroutine road andrailreconnaissance hop, aMarine forces intothesea; on26Augusthe flew whentheNorth Koreans were closetopushingUN Ens Allen ‘Boot’ Hill, a VF-112 Panther pilot,recalls amemorablemission aircraft targetsfrom from Seoul PhilippineSeastruck upto Wonsan. tons ofbombsontheenemy’s positions.During forward thisperiod leading tothePusan area, whileCVG-11’s CorsairsandSkyraiders rained a harshKorean winter. station untilmid-March 1951,whichmeantthatitscrew hadtoendure known asthePusanof thecountry Perimeter. CV-47 wouldremain on Peninsula, asUNforces hadbeenboxed intoasmallarea tothesoutheast carrier reached theSea ofJapan thesituationwasdesperateonKorean these unitswouldmakeamajorcontributiontothewareffort. When the and also boastedtwosquadrons (VF-111 VF-112) ofF9F-2Panthers, and arrival in-theatre thevessel wasdesignatedflagshipof TF 77.CVG-11 was offthecoastofSouth Korea, ready forcombatoperations.Upon its its waytotheFar East,sailingforHawaii on5July. By 5August thecarrier moored ofSan initshomeport Diego, California. Within daysitwason (CV-47), withCVG-11 embarked. When the conflictbegantheshipwas Parallel. This put VF-51’s F9F-3sbackinthethickofit. rejoined ofthe38th thewartomakecontinuousattacksontargetsnorth When itbecameobvious thatthis was notinfactthecase,bothcarriers to launchanamphibiousattackonnationalistChinese Taiwan (Formosa). of South Korea mighthave beenadiversion toenablecommunistChina ‘We were working approximately tenkilometres ofPohang. north Upon joining TF 77, VF-111 and VF-112 were ordered toattackroads The secondaircraft carriertoenter thewarwasUSSPhilippineSea © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com rank ofvice-admiral (USNavy) Capt Weymouth later rose to the first USmannedspaceflight. 5 May 1961 to signaltheendof recovered Alan BShepard Jr on he was incommandwhenthatship Champlain the Essex Lt Cdr Weymouth went onto captain Panthers lostduring thedeployment. aircraft was thefirstofthree aeroplane awaiting rescue. This be seenstandinginthecockpit ofhis Ralph Weymouth (COof VF-112), can on 7 August 1950. Itspilot, LtCdr Philippine Sea shortly after beinglaunched from floats onthewater after crashing F9F-2B BuNo123443from VF-112 Classcarrier USSLake (CVS-39)in1961, and off Mokpo-Kwang-Ju US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 9 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ‘On each pass we could see at least 100 enemy troops out in the open, out in the open, 100 enemy troops could see at least each pass we ‘On Yellow the to sailed around having now with CV-47 mid-September, In pilot flying from VF-51 Panther Gortney was a ‘Bill’ William Capt ‘After two dry runs to sufficiently separated enemy troops mass of the ‘After standing up and shooting at us with their rifles. We departed the area way departed the area We their rifles. and shooting at us with standing up on the scene at arrived of Marines bingo fuel after a major convoy below had each made 16 strafing runs, of and all four We the base of the ridge. The FAC small arms fire. hits from numerous sustained our Panthers the return our On out of range. were until we continued to thank us captain and the admiral to explain to both the ship’s skipper had to report lbs of fuel remaining. ten minutes late and had only 600 were why we statement that we’d messages confirmed the FAC’s hours, however, Within 200 enemy than company and accounted for more the Marine saved had that we to know experience was a very rewarding killed. It troops lives.’ a lot of Marine saved made a major effort to soften up the coast, CVG-11 west off Korea’s Sea, the US landing by for an amphibious in preparation Inchon around area This flank. the enemy’s Corps that it was hoped would threaten Marine from to range far inland both squadrons was the signal for F9Fs from reinforcements. Korean to target North Inchon described some of the He Valley Forge during its first cruise of the war. CVG-5; by early missions flown allow the Marines to put down coloured panels. We used two guns or one guns or one used two We panels. coloured put down to Marines the allow as many runs being to make at a time, the intention rocket as possible also served to keep enemy heads It exhausted our ordnance. we before arrived. reinforcements until Marine down Osprey © F9F-3 BuNo 122574 of VF-51 is is VF-51 of BuNo 122574 F9F-3 a flightdeck off towed carefully bay hangar CV-45’s into elevator of the Korean stages the early during and third, the was This aircraft War. unit during the lost by Panther last, the jet being its first combat cruise, to AAA and its pilot forced hit by VF-51 1950. September on 19 ditch see the only units to were VF-52 and Allison J33-A-8-powered combat with built. 54 were – just Panthers ‘Dash-3’ later Surviving examples were & Pratt powerful more with re-fitted engines, turbojet J42-P-8 Whitney as F9F-2s being re-designated ) (US Navy the conversion following 10 CHAPTER ONE Korean border. Armedwith5-inHVARs and20mmcannon,thePanthers to flysweeps againsttargetsjust20milessouthoftheManchurian-North uptheeastcoastofKoreasent further soastoallow itscarrierairgroup retreat following theInchon landinginmid-September. Leytewasduly number ofmissionsduringthe three-month combatcruise. wouldsubsequentlyflyan impressivesingle squadron ofF9F-2Bs(VF-31) launched agroup-strength strikeonmajortargetsintheSongjin area. Its on10October, itsfirstcombatsorties flew andthefollowing dayit 9 October andheadedfortheSea ofJapan via the Tsushima Strait. CVG-3 USS however, whichdeployed with fourCorsairunits. They were joinedby CVG-2 embarked. There were noF9Fsquadrons withinthegroup, smallerbombs.’rails tofire rockets andcarry coming intotheatre were equippedwithF9F-2sthatwere equippedwith the baseatPohang. The reason forthiswasthatallofthecarrierairgroups were tobehandedover totheMarine Corps,whichwouldflythemfrom base andoff-loadedallourF9F-3sfrom bothsquadrons. Ibelieve they toaccomplishit. trying impossible togetasolidhit. We lostsomeaeroplanes from theairgroup so we hadtobombthebridgesata90-degree angle, which madeitalmost the Yalu River. We were prohibited from flyinginManchurian airspace and went straighttothatfield,where we tookouttheremaining haystacks. they were Yak fighterscovered withhay. Laterthatdaywe launchedagain strafed acoupleofthemtoseewhatwouldhappen.It turnedoutthat oddly shapedhaystacksinthemiddleofafield.He andhiswingman the ’States saw somethingthatdidn’t lookrightwhenhespottedsome interesting thanothers.One ofourpilotswhohad been afarmerbackin outtothecarrierandfixedthis problem, afterwhichtheyflew ourjets. and theGrumman peoplehastilygottogetherand figured outacure to guns wouldthenrefuse tofire. The testfolksat“Pax [Patuxent] River” wanting toslow down, andwhenyou poppedyour brakestodosothe simultaneously activated. So, you couldfindyourself inastrafingrun, hydraulic pressure toopenthattheguns’ safetymechanismwas which were hydraulically operatedlikeourguns,theytooksomuch to know ifwehow knew ithadgotthere! andtheircommandingofficerwanted in oursupplylockernevertheless, but theydidn’t have anyextratogive us. That batchofgoodoilendedup about it. They were usingadifferent oilthatwasworking well forthem, there, andoursupplyguywent over andfoundoutwhattheywere doing When we gotbacktoOkinawa, theAirForce hadasquadron ofF-80s cause anyproblems, butwhenthecoolerairmoved inwe hadtrouble. caused thegunsnottofire. The earliermissionsinwarmerweather didn’t on ourgunsandammotendedtogettoohard andstiffataltitude,which problems, especiallywhenthecoldweather setin. The oilwe were using By October 1950theNorth Korean People’s Army (NKPA) wasinfull The third carriertoarrive in-theatre wasUSSBoxer cametoanendwe headedbackto ourcruise Yokosuka‘When naval ‘Some ofourmissionswere focusedontakingdown thebridgesover ‘Some ofthearmedreconnaissance missionswewere flew more ‘We alsodiscovered earlyonthatanytimewe poppedourspeedbrakes, ‘We didalotofstrafingwithour20mmcannon,andwe ranintosome Leyte (CV-32) andCVG-3, whichhadleftSasebo, Japan, on © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (CV-21) with US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 11 Valley was the was the Leyte ‘In the ready room before the the before room the ready ‘In western sectors where the task force the task force sectors where western it might be vulnerable. Primarily, against an enemy air was to guard far enough were attack, and we north that a possibility. to make by vectored were airborne we Once that to the exact area our controller to cover. were we any remember flight I don’t www.ospreypublishing.com • carrier air group joined those of the Philippine Sea and joined those of carrier air group Publishing In addition to VF-31’s F9Fs performing interdiction missions and missions and F9Fs performing interdiction VF-31’s addition to In had a combat tour full of memories, and Cogdell Jack VF-31 pilot Ens CAP. my division was scheduled for the afternoon 27 November ‘On CVG-3 records show that between 11 and 15 October its pilots flew a 11 and 15 October that between show records CVG-3 Leyte’s attacking rail traffic as the communists attempted to keep their troops to keep their troops attacking rail traffic as the communists attempted the unit also had supplied with ammunition, food and reinforcements, for the protection that provided (CAPs) to generate combat air patrols This role closer to the enemy coastline. TF 77 as they sailed ever of vessels the conflict entered important days after the CPVA seven became more for the very first time. Korea North over appeared when MiG-15s pilots Corsair and Mustang made by Although most sightings were VF-31 was charged with protecting Yalu, performing CAS south of the within range of communist jet now TF 77 that were of the many vessels Manchuria. from flying aircraft dangers 1950 that highlighted the late November one from he relates Peninsula; the Korean over winter weather the posed by For carried out many times before. assignment that we’d was a routine It the northern and us it consisted of flying out 75 miles or so to cover in flying combat missions during the infamous Korean winter. winter. during the infamous Korean Forge in flying combat missions To make station on carriers would be on worse, all three matters suddenly Army (CPVA) Volunteer when the Chinese People’s 25 October south into of thousands of troops sending hundreds the war, entered NKPA. up the beleaguered to help shore Korea North TF 77 at the time, so CVG-3 furthest north of the carriers assigned to close air support (CAS) for retreating was heavily tasked with providing south. advanced as the CPVA UN troops total of 472 offensive sorties and 56 defensive ones, with VF-31 flying its VF-31 flying sorties ones, with total of 472 offensive and 56 defensive a total pilots fired the operational surge. Its of missions during fair share than 50 railway more to help destroy rounds of 29,204 20 mm cannon nearly the F9Fs had fired the end of October By wagons and eight lorries. 50,000 20 mm rounds. of VF-31 destroyed anything that was moving either on road or rail. Some or rail. Some either on road that was moving anything destroyed VF-31 of had quickly the enemy because to be unsuccessful proved missions night- damage done by night transportation.switched to Nevertheless, also flewVF-31 exposed at first light. left many targets flying Corsairs strike had been conducted group the day after a major missions follow-up day. so as to frustrate sustained the previous the damage efforts to repair flying south began MiG-15s before VF-31 took place by These flights the F9Fs to range all the way up to the border allowing River, Yalu of the with Manchuria. Osprey © For many Panther missions over over missions Panther many For so many were there Korea North themselves that pilots found targets headed back on fuel when they low had so little they Often the carrier. to were in their tanks that they fuel left This their vessel. reach unable to a friendly to divert to had meant they this as has happened to land base, It is . Forge Valley from Panther VF-51 at Kimpo (K-14) in being refuelled weeks – about two 1950 October war. the the Chinese entered before life his yellow still wearing The pilot, is sat on the wing of the jet jacket, its refuelling overseeing ) (Ray Stewart 12 CHAPTER ONE There were around groups while others ofpeople, withsomerunning It looked likethepreparation forfoundations,withsewerpipesinplace. down tomyleft.Isawwhatappeared tobealotof disturbed earth. myturn,Ilookedthe upwind turn.AsIopenedmycanopyandstarted passing over thefarshore of Wonsan Harbour before itwastimetomake flight Iwaslasttobreak, soIwasflyingby myselfforseveral seconds, the runway forthestandard “break” forlanding.Asnumberfourinthe concerned aboutthis.Leadgotusto Wonsan andwealong flew west. Iwasgettinglow onfuel,but I don’t remember beingtoo at for theairfield Wonsan. We thousandfeetandheaded climbedafew carrier withoutgettingavisualonit.He takesupthestory; tall.Cogdellandhisfellow Naval Aviators100 ft over againflew the also hadtobeaware thatmanyshipshadantennaeandmastsatleast that wouldprovide some marginforerror inthelanding pattern. Pilots however, burningtheirfuelatadangerous rate,eroding thesafetyreserve the CIC’s guidancewhilestillflyingjust100ftabove thesea. They were, flown by thePanthers. Ens Cogdell’s divisionfinallyturnedround with had toplayitsafeandprotect thefleet. This explainsthenumberofCAPs the water, notinzero andcertainly visibility. Nevertheless, theUSNavy non-existent. For onethingtheywere reluctant toengageincombatover realised we’d passedthefleet,whichwasnow behindus.’ where we were, andtriedtoglanceoccasionallyattheADFneedle.Isoon and couldseeonlytheseaimmediatelybelow us.I’d losttrackofexactly It wasdark grey withominouswhitecaps. We hadnohorizontal visibility was stillnobottom,althoughwe could justmakeoutthewaterbelow us. through 500ftandthen200ft.He finallylevelled outat100ft. There in during thelateautumnandwinterinKorea. was thetypeofweather thatallUN aircraft wouldregularly have tofly at thattime,Irealised we were flyingthrough aheavysnowstorm! This barely seemysectionleader, mydivisionleaderwasalmostinvisibleand, seeing theseawe allbegantoworry! The cloudswere so thickthatIcould bottom atabout2000ft,butwhenwe passedthrough 1000ftwithout then ondown to10,000ft–sofar, nothing. We expectedtoreach the of about30,000ft,we descendedthrough the“soup” past20,000ftand we dulybeganourpenetrationoftheovercast.instructed From analtitude being directed by theship’s combatinformationcentre [CIC]. When for thedescentandrecovery. fleet commonfrequency tomonitortheheadingshipandbeready We then tightenedupourformationandswitchedADFsbackto our controller vectored usbackinthedirection ofthetaskforce. music from theArmedForces Tokyo radiostation.About onehourlater We usually usedourADF[Automatic Direction Finder] totuneinthe formation and,withvectors from thecontroller, stayingonstation. into theCAProutine –scanningtheemptyskyforbogeys,maintaining It wouldbeadecisionthatIlaterregretted. Once onstationwe settled there myNavy wasnoreason tobothercarrying issue0.38-calrevolver. concerns aboutweather oranyotheraspectofthemission.Idecided ‘Our leader made the decision to abandon this fruitless CAP and try CAPandtry ‘Our leadermadethedecisiontoabandonthisfruitless In suchweather thechancesofencounteringMiG-15s were virtually ‘Division leadcontinuedtodrop down, butatamuchreduced rate, themission we’d‘Throughout beenflyingabove asolidcloudcover, © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 13 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing When the four pilots talked to a US Marine Corps officer they officer they Corps to a US Marine four pilots talked When the The warning I started fuel. the engine I noted that I had 900 lbs of ‘As clouds in the gathering grey some low headed east towards we ‘As discovered that there was no fuel available, and that the CPVA was was and that the CPVA fuel available, was no that there discovered on the disbelieving look night. Noting the field that overrun expected to they tent, where to step outside the the officer asked them their faces, and sporadic explosions. fire weapons could hear distant automatic They Corsairs took off. Corps F4U US Marine several stood there As they just 500 ft. they reached when loaded with bombs that they released were convinced the Panther That to re-load. Wonsan to They then returned was situation. It stumbled into a dangerous pilots that they had indeed that what he had witnessed on landing realised only then that Cogdell been firing many of them had probably and that had been Chinese troops, so they here, pilots could not remain Panther was clear that the at him. It with their attempt at finding their carrier – even decided to make another they faced; the tense situation fuel state. Cogdell recalled low quickly to the runway and made rolling moved We light was still on. accelerated and quickly the aeroplane takeoffs. I was shocked at how been happy to trade some of that performance have for more climbed – I’d tried to climb. used if we’d have because of the fuel we’d low stayed We fuel. it had been discovered He dusk, lead was trying to contact our carrier. with in decent weather it or not, they were us. Believe towards moving on fuel, I was made a visual and, since I was lowest We the deck cleared. gone into have that I’d realise Looking back, I now the first to break. I landed without incident to recover. been second or third the water if I’d the barriers to make taxiing over and hurried out of the landing area, I could climb out of the cockpit, my jets. Before way for the other three to the Wonsan The flight from fuel starvation.engine flamed out from Leyte had lasted 24 minutes.’ appeared to be lying face down in the dirt. Strange behaviour! I landed I landed behaviour! the dirt. in Strange face down be lying to appeared I noticed Panthers. other three next to the and parked incident without light was on.’ warning fuel level that my low Osprey © Launch crews work fast to get the get to fast work crews Launch a the air on into VF-31 of F9F-2Bs This unit mission. squadron-strength , Leyte aboard of CVG-3 part formed 9 TF 77 from assigned to was which January 19 to through 1950 October one only undertook CV-32 1951. War the Korean during combat cruise most other carriers unlike and, had the conflict, during deployed squadron only one Panther action initially saw CVG-3 embarked. had entered Chinese forces before most of the and as a result the war, were combat sorties early unit’s as far Korea North deep into flown flying Despite River. Yalu as the north the worst during combat operations lost only VF-31 weather, of the winter the cruise during Panthers three Association) (Tailhook 14 CHAPTER ONE bore sighted.My rounds seemed andIwassuredogfight, Ihadhim firing alltheway. This wasmyfirst .450500knots.Iwas . 400 . straight down myairspeedhit into adive, andIgotontohistail. Evidently, itscared theMiG pilot of 20mmwithoutscoring. in pursuit. They fired long bursts Panthers ofourdivisionwere also him aswe closedin. The othertwo gap. We were burstsat firingshort timeheturnedwe closed theevery easily have outdistancedus,but remain straightandlevel hecould speed advantage. If he’d chosento MiG pilotwouldhave gainedtheadvantage –healready hada100-knot at him.It was ineffective. We stayed onhistail.If we’d hesitatedthe hisclimb,as hehadstarted mywingmanandIgotoffaburstof20mm altitude of4000 ft. he levelled off. Allthisactionhadbeentakingplaceatthemuchlower nose andstarted a steep, climbtoabout15,000ft,where almostvertical my divisionwere cominginatfullthrottle. The MiG pilotraisedhis wasclosebehindme. The othertwopilotsin Ens George Holloman, towards mefrom my“seven o’clock” position. over myshoulderandthere itwas–ashinyswept-wing aircraft banking was afast-moving jetcomingupbehindourPanther formation.Ilooked was noanswer. Ten secondslateravoice cameonthe radio tosaythere theleadertofindoutifanyofthemhadsightedMiGs. I radioed There taxiway. their dives onthebridge, As thebomb-ladenADsstarted whattypeofaircraft weretoo farawaytoascertain parked alongthe Mukden. We atAntung,butitwasstill couldclearlyseethebigrunway Directly across theriver were Antungand twomajorenemyairfields, The bigbridgespanningthe Yalu wasimpressive, sturdy andvery looking. right before theslower bombersarrived. was perfect. We madeitin29minutes,andthatputusover thetarget hrs, andwe headedstraightforthebridgesover the Yalu River. Our timing withdrawal from thetargetarea. Our takeofffrom thecarrierwasat0904 fourtocoverthe F4Us, theslower ADSkyraiders andfourtocover the – fourtoclearthearea ofanyMiG interference astheywent inwith mission accountofthathistoricencounterread asfollows; his chancetodown oneoftheSoviet-built swept-wing fighters.His post- Lt Cdr W Lt Cdr T Amen,theCOof VF-111 embarked in Shooting Star pilots.On 9November theinevitablehappenedwhen for theslower propeller-driven typesfelltotheF9FPanther andF-80 ‘As we were headingalmost ‘Below thecloudbaseMiG toarc andfishtail.Just pilotstarted ‘I immediatelyturnedtomeethimhead-on.My wingman, ‘We were directly over Sinuiju, whichlookedaboutthesize of Taejon. ‘Our originalplanofattackdividedour12fightersintothree groups As F-86Sabres hadyet toarrive inKorea, providing aprotective screen © Osprey Publishing • Philippine Sea www.ospreypublishing.com , got (via Henk van derLugt commanded acarrier airgroup Philippine Sea Soviet MiG-15. Hecompleted the in jetcombatwhenhedowned a by scoring thefirstair-to-air victory aviation history on9November 1950 Anzio (CVE-57)in1944-45), hemade FM-2 Wildcats with VC-82 from USS veteran of World War 2(hehadflown its firstKorean War deployment. A Lt Cdr William T Amen led VF-111 on cruise andlater ) US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 15 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ‘As we passed through 3000 ft the MiG flipped over onto its back. its back. onto flipped over ft the MiG 3000 passed through we ‘As of a quick victory UN hopes in the first ten days of November During literally were Chi-Coms [Chinese communist soldiers] this time the ‘By The skipper’s ‘The could see forever. was clear and cold and you weather the next ten minutes, and afterwards engaged four of them over ‘We logged 71 sorties against targets in the Leyte’s CVG-3 12 November On with in the American press, These clashes would attract much coverage I thought ever one of the best fighters either crazy or had the pilot was I snapped out of it because I could see mountains built! A second later I bottomed out hard, Pulling and rocks. Then I saw trees coming up fast. my wingman As I turned the nose up, spare. than 200 ft to with no more in and exploded. had gone straight It the MiG. radioed that I had gotten fire.’ started forest a that I’d it appeared my shoulder, Looking back over the icy across to move continued troops as Chinese had evaporated Korea Allen ‘Boot’ in large numbers. Philippine Sea F9F-2 pilot Ens River Yalu it well; remembers Hill and the 10th Corsairs On at Sinuiju. using the bridges pouring across, launched in a major were VA-115 VF-114 and VF-113, of Skyraiders and VF-111 bridges. F9Fs from the numerous strike to bomb and destroy low, providing by the force the job of protecting assigned VF-112 were north not to cross were orders Our Sinuiju. over medium and high CAPs base, was only nine Antung airfield, yet a major MiG-15 Yalu, of the north of the river. kilometres 28,000 ft up to 36,000 ft you and from division was assigned high CAP, and climbing on their side of taking off lining up, could see the MiGs us and the Corsairs and altitude, then turning south towards to the river firing range of the wanted to get within The MiGs us. below Skyraiders The F9F-2 was the best them. it was our duty to prevent jobs, and prop out-dive couldn’t wing we at the time, but with its straight fighter in Korea could long enough we around if it stayed However, or out-climb the MiG. easily out-turn it. side of a HEI hits on the starboard several my gun camera film showed on the carrier later that day When the film was developed fuselage. MiG images was forwarded immediately to any of it containing MiG D.C.’ Washington, in the Pentagon as it was possible to the Chinese border which was as close area, Sinuiju to strength in squadron the strike force VF-31 was flying above to go. was no interference for its pilots there the bombers. Fortunately protect the coming from this occasion, the only threat on enemy aircraft from This all changed within multiple gun emplacements south of the river. a few on most strike pilots opposing the Panthers days, with MiG-15 onwards. mid-November missions from reflecting in History’ Fight Aerial Highest Win Jets headlines like ‘Navy that the fight on statement (FEAF) spokesperson’s Air Force East a Far had Valley Forge and MiG-15s from 18 November Panthers between from 32,000-35,000 ft. And although Panthers between occurred to be hitting dead centre, but I wasn’t sure if I had him or not. Suddenly, Suddenly, him or not. if I had sure I wasn’t but dead centre, hitting to be applied I started was trying as the nose to buffet under. to tuck my Panther to increased angle had dive The MiG’s shooting. brakes and quit my dive and wondered chasing the MiG I was through I realised about 40 degrees. apart. started he to break it would be before much longer how Osprey © 16 CHAPTER ONE in thesamearea. at sea.PhilSealostanotherjet’. At thistimebothcarrierswere operating intocableovershrapnel. F4Uflew North Korea –thiswasour22ndday F4U emergencylandingfrom Korea. Our carrierisinaheavysnowstorm withvisibilitydown tozero. 27 November 1950stated, ‘two jethops,lasthoplandedat Wonsan, in and recollections duringLeyte’s work, ‘Boot’”.’ were smiling. The admiralputhishandonmyshoulderand said “Good secondaries andoverall bomb damageassessment,bothheandtheskipper totakerefuge inthetunnel.Afterdescribing the traintrying with me.ImetAdm Edward Ewen forthefirsttime,andtoldhimabout The admiralwantedtoknow aboutthetwoensignssoskipperwent returning, andbefore debriefing,Iwastoldtoreport totheflagbridge. was muchmore thanjusttroops loadedintothoseboxcars. Upon outof bothendsofthetunnel.Obviously,debris andpeopleflew there explosions–fire, low thatcausedseveral secondary made very firingruns moving tunnelthatwasnomore intoashort than150metres long. We [ATARs] and20mmAPHEIrounds. opportunity. We were loadedwith5-inAnti-Tank Aircraft Rockets after enemytroops, andanyothertargetsof locomotives, tanks,trucks I had theleadbecauseIwasonebriefedonrecce route. We were boat andraringtodosomedamagewithnoseasonedleaderincharge! been cancelled. rare occasionwithtwoensignsoffthe This ledtoavery the spare tojoinme.If I’d beenondeckatthattimetheflightwouldhave the catapultbecauseofafuelcontrolmalfunction; leader, LtRobert ‘Chili’ Chilton,hadtoshutdown hisF9F’s engineon toreachthe Marines theevacuation points.’ trying during November andDecember 1950were flown of insupport jetstolandat the few Wonsan duringtheKorean conflict. of Wonsan andHungnam thereafter. shortly Our Panthers were among the Battle ofChosinReservoirabouttocommenceandtheevacuation tipofthepeninsula.Itisolated onthenorthern was aserioustime,with took riflehitsfrom asmallgroup ofNorth Koreans thathadbecome blown duringrollout. Until Marine assistancearrived, thefourPanthers 3800-ftrunway.and short Alleightmaintyres [onthefouraircraft] were chance togoaround, sowe alltoucheddown onabeat-uppockmarked remaining by thetimewe gotto Wonsan. There wasabsolutelynosecond into seriousovertime. Nobody hadmore thananindicated250lbsoffuel had tolandat Wonsan following abattleover the Yalu River thatwent Aviators were alsoextremely busythatday, as‘Boot’ Hill explained; and VF-31’s Ens Frederick Weber off and LtRobert Parker of VF-52 (theyshared aMiG-15 between them) claimed thatdayhadfallento inthismissiontoo, thetwoMiG-15sPhilippine Seahadparticipated Plane captainJohn Duby ofhisexperiences keptadetaileddailydiary ‘Southwest of Wonsan we spottedalocomotive withseveral wagons ‘I’d beenontheothercatandwasalready airborne, sotheylaunched Hill recalled anotherunusualevent duringthisperiodwhenhissection ‘Around 95percentofCVG-11’s strikesandreconnaissance missions ‘Some ofourfightersranintoMiGs again,andtheskipper’s division Valley Forge Phil Sea © Osprey combat cruise. An entry dated Anentry combat cruise. Leyte. Nevertheless, VF-112’s Naval –pilotwashitunderarmpitby pilotsLtCdr William Lamb Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com US NAVY PANTHERS STRIKE EARLY 17 massive guns dominated the scene. We We dominated the scene. guns massive Missouri’s www.ospreypublishing.com • records show that an impressive number of missions were flown, flown, were of missions number that an impressive show records Publishing (CV-37) and its CVG-19 had joined had joined and its CVG-19 this time USS Princeton (CV-37) By VF-31’s Ens Jack Cogdell was involved in the last days of the evacuation in the last days of the evacuation Cogdell was involved Jack Ens VF-31’s to assist in any Hungnam over tasked with staying directly were ‘We ‘The every battleship USS Missouri [BB-63] was firing full broadsides Leyte’s Leyte’s TF 77, the vessel being the fifth US carrier committed to operations over being the fifth US carrier committed to operations over the vessel TF 77, were dominant strike aircraft again, the carrier air group’s Once Korea. VF-191 being the only with the F4U-4 Corsairs and AD-4 Skyraiders, on the not the only Panthers These were F9F-2-equipped unit aboard. was giving the VC-61 E of as Detachment however, flightdeck of CV-37, this cruise. its operational debut on variant F9F-2P photo-reconnaissance the quartet of 20 mm cannon replaced An aerial camera, and its controls, These and their ammunition magazines in the nose of the F9F-2P. aerial provided unarmed, but generally fighter escorted, Panthers photographic intelligence in support operations. of carrier air group flew the bulk of F9F-2P missions in Korea. VC-61 from Detachments were witnessing the very end of the evacuation from Hungnam, and it very Hungnam, witnessing the from end of the evacuation were was a very experience.’ memorable of friendly troops from North Korea, including the US Navy’s massive massive including the US Navy’s Korea, North from of friendly troops than more that saw the east coast portoperation from city of Hungnam 200,000 military and civilians transported personnel ship to safety by The mission he describes was flown 1950. 10 and 24 December between when a seemingly right at the very on 24 December, end of the evacuation south no inexorably advancing was troops of Chinese endless stream tried to stop their advance. and air power, UN troops, hard matter how cold morning Cogdell and his skipper took off from that bitterly On during the final hours dawn so as to be overhead their carrier just before of the evacuation; – Panther before off a carrier in the dark flown never I’d could. way we was just There dark. conducted flight operations at sea after pilots rarely direction climbed in a westerly the faintest hint of dawn to the east as we the land and sea overhead arrived station. As we our assigned towards was an unforgettable sight. In It seen the sunrise. yet us hadn’t below a number of US warships were Hungnam, from the bay offshore the last of While small craft brought to the city. positioned broadside and equipment out to the larger transport the the evacuees vessels, swarming with into the hills and other areas firing warships were troops. Chinese advancing its could see the flames from we darkness the pre-dawn few minutes. In huge seconds later by followed enormous 16-in guns as they fired, firing ships were Other area. explosions inland as the shells hit the target too, but the sight of not only by the Panthers but also by the entire carrier air group, despite despite air group, carrier the entire but also by the Panthers by not only at sea, had refuelled the carrier November 13 On the poor weather. The days. two the following to fly 130 sorties over CVG-3 allowing and the force the task both days to protect airborne on were Panthers to briefly pull the ship forced dropped tonnage of ordnance The bombers. its restock aviation fuel and on more line once again to take out of the allowing was repeated, days later the process Three supply of ammunition. for all three was about average This pace another 143 sorties to be flown. at the time. in-theatre working carrier air groups Osprey © 18 CHAPTER TWO THE WAR DRAGS ON diving intothevalleystoattackbridgesandrailwaylines. gunners manningtheseweapons hadaclearshotatanyfighter-bombers batteries sitedonthepeakssurrounding them. Thanks totheirelevation, supplies southfrom Manchuria tothefrontline couldbedefendedby gun into buildingshousing Chinesetroops. from altitude,thefighterpilotsstrafedtroop columnsandfired rockets squadrons were low-level calledupontoperform attacks.Dropping down F9F targetsbeingspottedinthenorth, allthetransportation service timetoinvade. tacticianshadpickedthemostopportune Chinese military North Korea itwouldhave encountered muchstifferresistance. The the CPVA hadwaiteduntilthelatespringof1951tomake itsmove into December weather, whichoftenprevented missionsfrom being flown. If of traffic–thecommunistcausewasgreatly assistedby themarginal myriadmissions,theycouldnotpreventundertaking thesoutherlyflow bombers engagedmoving targetswithnapalmandbombs. Yet despite the Panther pilotskeptakeeneye the onevents unfoldinginthenorth, moving southonthecoastalroads from Hongwon toChakto-ri. While largenumbersoftroops andtrucks medium altitude,theyhadobserved entering thewarinever-increasing numbers. Naval Aviators inSkyraiders andCorsairsatatimewhenMiG-15s were VF-191’s F9F-2pilotsspendingmostoftheirtimeflyingcover forfellow in North Korea. Princeton’s personnel aboard UNforces thenundersiege allthecarrierssupporting of Chinesetroops. Asaresult, December 1950wasahectictimeforthe UN forces were stillinrapidretreat inthefaceofoverwhelming numbers squadrons withinatypicalcarrierair group. Corsair, theF9F-2PwouldoperatealongsideoneortwoPanther fighter reconnaissance F9F-2Pin-theatre. Progressively replacing theF4U-5P Korea inearlyDecember 1950 marked thearrival ofthephoto- as heavytheADSkyraiders. althoughtheiraircraft ordnance weretransportation, loads unabletocarry throughout thisperiodattackingcommunist units didyeoman service batteries todefendthemostvulnerablere-supply routes. The Panther stakes withthewidespread deployment ofautomaticanti-aircraft gun equipment from Manchuria. But theChinesehadprogressively raisedthe clearly doneaneffective jobinslowing themovement ofsuppliesand carriers toengagetheCPVA following itslateOctober invasion –had W Pilots from PhilippineSea With theCorsairandSkyraider unitsfindingitincreasingly difficultto In their search forenemyaircraft, thefighterpilotsreported that,from The initialprioritytaskingfor As notedattheendofprevious chapter, thearrival of of North Korea routes thattook manykeytransportation and railwaylinesatoppriority. In themountainousterrain hen theChineseentered thewartheymaderepair ofroads mid-month reports clearlyreflected this,with , Leyte, Princeton © Princeton Osprey anditsCVG-19 wasCAS,as Publishing and Valley Forge • www.ospreypublishing.com Princeton –thefirst off THE WAR DRAGS ON 19 VC-61 Detachment E logged 25 Detachment VC-61 a small number of F9F-2Ps Only embarked in CV-37, the F9F pilots CV-37, in embarked faced a heavy workload. missions during this period, with most sorties being generated to photographic pre-strike secure of the 176 bridges located coverage key transportation along the enemy’s 600 miles from that stretched routes The Korea. to central Manchuria also flew post-strike F9F-2Ps missions to gain an accurate assessment of the damage inflicted on the most important targets by Corsairs and Skyraiders. CVG-19’s and this Grumman, built by were in detachments turn meant that www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing On 24 December, with UN forces in full retreat almost back to the almost in full retreat with UN forces 24 December, On had an inventoryVF-191 of 22 F9F-2s with 30 pilots. By that time At The rapid retreat of UN forces, along with the hasty evacuation of hasty evacuation with the along forces, of UN retreat The rapid original border between North and South Korea at the 38th Parallel, at the 38th Parallel, Korea and South North between original border photographed the village of VC-61 of E Detachment from F9F-2Ps Chinese that the back revealed The images they brought Tongyong-ri. Just fuel storage depot within the village itself. a sizeable building up were with bombs and Tongyong-ri VF-191 struck hours later F9Fs from large secondary igniting rockets, substantial small explosions. Despite for CVG-19, safely to Princeton. Frustratingly returned all aircraft arms fire mission failed to get good target damage photo-reconnaissance a follow-up The precise Tongyong-ri. imageryevaluation over due to bad weather be determined. extent of the damage caused could not therefore of 26 aircraft had a strength two F4U-4 squadrons contrast, the group’s 18 January The period between each and no fewer than 46 pilots per unit. its pilots logging 794 1951 was a busy one for CVG-19, and 11 February not include does This figure missions. CAS sorties, most of which were on a daily basis. Some squadron the Panther by flown CAPs the routine missions, which represented armed reconnaissance 93 of the sorties were squadron only one Panther With tasking at this time. VF-191’s most of various US Marine Corps and USAF units that had moved into recently into recently moved that had USAF units Corps and US Marine various and airfields, ordnance meant that much valuable NKPAF captured loaded with F9Fs were VF-191’s in situ. had to be abandoned equipment near Yonpo, airfield to attack the at ordered and their pilots rockets fallingas possible from of this materiel as much as to prevent so Pyongyang, state that on records Squadron enemy troops. of advancing into the hands at the destroyed were HVARs than 70 cases of 5-in more 21 December day The following airfield, drums together with numerous of aviation fuel. this time 60 drums and of fuel exploded when the the strike was repeated, cannon. strafing passes using their 20 mm F9F pilots made multiple to the airfield afternoon to attack a major fuel later that VF-191 returned only a few earlier. a big asset to UN forces weeks dump that had been than 200 drums of fuel. more destroyed 20 mm fire The Panthers’ Osprey © A trio of photo-reconnaissance pilots of photo-reconnaissance A trio Det F conduct an VC-61 from of one in front briefing impromptu on the flightdeck of their aircraft of 1951. spring in the early of Boxer only Det F was CVG-101, Assigned to to of the F9F-2P the second operator Det E VC-61 – see combat in Korea with CVG-19 had been in-theatre since December Princeton aboard ‘Dash-2’ A small number of 1950. into converted were Panthers in F9F-2Ps photo-reconnaissance and these soon began 1949-50, in fleet service. F4U-5Ps replacing them The jets’ higher speed gave their over advantages several predecessors, piston-engined in vulnerability including a reduction It also meant that damage. battle to unnecessary generally were escorts in operating were unless the aircraft Korea of North corner the northwest Alley’) (US Navy ‘MiG – dubbed 20 CHAPTER TWO missions withHVARs and20mmcannon. as theSkyraider. Even so, well inair-to-ground VF-191 alwaysperformed only fair, however, becausethePanther asmuch weaponry could notcarry bridges andtunnels. The results achieved againstthemwere deemedtobe were beingunleashed onalltypesoftargets,includingtoughoneslike the pilot)andanotherwastoobadly damagedtoflyagain.At thistime F9Fs for thatperiodstateonePanther waslost(toflakon8March, killing and scoured North Korean roads foranymoving targets. The group’s reports targets. During daylighthoursthePanther pilotsprotected thebombers to increase andthestream ofsuppliesmoving southoffered manytempting detachment managedtokeepitsstrength atthree photo-recce aircraft. Panther dwindledto17jetsand28pilots,althoughthe inventory VC-61 strike requirements. Between lateFebruary andearlyApril 1951 VF-191’s pre- tosupport modest sizeand post- ofthedetachment–flying48sorties photo-reconnaissance F9F-2Ps were active –despitethe alsoparticularly missions andonlytwoCAPs tocover pilotrescue missions(ResCaps). The February 1951indicatedthat VF-191 hadflown 114armedreconnaissance speed plusprecision accuracy’. tactical situationissufficientlyflexibletorequire thecombinationof suitableforphotographywhereinof vibration,makeitparticularly the aircraft. It isbelieved thatthehighspeedofPanther, plusaminimum that theF9F-2Prepresents animprovement over propeller-driven is vitaltoanylargescalesustainedprogramme ofinterdiction; and(b) conclusions; (a)thatproperly planned andexecuted aerialphotography photographic operationsduringtherecent periodjustifythefollowing of VC-61 Detachment E’s F9F-2Poperationsnotedthat‘our them targetdamageevaluationwouldhavebeenimpossible. photographs takenby F4U-5Ps andF9F-2Ps were essential,forwithout provided foruseduringsuchmissions.Post-strike withimagery taken by thephoto-reconnaissance aircraft, attackpilotsalwaysbeing three examplesatmost.Strikes onbridgeswere briefedfrom photographs equipped withtheaircraft typically only deployed with oncombatcruises CVG-19 remained fullyoccupiedasChinesetroop numberscontinued An assessmentofCVG-19’s jetoperationsfrom mid-January tomid- Towards anevaluation the endofPrinceton’sfirstcombatcruise © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com not repaired (Murray Collection) Boxer inonepiece. The fighter was its pilotwas lucky to make itback to on astrafing run on5 April 1951, and (BuNo 123657)hitasmalltree while trees. Indeed, this VF-721 Panther ground fire, to say nothingofthe particularly dangerous dueto intense Low-level interdiction missionswere THE WAR DRAGS ON 21 Boxer, which experienced air www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The pilots flying these missions usually followed the eastern coastline The pilots flying these missions usually followed The next carrier to arrive in Korean waters, in mid-December, was Valley waters, in mid-December, in Korean The next carrier to arrive carrying Princeton from launched were F9F-2Bs VF-191 two 2 April On north to Chongjin, Wonsan and Hungnam, or flew all the way up to the and Hungnam, Wonsan north to Chongjin, Chinese divisions numerous Chosin Reservoir – a major staging point for to was considered on these areas the pressure heading south. Maintaining finished their daytime be of such importance that when the Panthers to continue ordered were hecklers’ and AD-4N ‘night F4U-5N sweeps, the attacks after dark. group on this occasion. Once in action the Panthers of VF-721 worked atVF-721 worked of in action the Panthers occasion. Once on this group a fast tempo fulfilling their primary reconnaissance. mission of armed , commencing its second combat cruise of the conflict. CVG-5 had combat cruiseForge, commencing its second of the conflict. CVG-5 F4U-4 units and consisted of three which CVG-2, by been replaced now by by it was relieved late March a solitary of AD-2s. In squadron was making the – CV-21 embarked TF 77 with CVG-101 to returned within its carrier air Included the war. of carrier deployment major seventh duty on called to active Reserve squadron US Naval VF-721 (a was group F and its F9F-2Ps. Detachment VC-61 and 1950), flying F9F-2Bs, 20 July launched its first strikes against targets on the east coast of North CVG-101 enemy territory when the vessel in sight from on 27 March, being Korea Princeton’s was led by departedthe aircraft . CVG-101 Boxer unusual weapons loads. Such aircraft were normally armed with rockets rockets armed with normally were aircraft loads. Such weapons unusual when even power The jets’ light 250-lb bombs. as two as well and cannon, to get was usually insufficient catapults with that of the ship’s combined jets VF-191 the however, this occasion, with heavier loads. On F9Fs aloft explosion on contact, GP bombs fused for with two 250-lb loaded were fuses and two to 15-second delay GP bombs with eight- two 250-lb Their aircraft. a total payload of 1200 lbs per This gave 100-lb GP bombs. was sailed into a The vessel bridge near Songjin. target was a railway the required the heavily laden jets particularly wind, which gave strong The mission subsequently successful takeoffs. lift on launch to complete to be verytarget being completely destroyed. successful, with the proved had been catapulted this was the first time a jet aircraft noted that Reports a carrier deck carryingfrom so much ordnance. Osprey © ) Carnahan Ray Aside from embarking CVG-101, CVG-101, embarking Aside from 145 ferry also used to was Boxer Mustangs and 70 type- F-51D East to the Far pilots to experienced Air Force’s Fifth the strengthen in 1951. units in Korea fighter-bomber of the Mustangs can be seen Several of this photograph. right at the far alongside down chained The F9F-2Bs destined for were the USAF fighters supplied as attrition being too, Korea at Pohang VMF-311 to replacements (K-3) ( 22 CHAPTER TWO the ship’s officersonthehandlingofemergenciesinvolving jetaircraft. extend. VF-721 wasalsorequired tohave aseniorpilotstanding by toadvise time –andfuelforemergencyaction tobetakenifthehookfailedfully jets entered therecovery patternoverhead thecarriersoastoallow enough board wasmandatory. Arrester hookshadtobeextendedwell before the also notedthatreturning 30minutesearlywithatleast1200lbsoffuelon togetherwithoccasionalCAPs. sorties, and photoescort The squadron log encountered by either VF-721 or VC-61 duringthis period. low visibility orlackofwindspeedover thedeck.No aerialoppositionwas launchesofjetaircraftweeks were ofthecruise, frequently cancelleddueto cannon rounds. Yet according toCVG-101’s operationallogforthefirstsix a total of3526.5-in ATARs and2115-inHVARs, aswell as36,07020 mm for bothCVG-19 andCVG-101, withthelattergroup’s VF-721 firing the roads andrailwaylinesthatcrisscrossed thisarea. It wasasuccessfultime AD-4N (VC-35 Det F)heckleraircraft easyaccesstotheirtargetsalong Songjin andHamhung, itslocationgivingF4U-5NL(VC-3 Det F)and recce hadnopylon-mountedordnance. escort HVARs photo- andafullloadof20mmammunition,whilejetsperforming hitting atree onalow-level It strafingrun. offcharge. was laterstruck back toCV-21 andlandeddespitehavingsuffered heavydamageafter in March andonefrom BoxerinApril. The latter jetfrom VF-721 madeit 1951, onlytwoPanthers were lostduetoenemyaction–onefrom Princeton mission tempomaintainedby thecarriers of TF 77inMarch andApril lost asingleF4U-4from VF-884, alongwithitspilot.Despite thehigh wereof thisoperationmeantthat115sorties flown thatday, andCVG-101 troop concentrationsneartheNorth Korean cityofHamhung. The intensity being pulledtosafetyby ahelicopter. water foraboutfive minutesbefore engine quit. The pilotwasinthe landingapproach whenthe of its had toditchonthedownwind leg however. One jetwasdamagedand thebombersinland,escorting to defendingthecarrierand Grumman fighterswere committed from VF-721. The balanceofthe by atleastfourPanthersescorted On eachoccasiontheF9F-2Ps were 12 photo-reconnaissance missions. thatday,offensive sorties including It atotalof112defensive flew and entire force onavariety ofmissions. wet. Waterproof canopycovers were therefore usedto protect the’chutes on board shipandleakingcanopies couldaffecttheirreliability when applied toothercarriersaswell. Parachutes were difficulttomaintain Additional procedures employed by Boxer The F9F-2Bswere regularly scheduledfor1.5-hourarmedreconnaissance Between lateMarch andmid-April Boxer Panthers flyingarmedreconnaissance missionswere loadedwithsix5-in Two dayslaterthegroup wasinvolved inanall-outattackon heavyenemy On 16April CVG-101 sentits © Osprey was positioned offshore between was positionedoffshore between Publishing for handlingthePanthers • www.ospreypublishing.com
VC-61 DetF(Joe McGraw) reconnaissance F9F-2P assignedto ‘PP’ tailcodeletters, was aphoto- Panther parked nextto it, displaying upon returning to thecarrier. The hit thebarrier onBoxer’s flightdeck Further damage was donewhenit strafing run inthespring of1951. tree by itspilotwhileonalow-level was flown through thetop ofapine This unidentifiedF9F-2B from VF-721 THE WAR DRAGS ON 23 During the first 30 days of the the first 30 days of the During also encountered VF-721 aircraft when the aircraft were tied down tied down were the aircraft when had the aircraft deck. And on the inspected after each to be closely the that even ensure mission to hole was repaired. smallest bullet hole could allow a storm any In the airframewater into and, over structural the long term, cause damage to the aircraft. VF-721 logged 265.1 flying cruise to out hours, which averaged in carryingof the time involved out change did not the this procedure usually happen until the guns were dismantled for cleaning and general was This problem maintenance. other by almost certainly encountered units too. Panther of their Mk 9 rocket failures This was attributed to launchers. for thethe launchers being too weak placed upon them in flight. stresses for the last few records Squadron that the months of the cruise show a total of 42,190 fired Panthers 20 and 517 rockets. mm rounds www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing As a result of the flak damage, and the arrival of newer and more deadly of newer and more of the flak damage, and the arrival As a result stated that during the final CVG-101 compiled by The monthly reports around 13 hours per aircraft. By comparison, AD Skyraider squadron squadron AD Skyraider comparison, By 13 hours per aircraft. around from 802 flying hours, the unit benefiting a whopping recorded VA-702 and fuel efficiency in comparison with superior fuel capacity the aircraft’s the unit in May, lost only one Panther VF-721 the F9F-2B. Although records squadron damage. Indeed, of battle than its share more suffered its engine and varying sustained a hole through state that one fighter jet was One Panthers. of flak damage was found in 16 other degrees the wing above a hole in the fin tore rocket damaged when a 5-in HVAR able to increase VF-721 was in May better weather With mounting pylon. 87. F recorded Det VC-61 its flying hours to 595, while missions guns, the strategy for CAS and armed reconnaissance anti-aircraft to pull out of their attack required now pilots were was changed. Panther runs at much higher altitude, and pay particulartheir attention to missions would reconnaissance This also meant that of travel. direction as to ensure 500 ft and 1000 ft so at altitudes of between be flown now better target coverage. 1951) incidents October in early cruise of the weeks was relieved (Boxer the had diminished significantly – this reflected rockets’ ‘hung involving VF-721 had begun to However, of new availability ordnance. greater due to their with the 20 mm guns fitted to its Panthers experience problems firing pins, but because the weapons’ The solution was to replace use. frequent Osprey © Boxer’s ) ready rooms during the ship’s 1951 1951 the ship’s during rooms ready was The briefing combat cruise. the a dash up to by followed the pilots manned where flightdeck, ) McGraw (Joe their aircraft Panther pilots from VF-721 attend a a attend VF-721 pilots from Panther in one of mission briefing Lt W O ‘Swede’ Nelson of VF-721 was was VF-721 Nelson of ‘Swede’ W O Lt of F9F- at the controls photographed flying as part 2B BuNo 123643 whilst strike a for screen of a protective along the targets attacking force in the summer Korea coast of North required often screens Such of 1951. to of Panthers divisions at least two the sole F9F was VF-721 be effective. CVG- assigned to squadron fighter cruise war 1951 Boxer’s during 101 (W O Nelson 24 CHAPTER TWO replaced in TF 77by USSBonHommeRichard Korea –CV-47 wasitsthird carrierinsixmonths!PhilippineSeawas AD-2unitasithaddoneduringitsprevious twospellsoverand asolitary Boxer hadjoined TF 77,itsCVG-2 embarking atrioofF4U-4squadrons nearest South Korean airbaseifnecessary. a CAPmission. This wouldgive tothe thepilotsufficienttimetodivert before leavingtheland,or20minutesbefore landingiftheywere flying of thisincidentallPanther pilotswere ordered toextend theirhooks stopped by arow Asadirect offlightdecktractorsspottedforward. result ineffective asthemainlandinggear sheared offandthe aircraft wasfinally had toengageallthree Davis-type barriers. This, however, proved catapult launch,itspilotbeingrecovered. heavy damage.Finally, anaircraft waslostwhenitditchedafterafaulty could notextenditshookonlandingandcollidedwiththebarrier, causing aloneseven Panthers sustainedflakdamage,whileanother In August suffered afaultycatapultshotand went straightoffthebow ofthevessel carrierairgroupfirst dayofoperationsforthenew oneof VF-721’s pilots battle-hardened Naval Aviators cross-decked tohelp theunitout.On the the carrier, were flown thatday. ofwhich20were26 sorties, offensive strikesandsixprotective CAPs over Korean coast,CVG-102 launcheditsfirst strikeson31May. Atotalof with TF 77 until30November 1951.Once onstation offtheNorth and VC-61 Det GwithF9F-2Ps withinitsranks. The vessel wouldremain US Naval Reserveunit,whichwascalledtoactive dutyon2August 1950) of May 1951,itsCVG-102 includingF9F-2B-equipped VF-781 (another had commenced its second war cruise justdaysafter Philippine Seahadcommenceditssecondwarcruise The pilotofthePanther thathadsuffered hooktrouble (BuNo 123651) Few of VF-781’s pilotshadanycombatexperience, sosomeof © Osprey Publishing (CV-31) end atthevery • www.ospreypublishing.com Boxer’s (Norb Melsek at slowing therapid Chineseadvance interdiction andCAS missionsaimed condition, despite itsheavy usein fighter appearsto beinspotless Assigned to Lt(jg)NorbMelsek, the mission tallyonitscentre fuselage. BuNo 123655boastsanimpressive months onthelinewith TF 77, F9F-2B Seen towards theendof VF-721’s six ) THE WAR DRAGS ON 25 into the sea – he was safely retrieved retrieved was safely sea – he into the of minutes. a matter in just The from aircraft remaining success on great enjoyed CVG-102 and Corsair as Panther 31 May, were a FAC, with pilots, working on many casualties able to inflict massing on a ridge. enemy troops the necessaryVF-781 soon gained expertise to make it an effective The G. Det VC-61 unit, as did up this attack latter outfit followed the next few with 99 sorties over www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing From the end of May to the end of July CVG-102’s pilots logged a total CVG-102’s to the end of July the end of May From but no aircraft fire ground hit by were this period 15 Panthers During Bon Homme Richard’s pilots and mid-September early August Between 1951, its on 22 August off Korea arrived When USS Essex (CV-9) weeks, returning with good post-strike images on nearly all of them. with good post-strike returning weeks, The conditions. weather of 2687 sorties thanks to the much-improved flying contribution to this tally by VF-781 made a significant F9Fs of show and photo-escort missions. Records CAPs armed reconnaissance, of at a wide variety fired were than 236,800 20 mm rounds that more also expended. were and 1237 ATARs addition, 1093 HVARs targets. In fuses, so Time) VT (Variable of faulty reports sporadic were There becoming the weapons taken to prevent were additional precautions included a second The measures armed while still attached to the aircraft. in fewer duly resulted jump-out pin in the arming solenoid, which incidents being reported. F9F-2Bs to other lose three did, however, VF-781 lost in combat. were fell victim to faulty catapult shots and one was lost duecauses – two aircraft the target a combination of too much time over to fuel exhaustion caused by pilots were All three flight to the carrier. on the return and bad weather helicopter. the sea by plucked from the unknown reasons number of sorties. For continued to fly an impressive in the late summer dropped the aircraft amount of damage sustained by its target, but it took hits over VF-781 Panther one Only considerably. by another F9F-2B, flown 24 August On safely to the carrier. returned Lt Robert the F9F-2P it was escorting became separated from Hughes, soon lost his bearings due radio malfunctioned. Hughes when the fighter’s ditch 20 miles off the North to the lack of communication and had to into the wind and on came down coast when he ran out of fuel. He Korean The impact pushed the four 20 mm guns back into the aircraft’s sea. a rough was bruises. leg and numerous He with a broken cockpit, leaving Hughes however. six hours later, rescued operating two jetsquadrons boasted CVG-5, carrier air group, embarked East one of for the Far Diego the carrier left San fighter types. Before Korea (VF-52, squadrons which had seen action over Panther CVG-5’s was year) Valley Forge the previous VF-51 from alongside F9F-2-equipped Both F2H Banshee. VF-172, equipped with the McDonnell by replaced on armed reconnaissance the F9F-2 and F2H-2 would be used exclusively flights and daytime CAPs. Osprey © A division of four F9F-2Bs from from F9F-2Bs A division of four Tingey USS over fly low VF-721 A of 1951. (DD-539) in the autumn -class Fletcher War destroyer of World off operated Tingey 2 vintage, on the east coast of Korea, Wonsan, and December 1951. August between the vessel this period During UN for support supplied gunfire anti- conducted troops, ground bombardment mining and shore Hungnam and provided off patrols Republic of Korea for support as this such Vessels commando raids. in rescuing part an important played the In return, aviators. downed with charged units were Panther that came ships CAPs for providing of MiG-15 bases when within range coast Korean the North sailing off ) (US Navy 26 CHAPTER TWO formation. The number four pilotwouldactasalookout andtake the sameresponsibilities asiftheywere inastandard three-ship MiG-15 range.In thisconfigurationthefirst three pilotswould have ifflownwas considered within rathercumbersome,butnecessary coordinated hisattackswiththe othertwo. to keepthetwootherfighters in sight.He navigated,tooknotesand slightlybelowflew and45degrees behindnumbertwotoenablehim aircraft insightandattackanysuitabletargets. The numberthree pilot The numbertwopilot’s soleresponsibility wastokeepthelow-flying one pilotfunctionedexactlyasiftheflightconsistedofjusttwo aircraft. the optimumtacticwhenthere wasnoaerialopposition. The number section wouldnotbeemployed inthepresence ofenemy aircraft. by theotherpilot,aswell assuppress anti-aircraft fire. This two-Panther the low maninsight,navigateandbeready toattacktargetsindicated for camouflagedtargets. The numbertwopilothadtherefore tokeep navigate accuratelyortakenotesifhewastomaintainaneffective search ft andanairspeedof250-350knots.But thelow manwasunableto weaved across theflightpathandadjacentarea ataheightof1000-1500 flightpath, thetwo-shiptacticwasfoundtowork well –thelow man used by TF 77before combatoperationsinKorea. Over afamiliar three- orfour-aircraft formations. The two-aircraft sectionwaswidely three armedreconnaissance tacticaldispositionsthatcomprisedtwo-, were continuallybeingmadethroughout 1951.Initially, there were subject tocontinualchange,USNavy records revealing thatalterations the firstencounterwithMiG-15s inNovember 1950. These tacticswere warning callsover theradio. could have beendisastrous duetopilotsbeingprevented from making involved thathadtheF9Fsbeentargetedby MiG-15s theoutcome Although thisproblem waseventually rectified, itwascleartoeveryone these missions,andtheassignedchannelssoonbecameovercrowded. transmissions wereof part acrucial the unitsinvolved. Regular radio proved tobeaserioushandicapfor communication channelsquickly missions thelackofadequate reconnaissance andinterdiction over enemyterritory. USAFaircraftjets hadescorted during theconflictthatUSNavy believed tohave beenthefirsttime B-29 heavybombers. This is forUSAFhigh-altitude escorts sent deepintoNorth Korea as unusual missionwhentheywere ancarrier airgroup performed Panthers andBanshees from Essex’s Using adivision of fourPanthers onanarmedreconnaissance mission The three-ship F9Farmedreconnaissance formationwasconsidered Jet fightertacticshadtobetailored toKorean conditionsfollowing When Panthers armed flew In thelastweek ofAugust 23 ©
Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (Jettie Hill) having sustainedmultiplehits Many othersreturned to theship action) during itscombatcruise. Panthers (notallofthemto enemy and VF-781 lostnofewer thanseven small andmediumcalibre weapons, runs madetheaircraft vulnerable to and rail traffic. Low-level strafing fired during low-level attacks onroad ammunition, mostofwhich were expended 210,000 rounds of20mm days ofoperations thesquadron records show thatduring itsfirst47 relaxation (R&R)for thecrew. VF-781 replenishment andrest and maintenance ontheship, stores spent atSasebofor major carrier deployments includedtime CV-31 checking inwith TF 77. All US Activities Sasebo, Japan, justprior to during abrief port callto USFleet parked tightlyaboard thevessel from VF-781 were photographed 1951. Yet to seeaction, theseF9F-2Bs Bon HommeRichard (CV-31) inMay Naval Reserve squadrons) inUSS consisted primarily ofmobilisedUS embarking withCVG-102 (which committed to theconflictinKorea, equipped USNaval Reserve unit VF-781 was thesecondPanther- THE WAR DRAGS ON 27 first combat cruisefirst combat into was divided SPLIT CRUISE first combat cruise of the war would last until www.ospreypublishing.com • before it, Princeton’s before Valley Forge Publishing port catapult had been subjected to 563 full power blasts. Princeton’s port catapult had been subjected to 563 full power In June CVG-19X focused its efforts on areas in which Chinese troop Chinese troop in which focused its efforts on areas CVG-19X June In jet blast deflectors, which Constant daily use took a toll of the carrier’s Bon Homme Richard’s two parts. Unlike CV-45, which had replaced CVG-5 with CVG-2 after with CVG-2 CVG-5 which had replaced CV-45, two parts. Unlike November from embarked CVG-19 kept TF 77, CV-37 four months with became 1951 CVG-19 in late May However, 1951. to August 1950 through the USA from new fighter and attack squadrons when it received CVG-19X with the the combat-wearyto replace initially deployed units that had VF-23, the swap was F9F-2-equipped in Included carrier six months earlier. in-service an exceptional The new unit would enjoy VF-191. which replaced closely with to work VF-23 allowing its Panthers, rate of 92.4 per cent for of 1951. during the summer airborne FACs both top F9Fs flying VF-23’s With reported. concentrations had been caused aircraft sorties, the group’s armed reconnaissance and cover attacked in the provinces repeatedly significant damage to targets that were Chorwon strikes had taken after these Shortly and Majon-ni. Yangdok, of targets in the E over Det VC-61 of place the fighters escorted F9F-2Ps at the very areas limits of the and Hamhung Wonsan Pyongyang, encountered. was aerial interference range. No MiG-15’s The intensity of operations units as a result. stronger by replacement required the fact that about 30 days after installation, the deflectorsis illustrated by on blasts This equated to 139 minutes on the port full power catapult and 486 proved The replacements one for a total of 99 minutes. on the starboard no noticeable defects or damage reported. with effective, more the ship and its pilots were early October 1951. From mid-December in early day coast. One off the Korean faced with typical bad weather system along the weather of a dangerous the arrival following November, took off late in the afternoon to VF-781 Panthers east coast, a division of position abreast of the number three aircraft, weaving to maintain maintain to weaving aircraft, three the number of abreast position other the to give aircraft for enemy be searching would He position. to the threat. time to react pilots enough three Like Osprey © One of VF-23’s F9F-2s is hooked up to up to is hooked F9F-2s VF-23’s One of a quick for the catapult and ready potential any as soon as launch This up on radar. is picked threat only CVG-19X’s was squadron Princeton unit flying from Panther 31 brief air group’s the carrier during combat cruise 1951 August 29 to May ) (National Archives 28 CHAPTER TWO help inthisroutine, ashehandedtheshoulderharness tothepilot hook thelanyard totheliferaft intheseat. The planecaptainwasabig leg strapsandhookingupthecentral cheststraps,thenextstepwasto touching bothsidesofthecockpit. Afterdonningtheparachute’s two it meantthateven theslimmestpilotswouldfeeltheirshoulders on. This includedthe‘Poopy Suit’ duringthewintermonths. Wearing upintothecockpitwithallflightgearand thencamethestruggle they were flyingaCAPtheywouldbeinfront oftherest. flightdeck astheirF9Fswere usuallythelasttobelaunched.However, if flightdeck. The Panther pilotsusuallyhadtowalktheaftendof leading totheladderthattookthemeightorninefeetup tothe and went asfasttheycould,encumbered astheywere, tothecatwalk heard thattheygrabbedtheirhelmets,oxygen masks,mapsandkneepads ‘squawk box’ (tannoy) toblare out,‘Pilots, manyour ’planes!’ When they downs. Several pilotsrelated thatthehardest waswaitingforthe part happened onthe21stand,again,pilotwasrecovered from thewater. defective catapultshot. The pilotwasrecovered. The samethinga aircraft dived intotheseaatfullpower aheadoftheshipfollowing pilot wassafelyrecovered by helicopter. On 17November another VF-781 forcing thepilottoditchoncarrier’sa flameout, starboard side. The damage. heavy structural Ten dayslateranotherPanther suffered VF-781’s Panthers slammedintothepitchingdeckonrecovery, causing Homme Richard’srecords forNovember statethatonthe3rd oneof but there remained adefiniterisktothesafetyofpilotsandaircraft. When conditionsimproved slightlytomarginal,operationswere resumed, These conspired tokeepaircraft chainedtotheflightdeck fordaysonend. the F9F-2Bsforsometime. The liftingweather front hadplayed itspart. explosions.Itsecondary wasoneof the mostsuccessfulmissionsflown by string ofdestroyed seemedendless,andthere trucks were numerous respectively, toconverge onthesite.By thetimetheyhadfinished F4U-5NL andAD-4Nnighthecklersof VC-3 Det Gand VC-35 Det G, setting in,soacallwent outforthe vehicles. By this timedarkness was the area todestroy 15 afurther to four-ship formationwasdiverted position. Minutes lateranother carrier thepilotsradioedtargets’ 14 lorrieshadbeendestroyed. and whentheattackwascompleted south. There wasnowhere tohide heading roads jammedwithtrucks Panthers approached theyfound the improving inthetargetarea. Asthe decks, even thoughtheweather was aircraft wouldbeconfinedtotheir probably assumedthecarrier-borne attack road traffic. The enemy A quickpre-flight checkcouldbedoneifthere wassufficientlight, hadtheirupsandF9F operationsinbadwinterweather certainly But November brought dangerous windconditionsandsnowstorms. As theaircraft headedbacktothe © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Bon Panthers (NationalArchives) tallies thatadorn mostofthe taken, hencetheimpressive bomb the linewhenthisphotograph was was nearing theendofitstimeon at the11 o’clock position. CVG-19X Homme Richard) beingclearly visible the conflict, theothership( coastline with TF 77atthisstage of were on-stationalongthesame during late August 1951. Two carriers can beseeninthisviewof Most of VF-23’s inventory ofF9F-2s Princeton Bon THE WAR DRAGS ON 29 HIGH LOSSES www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing When the instructionWhen the starter start to came the three-wheeled engines of winter pilots found that a bitter wind deadened the left side In kept busy G were Detachment VC-61 of CVG-102’s The F9F-2Ps bridges, cameras were The most critical targets for the F9F-2P’s Records show that the US Navy suffered high aircraft losses in 1951, with high aircraft suffered that the US Navy show Records due to at least 24 Panthers being depleted by the F9F squadrons VF-51, in particular, fire. operational causes together with enemy ground F9F-2s. when it lost five attrition in September, was badly affected by resulting on 3 and 4 September, fell to enemy fire of these aircraft Three in the deaths of two pilots. trolley was already plugged into the leading F9Fs. As each engine was leading F9Fs. As each engine was plugged into the was already trolley in line. to the next Panther started was unplugged and moved the trolley on the deck at a 45-degree about being parked uneasy pilots were Some those the catwalk. For over projecting fuselage rear angle with the F9F’s line and facing forward,on CAP duties, first in it was not too bad when spotted amidships and the wind, but if they were the carrier turned into the turn During it was different. centreline, deck’s at a sharp angle to the pilots often had the uncomfortable sensation of being toppled backwards the slick flightdeck into another across into the sea or of skidding wind to launch aircraft, as the carrier turned into the Often, aircraft. a further back on to their tailskids, producing the F9Fs would settle unpleasant sensation for their pilots. their faces then because cockpit canopies had to be left open. Pilots a that they enjoyed worried about the catapult launch. Assuming then had to fly the mission, before Aviators successful shot, Naval to a pitching, heaving deck. returning images obtained by and post-strike The pre- permitted. when weather success. Documents critical to the carrier air group’s were the aircraft deployment) seven-month 1951 (the end of CV-31’s 17 December from about 1.5 hours missions averaged indicate that photo-reconnaissance 65 from to the first targets of each mission varied in length. Distances The oblique camera was used on 73 of the 213 sorties in to 225 miles. obtained, while the vertical camera was used which photographs were 211 times. high was given Photo-mapping railway marshalling yards. by followed because the imagery especially along the main roads, obtained priority, concentrations of anti- usually indicated the position of the heaviest hit only nine were F9F-2Ps fast-moving G’s batteries. Det gun aircraft due small arms fire from times on these flights, and most strikes came to to fly in order required which the jets were altitude at to the low meant that at the end figures These impressive obtain accurate images. that it had F9F-2Ps with the same three of the cruise G returned Det earlier. months seven embarked connect with the seat belt. That done, the pilot was able to plug in his in his able to plug pilot was done, the That seat belt. with the connect on final item The radio jack. his lastly, hose and, hose, G-suit oxygen while raising the catapult launch, for to adjust the headrest the list was were These procedures quadrant. of the throttle in front rod the catapult to start engines and to proceed enough, but the order exhausting to be given. forward had yet Osprey © 30 CHAPTER TWO strike sosuccessful wastheuseofjets–F9Fs the bridges; insomeofthefirstattacksonhe participated C Kramerwasoneof VF-51’s F9Fpilots,and engined F4U-4/4BsandAD-2/3/4s. LtKen both jettypesinCVG-5, alongwithpiston- seasoned VF-51 stillequippedwiththePanthers. McDonnell F2H-2 Banshees. This left the to bereplaced by VF-172 anditsbrandnew backinCalifornia,F9Fsquadron combat cruise VF-52 hadbeenwithdrawn – itscarrierairgroup featured twotypesofjetfighteraircraft. And themissionsflown from Essexwere respect uniqueinoneimportant by CVG-5.and briefingsfortheintegratedairstrikesbeingperformed onwhichthefilmwasbased satinontheplanning of the originalstory on board Essextobeginasix-week visit.During thistimetheauthor coordinated attack.In lateNovember novelist James Michener arrived peninsula railway. Andthiswastheobjectiveformof ofthenew were structures spanningtheneckofKorean peninsulaandthetrans- Bridges atToko-ri. war, atleastintermsofmediacoverage, andinspire themotionpicture The destroyed. It wouldalsoleadtosomeofthemostsignificantmissions strategy reduced losses,whilestillensuringthathigh-value targetswere weapons protecting themostvaluable targetsinNorth Korea. This new nothing toreduce thelossratecausedby thelarge-calibre automatic flying topcover. The Sabres helpedkeeptheMiG-15s atbaybutdid involved justoneaircraft type,insquadron strength, withUSAFF-86s F4Us againsttargetssimultaneously. Until thenmanyofthedeepstrikes strike plannerstobeginworking on astrategytodeploy F9Fs,ADsand more Banshees were alsodestroyed inthisaccident. written offonthe16thwhenanF2H-2crash-landedaboard flight schooldulypickedArmstrongupwhenhelanded. while stillbeneathhisparachute,andajeepdriven by aroommate from nearPohang, toanairfield flew However, hewasblown backover land eject over waterandawaitrescue by USNavy helicopters,and therefore loss oftherightaileron, ejectionwashisonlysafeoption.He plannedto Armstrong theaeroplane flew backtofriendlyterritory, butdueto the about 20ft,whichslicedoffthree feetofthePanther’s rightwing. toregain control, hecollidedwithatelegraphpoleatheightof trying ground fire ashemadealow atabout350mph. bombingrun While the villageofMajon-ni, west of Wonsan, whenhisfighterwashitby reconnaissance over sortie andstoragefacilitiessouthof transportation F9F-2P of VC-61 Det Bover Songjin, Armstrong wasflyinganarmed moon. Making hiscombatdebuton29August a whenheescorted Armstrong, whosubsequentlybecamethefirstmantosetfooton ‘The conceptthatmade thefirstcoordinated ‘The The bridgeattackswouldbecarriedoutby As previously mentioned,whenCVG-5 hadbeenpreparing forits There were infactnobridgesNorth Korea withthatname,butthere By late1951risinglossratesforalltypesofUSNavy aircraft prompted The remaining twoPanthers lostby VF-51 inSeptember 1951were The firstjetdowned (BuNo 125122)wasbeingflown by Ens Neil © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Essex. Two (US Navy) Service MedalandEngagement Star for thenext20andKorean for 20combatmissions, aGoldStar air. Armstrong received the Air Medal Korea for atotal of121hoursinthe cruise hehadflown 78missionsover just five days later. Bytheendof Armstrong was shotdown by AAA combat debuton29 August 1951, to setfoot onthemoon. Makinghis subsequently becamethefirstman Ens Neil Armstrong, who camera isbeingflown by 21-year-old of 1951. The jetfurthest from the F9F-2P of VC-61 DetBintheautumn perform anescort missionfor an A pairofPanthers from VF-51 THE WAR DRAGS ON 31 Essex; www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ‘Once we got over the bridges the flak was extremely heavy – they heavy – they the bridges the flak was extremely got over we ‘Once The AD Skyraiders were the slowest aircraft involved, so they would involved, aircraft the slowest were The AD Skyraiders to logical for the faster Panthers seemed more Although it might have The new to perfection tactics worked bridges, against the heavily defended given the briefings for the bridge missions the F9F pilots were During to use two to three procedure these missions it was standard For were throwing everything they had up at us. Normally, we made made we everythingthey had up at us. Normally, throwing were than dangerous far more and they were only one bomb run as a result, in about 20 bridge complexes were there at any other target. I believe became known of rail bridges This group attacked. we the general area any doubt that the big was never There to the public as “Toko-ri”. launch first, with the F4U Corsairs close behind. Last to take off would be Corsairs close behind. Last to take off launch first, with the F4U bombs, jet was armed with 260-lb fragmentation the F9Fs and F2Hs. Each the myriad gun emplacements being used to neutralise these weapons artillery Knocking out the anti-aircraft defending the bridges. (AAA) was the vulnerable crucial as it would mean that to the success of the mission, a safer runbombers would have in to the target. underpowered, bombs, the F9F-2s were been armed with the bigger have a short for them to launch from and this made it difficult carrier deck with in Korea squadrons Corps Panther The two US Marine a heavy bomb load. because they were at that time could carry bigger bombs, however, Panthers longer runways,land-based and operated from but the US Navy catapults equipping their carriers at thathad to depend on the hydraulic on a typical bombing F9F-2s VF-51’s bomb load for time. A standard fragmentation bombs.mission was four 250-lb GP or four 260-lb these high-value point on strikes on flak batteries protecting that and from F9Fs carrying made by always four fragmentation bombs. targets were gun the anti-aircraft photographs of the targets, with high-resolution Each pilot would be assigned a specific number positions clearly marked. indicated to guard were landmarks Key of emplacements to destroy. was The planning for the gun emplacement attacks against mistakes. These that no batteryintended to be so precise would be left untouched. arrived once the Panthers photographs accompanied the pilots so that identify their assigned better able to the target they were overhead began the ADs and F4Us They duly made their attacks before batteries. many cases Corsairs peeling off for their bomb runs on the bridges. In attacking the guns. the Panthers assigned to follow were This put at least 12 jets loaded in each. divisions of F9Fs with four aircraft Where with four fragmentation bombs against one bridge complex. a cluster of gun emplacements in close intelligence photographs showed the air burst they could be neutralised by that it was considered proximity This new tactic left nothing to chance. Lt Kramer just one bomb. from from describes an early bridge attack mission flown and F2Hs – in conjunction with the Skyraiders and Corsairs. Up to that to that Up Corsairs. and Skyraiders with the – in conjunction and F2Hs to a totally operated the jets done because been never this had point days so in those air-to-air refuelling have didn’t We schedule. different the the other hand, only 1.5 hours. On mission might last a Panther Scheduling at least four hours. in the air for could remain aircraft prop of an enormous amount required attack of coordinated this type detailed planning.the target at over had to arrive squadrons three All the same time.’ Osprey © 32 CHAPTER TWO Antietam returned safelytoEssex. of thewartodate.Allfighters the mosteffective bombingmissions and thiswasconfirmedby post-strikephotographs.It hadbeenoneof weapons beingwell placed.Considerabledamagewasdonetothetargets, Each B-29linedupitstargetanddropped 20,000lbsofbombs,the the coastandturnedtowards Rashinwithoutsightingenemyfighters. airspeed incasetheywere jumpedby MiGs, buttheformationcrossed Panthers atlower flew altitude. The jetscontinuedtoweave tomaintain strategy wasfortheF2Hstoflytopcover above thebomberswhile COs were alsoairborne. The jets mettheB-29sexactlyasplanned. The by CdrMarshall UBeebe, commanderofCVG-5, andbothsquadron 11 Panthers from VF-51 and12Banshees from VF-172. They were led visibility wasforecast forthemorningof25August asEssexlaunched 25,000 ftsome80milessouthofRashin.Clearweather withunlimited these targets.Encounters withRussian MiG-15s were expected. theSuperfortressesto escort onaseriesofdangerous daylightattackson ofthepeninsula.CV-9’snorthwest Panthers andBanshees were launched of rangefortheSabres flyingin‘MiG Alley’, situatedintheextreme ofNorthnortheast Korea, bordering ChinaandtheUSSR. This wasout againsthigh-value targetsintheRashinareabombing effort intheextreme 25 August 1951Essex’s were by F-86sfrom escorted eitherthe4thor51stFighter Wings, buton B-29s bombingtargetsin‘MiG Alley’. Usually, thesedaytimemissions There were someoccasionswhentheF9Fswere taskedwithprotecting bridges were destroyed. that thevolume ofroad trafficincreased significantlyaftertherail to thecarrier.’ they’d takenonthemissionby themselves manywouldn’t have returned tacticsweThe new usedsaved alotofthemtofightanotherday. If they were sittingducksbecausetheywere soclosetothosegunbatteries. bombs. They cameinsolow before dropping theirordnance that bridgesbecausetheycarriedthebig2000-lbblockbuster destroy the prop-driven ADSkyraiders were theNavy’s onlyaircraft ableto with F4U-4sand AD-4/4L/4Qs. together withsingleunitsequipped and VF-837 (withF9F-2Bs), squadrons, VF-831 (withF9F-2s) group includedtwoPanther until lateMarch 1952.Its carrierair mid-October andremain in-theatre commence combatoperationsin Boxer within TF 77,thevessel would ofthewar.only cruise Replacing embarked, leftHawaii tobeginits In early September 1951USS The planwasfortheUSNavy jetstorendezvous withthebombersat USAF reconnaissance records forthelastsixmonthsof1952show (CV-36), withCVG-15 carrierairgroup wasordered amajor tosupport B-29 ESCORTS © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (Frank Jones) wearing coldweather clothing the Panther’s forward fueltank)are pilot are topping off thecontents of on hisjet(thetwo to theright ofthe both Graham andthesailorsworking from Essexinlate 1951. Note that after completingyet anothermission climbs outofthecockpit ofhisF9F-2 VF-51’s EnsHerbGraham carefully THE WAR DRAGS ON 33 With such a large number of of such a large number With Three detachments operating night- operating detachments Three and Skyraiders, Corsairs capable a fourth and a fifth flying F9F-2Ps HO3S-1 helicoptersequipped with VF-831 Both CVG-15. completed Reserve US Naval VF-837 were and been called to activeunits that had 1951. duty on 1 February ranks, CVG-15 within its Panthers of armed was able to launch plenty against missions reconnaissance transportenemy road targets Manchuria. heading south from its unpredictable with Autumn, so however, was not far off, weather, www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Tragedy struck the carrier air group on 4 November when VF-831 pilot VF-831 when struck on 4 November the carrier air group Tragedy Detachment VC-61 to the end of November through 15 October From defence of key targets cruise the last 60 days of Antietam’s the enemy’s In the window for offensive sorties was a narrow one. Indeed, the average the average one. Indeed, sorties for offensive was a narrow the window number of sorties quickly fell from 75 to just 28. per day catch an but failed to to land his Panther attempted Lt G S Brainard barriers and straight into the This sent him through gear wire. arresting was killed, and so on the forward flightdeck. He aircraft parked several operations were Flight in that area. working other men three were The weather removed. of the day as the debris was suspended for the rest to fly the maximum CVG-15 enabling on 10 November, finally cleared in 76 sorties being completed This resulted number of planned missions. squadrons of ammunition expended. Both Panther and 35,000 rounds their of this total while executing accounted for a significant percentage duties. armed reconnaissance escorted by They were D managed a total of 70 sorties with its F9F-2Ps. also The two strike squadrons F9F-2/2Bs on all but one of their missions. and dropped 163 ATARs 543 HVARs, 38,000 20 mm rounds, fired 546 100-lb the cruise the time ended in bombs during this period. By VF-837 had suffered VF-831 had lost just a single jet while 1952 May of combat. had crashed as a result two casualties – none of these aircraft conditions during the due to poor weather The number of sorties flown F9Fs, light. Many extremely winter of 1951-52 meant that losses were the by saved struggled and were back with heavy battle damage however, flightdeck barriers. attacks, the intensive the US Navy’s by Prompted changed dramatically. to weapons automatic anti-aircraft large-calibre in more Chinese brought and supply and assets like bridges, railway junctions defend high-value F9Fs had been able to inflict maximum ammunition dumps. Previously, making individual runs which enableddamage by for each bomb dropped, multiple attacks on particular the same division. Now, targets to be made by of CVG-15 number of gun batteries, the strike aircraft with the increased only able to make one run all their against a single target, dropping were a better chance of returning each Panther This gave on that pass. weapons began to decline – but the number of targets destroyed to the carrier, Osprey © (CV-36) is seen at is seen (CV-36) made just one deployment made just one deployment Antietam USS it that cruise and during Korea, to TF 77 in the with periods spent four fighting In between combat zone. Yokosuka, to it returned assignments, to 1951 November late From Japan. flew CVG-15 CV-36’s 1952, mid-March The carrier 6000 nearly sorties. on 21 March Yokosuka to returned its fourth at the conclusion of 1952 TF 77 to spell on the line with the for commence preparations voyage backvessel’s to the USA ) (National Archives anchor during a port call in Japan call in Japan a port during anchor for being withdrawn after its and R&R during replenishment Panthers The F9F-2B cruise. 1951-52 of the on the fantail seen parked VF-837. and VF-831 from were vessel Antietam 34 CHAPTER TWO I banked theplane tolineupmygunsightonthe lastmaninthecolumn. the throttle to 100percentpower. forward With theairspeedincreased, real thing!Following theotherthree jetsin,Idropped mynose and jammed called themoutforussothatwe couldsetupastrafingpass. This wasthe troops marching incolumnsoneitherside oftheroad well aheadofus.He ft above thevalley floorlooking fortargets.He soonspottedsomeenemy down intothevalley. Our flightleaderwasthelow man,flyingat500-800 black airburstswere notpretty againstthebluemorningsky. calibre fire from thegunemplacementsthatringedcity. Those big flown ofPyongyang, far enoughnorth receiving sowe started heavy far theflighthadgoneasplanned,butwithoneexception. We hadnot tobebathedinearlymorningsunlight.Soit waslocatedjuststarting dawn, andby thetimewe approached our target thedeepvalley inwhich away from theheavygunsinandaround Pyongyang. We launchedat course wouldputuswayabove thebombline[ofF4Us andADs] gun emplacements; in a VF-831 jetthatinvolved anattackontroops, ratherthantheusual the Korean War. neutralised most,ifnotall,ofthedefendingguns.’ recovering priortoleavingthetargetarea. If allwent well, we wouldhave emplacements astheF4Us andADswere completingtheirdrops and againsttheAAAguncome backaround foradiving firingrun banked turnwouldbemade. We wouldthenreverse direction soasto release we wouldpullupsharply, andatthetopofclimba90-degree drop our260-lbfragmentationbombs. Afterbomb prop aircraft initiatedtheirattackswe dived down to type bombersagainstwell-defended targets.Asthe theprop- was anaturalforthismission,supporting the fighterinvaluable foranycoordinated strike.It suppression weapon, itsfour20mmcannonmaking of the F9Finthisrole; from CV-36, Schnitzer wasfulsomein hispraise considerable numberofflaksuppression missions aboard pilotintheKoreana Panther War, hisfirstbeing Skyraider unitswere considerablyhigherhowever. Comparablefigurescruise. fortheCorsairand averaged slightlyover 100flyinghoursforthewhole recorded 2040.9. These totalsmeantthateachpilot logged atotalof2079.3flyinghoursand VF-837 impressive achievement consideringthat VF-831 enjoyed aremarkably low lossrate. This wasan had to beflown by bothF9Fsquadrons. numberofflaksuppression missions an increased ‘Reaching thepushover point,we setupourtacticalformationandwent real concernformewastheamountofflakwe couldexpect.Our ‘The Lt Schnitzerdangerous recalled mission inaparticularly participating These tacticswere standard procedure F9Fsquadron during forevery F9Fwasanextremely effective flak‘The Lt George twotoursas Schnitzer undertook Despite flyingmore missions,bothsquadrons Antietam with VF-831. Having flown a © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (National Archives) holed noseandshattered windscreen one casetheaircraft hadsustaineda stabilisers (asseenhere), althoughin suffered damaged wingsandvertical and returned to service. Mosthad although they were quickly repaired sustained heavy battle damage, back to Antietam October 1951 aloneten F9Fslimped during low-level attacks. Indeed, in damage to beinflicted onPanthers increased thepotential for such during theautumn of1951 greatly defence ofkey transport routes sophisticated anti-aircraft gunsin action. The Chinesedeployment of quickly repaired andsentback into aboard Antietam unnamed pilotwas able to landback stabiliser. Despite thedamage, the the tipoff hisaircraft’s vertical heavy-calibre groundfire thatshot late 1951. Heencountered intense F9F-2 after aharrowing missionin A pilotfrom VF-831 posesbesidehis . BuNo127149was after they had THE WAR DRAGS ON 35 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ‘We kept on going in the hope of finding more targets, but the roads the roads targets, but going in the hope of finding more kept on ‘We TF 77 in combat cruise with Valley Forge commenced its third and the next day on 4 December, Japan, Yokosuka, The ship had reached ‘The later dust started his wingman leader and flight Seconds firing. were empty. On the way we flew over the town of Kosan, or what was left of Kosan, town the flew the way we over On empty. were near harbour area Wonsan the approaching were later we of it. Minutes our fired We was a suspected storage complex. there where Anbyon, at were this time we any secondaries. By see into it but I didn’t rockets This mission had been to the carrier. headed back bingo fuel, so we could do see what our 20 mm rounds usually didn’t because we different in the middle of were that we That sight made me realise to people. a bloody war.’ Bon Homme Richard. The replacing the vessel 1951, December carrier an were Air task groups 1 embarked. (ATG) Group Task had Air to interwar by budget cuts. Unable upon the US Navy expedient forced with permanently assigned sustain a full establishment of air groups periodically by and match’ ‘mix the flying admirals played squadrons, air was that, as in Korea, The advantage assigning units to an ATG. be customised to suit the most likely operational could groups VF-52, and their VF-111 and included both ATG-1 requirements. F9F-2/2Bs, within its ranks. to Essex to fly a series of familiarisation was sent over squadron each a pilot from was on station, and it commenced CV-45 8 December combat missions. By Korea. in the northeasternoperations against the rail networks sector of North VF-111 and (continued on page 47) units in-theatre, As per usual for Panther kicked up as his rounds smashed into the line of troops. As the others in others in As the troops. the line of into smashed rounds up as his kicked the home turn to press their runshis flight finished it was our section’s I was startled sound of my guns and the by the trigger, attack. Squeezing system. air-conditioning the cockpit by picked up the cordite the smell of high-“G” climbing and then a fast time for one quick burst I only had in my rear back Glancing tryingturn while leader. stay with my section to us heard They hadn’t had hit them hard. I could see that we view mirror, the road. left countless bodies lying on the side of coming, and the strafing Osprey © in October 1951 for a combat for 1951 in October cruise that would last until early last until early that would cruise embarked (the squadron July 1952 25 pilots and 16 jets in CV-45). only a suffered VF-111 Although the cruise, during single fatality its CO, lost was Aviator the Naval His aircraft Jr. Welch Cdr Frank the landing the sea from into crashed Association) (Tailhook pattern VF-111 pilots pose for a photograph a photograph pilots pose for VF-111 a few just California, Miramar, at NAS on Valley embarking before days Forge mber 1950 pte (CV-47), Se (CV-47), a November 1950 November e 2), S (CV-45), July 1950 (CV-45), e e V-3 pin (C e lip ley Forge ley Phi
Leyte Val SS SS S U SS , U 2, 2, VF-11 f VF-51, VF-51, U f UR PLATE 23497 of VF-31 23497 of 3071 o O 1 2 COLOUR PLATES BuNo 123511 o BuNo 123511 B
36 1 July 1950 (CV-45), Forge USS Valley VF-51, BuNo 123071 of F9F-3 2 1950 September USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), VF-112, of BuNo 123511 F9F-2B 3 1950 November (CV-32), USS Leyte VF-31, BuNo 123497 of F9F-2B
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com November 1950 November 7), V-4 (C a (CV-37), May 1951 May (CV-37), n (CV-21), April 1951 April (CV-21), to r e er nc ox B Pri Philippine Sea SS SS USS , 1 U , U -19 VF VF-111 of f 633 123 No Bu -2B 9F-2 BuNo 127184 o BuNo 127184 9F-2 VF-721 BuNo 123657 of 9F-2B 4 1950 November USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), VF-111, of BuNo 127184 F9F-2 F 5 1951 April (CV-21), USS Boxer VF-721, BuNo 123657 of F9F-2B F 6 1951 May (CV-37), USS Princeton VF-191 BuNo 123633 of F9F-2B F9F
37
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (CV-37), May 1951 May (CV-37), n ton e , August August , 1952 nc ) Pri K-3 ( SS U , VC-61 Det E VC-61 f -2P BuNo 123615 o 7 1951 May (CV-37), USS Princeton Det E, VC-61 BuNo 123615 of F9F-2P F9F 8 1952 August (K-3), Pohang VMF-311, BuNo 127207 of F9F-2 March 1952 March 5), V-4 (C e Valley Forge Valley SS , U 7174 of VF-111 of 7174 2 38 9 1952 March (CV-45), Forge USS Valley VF-111, of BuNo 127174 F9F-2
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 2 1 (CV-31), November 1951 November (CV-31), d , March, 195 ) Richar e CV-36 (
tam (CV-9), September 195 September (CV-9), e x on Homm e nti B
ss A E SS SS USS , VF-781, VF-781, U f VF-831, VF-831, U f 2 9F-2 BuNo 125122 of VF-51 BuNo 125122 of 9F-2 9F-2 BuNo 125088 o 9F-2 BuNo 123702 o 9F-2B 12 1 1951 September USS Essex (CV-9), VF-51, BuNo 125122 of F9F-2 F 10 1952 March USS Antietam (CV-36), VF-831, BuNo 125088 of F9F-2 F 11 1951 November (CV-31), USS Bon Homme Richard VF-781, BuNo 123702 of F9F-2B F
39
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com une 1953 , J (CV-45), May 1952 May (CV-45), 21) e VA- (C r er ox Valley Forge Valley B SS USS , VF-111, U VF-111, f 2 195 4 9F-2 BuNo 123073 of VF-52 BuNo 123073 of 9F-2 o BuNo 127173 9F-2 14 1 June 1953 (CVA-21), USS Boxer VF-52, BuNo 123073 of F9F-2 F 15 1952 May (CV-45), Forge USS Valley VF-111, of BuNo 127173 F9F-2 F ary (CV-36), Febru (CV-36), m ta e nti A
SS U , VF-837 f 5096 o
40 13 1952 February USS Antietam (CV-36), VF-837, BuNo 125096 of F9F-2B
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (CVA-34), November 1952 November (CVA-34), y (CV-21), May 1952 May (CV-21), r er Oriskany Box SS USS , U 24, VF- f -5 BuNo 125459 of VF-781 -5 BuNo 125459 of 9F-2 BuNo 127219 o BuNo 127219 9F-2 16 1952 May (CV-21), USS Boxer VF-24, of BuNo 127219 F9F-2 F 18 1952 November (CVA-34), USS Oriskany VF-781, BuNo 125459 of F9F-5 F9F (CV-9), October 1952 October (CV-9), x ex Ess USS , 585 of VF-23 585 of 2
41 17 1952 October USS Essex (CV-9), VF-23, BuNo 122585 of F9F-2
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (CV-31), July 1952 (CV-31), d rd cha Ri mme Ho Bon USS , -2 BuNo 123460 of VF-71 -2 BuNo 123460 of 1 19 1952 November (CVA-34), USS Oriskany VF-781, BuNo 126034 of F9F-5 21 2 July 1952 (CV-31), USS Bon Homme Richard VF-71, BuNo 123460 of F9F-2 F9F ecember 1952 , D 33) VA- (C e rge Kearsa USS 1, 1, 5117 of VF-72 of 5117
42 20 December 1952 (CVA-33), USS Kearsarge VF-721, of BuNo 125117 F9F-2B
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com November 1952 November 1), V-3 (C d rd cha (CVA-47), June 1953 (CVA-47), June 1953 (CVA-47), a a Ri e Sea mme pin Ho lip Bon Philippine Sea Phi SS SS U U USS , 72, 93, VF- VF- f f 75 o 5 VF-91 585 of 3704 o 3 22 1952 November (CV-31), USS Bon Homme Richard VF-72, BuNo 123575 of F9F-2 23 June 1953 USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47), VF-93, BuNo 123704 of F9F-2 24 June 1953 USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47), VF-91, BuNo 123585 of F9F-2 43
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 2 , May 195 May , ) K-3 ( 5 25 2 1952 May (K-3), Pohang VMF-311, BuNo 123451 of F9F-2B (CVA-34), February 1953 February (CVA-34), y ny riska O SS U , VF-122 f 126039 o o 44 26 1953 February (CVA-34), USS Oriskany VF-122, BuNo 126039 of F9F-5 27 1953 February (K-3), Pohang VMF-311, of BuNo 126109 F9F-5
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com l 1953 pri 29 1953 March (K-3), Pohang VMF-115, BuNo 125164 of F9F-4 , A 37) 3 VA- (C n , March 195 ) Princeto K-3 (
USS ang , 27143 of VMF-115, Poh VMF-115, 27143 of 1 No 126271 of VC-61 Det D VC-61 No 126271 of u 28 1953 March (K-3), Pohang VMF-115, BuNo 127143 of F9F-2 45 30 1953 April (CVA-37), USS Princeton Det D, VC-61 BuNo 126271 of F9F-5P
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 1953 y (CVA-39), July 1953 (CVA-39), n A-37), Ma A-37), (CV ton ton e nc i r P Lake Champlain Lake SS SS , U U , VF-153 VF-111 f f 9F-5 BuNo 125644 o 9F-5 31 1953 May (CVA-37), USS Princeton VF-153, BuNo 126652 of o F9F-5 32 July 1953 Champlain (CVA-39), USS Lake VF-111, BuNo 125644 of F9F-5 F (CVA-21), July 1953 (CVA-21), r er Box USS , 83 of VF-151 83 of 235 46 33 July 1953 (CVA-21), USS Boxer VF-151, BuNo 123583 of F9F-2
© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com THE WAR DRAGS ON 47 Valley Forge or to From February 1952 the Chinese 1952 the February From VF-52 were tasked with protecting tasked with were VF-52 vehicles attacking and the bombers north-south along the travelling period this five-week During roads. than 150,000 more the F9Fs fired 20 rockets. and 300 mm rounds A sustained of 16 Panthers total three VF-52 lost battle damage, and oneVF-111 one – only fighters and action, of these was due to enemy able The damaged jets were however. to make it back to a friendly South Korean base. Korean a friendly South their the tempo of increased and also efforts road, by re-supply www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The railway line from Hamhung south to Wonsan became a priority Wonsan south to Hamhung The railway line from 1952 the two F9F squadrons June 1951 and 10 11 December Between of the war in late deployment for its third Philippine Sea returned equipped more flak batteries with high-calibre anti-aircraft guns. Even guns. Even anti-aircraft with high-calibre flak batteries equipped more the F9F units engaged in flak suppression, with both of ATG-1’s considerable VF-194 suffered VF-653 and the AD-2/3s of F4U-4/4Bs of units also sustained a number of losses, with The Panther battle damage. VF-111 two and and 2 May 19 February jets between VF-52 losing five had the ability to make most The enemy now on 2 May). (both aircraft of the images many rendered of their gun emplacements mobile, which (and, latterly, F9F-2Ps the photo-reconnaissance risk by taken at great H inaccurate. Det VC-61 of F2H-2Ps) state that most of the damage however, records, target at this time. ATG-1 placed on the trioThe workload within 24 hours. it inflicted was repaired required as ATG-1 in particular was tremendous, H F9F-2Ps Det VC-61 of the operational state of the line. up-to-date photography that revealed adding another 296 VC-61 logged a combined total of 3371 sorties, with the end of this reporting Towards (it also lost an F9F-2P on 11 March). with re-equipped period the photographic detachment was progressively newer and faster F2H-2P Banshees. once again – the embarked having CVG-11 1952, the vessel January in the late summer of CV-47 had first seen action from carrier air group the unit making its VF-112 was also still assigned to CVG-11, 1950. Osprey ©
) in the spring of 1953 of 1953 ) in the spring Boxer A Panther from VF-112 makes a makes VF-112 from A Panther finals for on short approach perfect Philippine Sea aboard back recovery after a long mission over North Korea Korea North a long mission over after which The squadron, 1952. in early the during of CVG-11 part formed did not lose a cruise, 1951-52 ship’s the seven- single jet throughout ) Jewell (Ace month deployment ) (Frank Jones F9F-2s are seen here chained down down chained seen here are F9F-2s of the flightdeck on close together to Japan as it sails from Forge Valley coast Korean the North its station off The cruise. its 1951-52 during displayed VF-52 assigned to Panthers fin/rudder ‘S’ (and white the tail code while sister-squadron markings) ‘V’ (and its jets with a marked VF-111 although all the tail markings), red in this photograph Panthers This was ‘S’ codes! inexplicably wear for cruise War the second Korean for return would and they both units, (again combat deployment a third but this time embarked ATG-1, with in 48 CHAPTER TWO completed the cruise without losinganaircraft. completed thecruise operations ingoodshape,having notlostasinglejet–indeed, VF-112 involved,thisperiodofintensehigh tallyofsorties theunitsurvived VC-61 Det C.Considering thenumberofhitsitsjetssustainedand reconnaissance missionsfor theF9F-2Ps missions,aswell as61escort of and196armedthat theF9Funitcompleted 210CAPsorties bomber force. Statistics released by CVG-11 forthesameperiodshowed remaining by heavy-calibre fourhadbeenstruck flakwhilecovering the small armsfire duringlow-level whilethe strafingandbombingruns, battle damage,buttheywere allabletoflyagain.Eight hadbeenhitby rounds anddropped 914bombs. between missionswassoquick. The F9F-2s expended66,00020mm stress onthearmourers reached highlevels becausetheturnaround times rounds hadbeenexpended.April proved tobethebusiestmonth,and Panther wasairbornetoo,andby theendofday650020mmcannon aircraft wereserviceable up, intotal.Every logging97sorties available rose to17. post-strike role. In mid-March thenumberofF9F-2sassignedto VF-112 Detachment 53photo-reconnaissance Cflew missions,mostlyinthe and railroad interdiction missions.During thisperiod VC-61’s the group asawhole. usedonflaksuppression This includedweaponry the 1072fragmentationbombsand1069250-lbGPs expendedby 40,000 20mmcannonrounds and dropped asignificantpercentage of dayfrom thenon,andbyevery 19February theyhadfired more than lost timefrom 31January. Most of VF-112’s 16Panthers were intheair combat tactics. downtime tomeetwithpilotsfrom voyage over from California.Naval Aviators from CVG-11 usedthis undergoing repairs tostormdamagethathadbeensustainedduringthe early July 1952,thecarrierhadtospendaweek in Yokosuka second Korean War deployment withF9F-2s.Remaining in-theatre until Between 27March and15April 12of VF-112’s Panthers hadsustained One ofthebiggestdaysforCVG-11 cameon27March whenallofits Finally arrivingoffthecoast of Korea, CVG-11 quicklymadeupfor © Osprey Valley Forge’sATG-1 anddiscuss Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com coast ofNorth Korea (GuyLyons) vulnerable whilstoperating off the the carrier whenitwas atitsmost missions were necessaryto protect a CAPover thetaskforce. Such Boxer’s catapultsready for launch on A VF-24 Panther isattached to oneof THE WAR DRAGS ON 49 arrived off Korea off Korea arrived 77 Boxer TF joined In the aftermath of this deadly blaze VF-24 was deadly blaze the aftermath of this In during attack missions, but they were able to able to during attack missions, but they were were number of aircraft A large to the ship. return in an accident on 6 August, damaged or destroyed A fuel tank within an F9F that was however. hangar deck carrier’s in the chained down four that destroyed exploded, causing a fire personnel also and two Corsairs. Nine Panthers in the blaze. lost their lives in the number of targets it restricted severely of the could attack during the final weeks to through 6 August from Indeed, deployment. TF 77, the unit only when Boxer left 6 September, and 23 5-in expended 2920 20 mm rounds in combat. ATARs Philippine Sea Philippine to mark the carrier’s 12,000th catapult launch. On 12,000th catapult launch. On carrier’s the Boxer to mark www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Five weeks after weeks Five CVG-2 probably experienced more inclement weather during this during this weather inclement experienced more probably CVG-2 Radtke Herman Ens VF-24’s when 26 April on A milestone was reached VF-24 Panthers, occasions combat logs noted that on several CVG-2 only one of which was due VF-24 lost two Panthers, the cruise During cruise than any other carrier air group in the Korean War – even those – even War cruise Korean in the than any other carrier air group spent several during winter months. Having that conducted operations on the missions training based undergoing extensive off Hawaii weeks VF-24 with in combat (this applied particularlythey could expect to fly to finally got into position off North the carrier it multiple-mission role), first on CVG-2’s launched were aircraft All available in late March. Korea March. combat mission on 31 took off from it when of its deployment one of the best days VF-24 enjoyed the 29th time The turnaround sorties. and 16 defensive launched 20 offensive serviceable was short flights remaining between thanks to the aircraft conditions earlier in the month had Weather the day. throughout combat of CVG-2’s Most air operations, however. continually hampered months, but the increase time on station came during the warmer summer which delayed the monsoon season, also triggered in temperature Typhoon Boxer also had to contend with operations for days. Finally, and its 60-knot winds. ‘Mary’, with hung-up missions from racks, returned with their Mk 55 ordnance tailhook following most cases the bombs dropped 250-lb bombs. In a 250-lb bomb became armed after one case, however, In deployment. striking only after came to rest 500 ft along the deck. It about travelling did not explode. It elevator. the forward near aircraft an aircraft shrapnel heavy damage from suffered F9F-2s more to enemy action. Four too, having left California on 8 February 1952. On board was the combat was the board On 1952. 8 February on left California too, having since its fourth which was making deployment combat seasoned CVG-2, the very For in CV-21). embarked (when it was again 1950 September of Panthers a single squadron also included carrier air group first time, the (the unit its F4U-4s for F9F-2s having swapped VF-24 within its ranks, combat since it was last in nickname, however) its ‘Corsairs’ still retained also embarked A were Det VC-61 from F9F-2Ps Three 12 months earlier. duties. for photo-reconnaissance Osprey © On 6 August 1952 a fuel tank within 1952 August On 6 in down chained an F9F that was exploded, deck hangar Boxer’s four that destroyed causing a fire Nine Corsairs. and two Panthers in the personnel also lost their lives out strip ordnancemen Here, blaze. a badly from 20 mm ammunition live bring while firefighters F9F, damaged In the control. under the blaze VF-24 of this deadly fire aftermath in the number restricted severely was the during it could attack of targets deployment of CV-21’s final weeks ) (US Navy 50 CHAPTER THREE P so VF-191 despatchedallofits within rangeofakeyMiG-15 base, Changp’yong-ni. The target was enemy supplyarea in a majorstrikeagainstanimportant the enemygunners. and Corsairscamewithinrangeof emplacements before theSkyraiders speed toneutralisetheflak Panthers wouldcomedown atfull to commencetheirattack,the them. Once thebomberswere ready would beatleast5000ftabove As thebombersentered thetargetarea atanaltitudeof12,000ft,theF9Fs strike force usuallyinvolved tenCorsairs, Skyraiders andeightPanthers. by CVG-19strikes suchasthoseperformed wasflaksuppression. Atypical tempo.Det Ealsoraiseditssortie determine exactlywhichgunemplacementstheywere toattack, VC-61 flak batteriesbeingtargeted,andthusenablethePanther pilotstobetter high-value targets.In toimprove aneffort thequalityofimages each missiontoneutralisethenumerous gunpositionsprotecting these engaged inflaksuppression duties.Up to12Panthers were committedto hydroelectric plant,increased. This putpressure on VF-191, whichwas defended targetsinPyongyang, aswell astheChosinNumber One no optionbuttoditch.He wassoonrescued from thesea. a cockpitmalfunctioninhisjetimmediatelyafterlaunch,leavinghimwith exploded onimpactwiththeground. Six dayslatera VF-191 pilotsuffered attacking atarget. The strickenfighterfailedtopulloutofitsdive and its firstlosson14June whenoneofitsaircraft washitby ground fire while many oftheUSAF’s fighter-bombers. supply lineran. wasalsooutofrange of This remote ofthecountry part close towhatwasbecomingthearea through which theenemy’s main CVG-19 embarked. The shipwasstationedoffKorea’s coast, northeastern AND MOREMiGS MORE MISSIONS On 20August CVG-19 launched contributionmadeby theF9Fstofull-strengthThe mostimportant In July thenumberofmissionsflown by CVG-19 againstheavily VF-191, whichwasthecarrierairgroup’s solePanther squadron, suffered And aswithitsprevious twodeployments with TF 77,ithad itsthird1952, thevessel ofthewar. undertaking combatcruise rinceton sailedinKorean watersfrom midApril tomidOctober © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com of the ship( run into aircraft parked onthebow occasionally failed, leaving jetsto take cover –thecrash barriers recovered jet, are getting ready to hastily climbingoutofhisrecently that boththedeckcrew andthepilot, the vessel’s 1952 combatcruise. Note heading for Princeton’s barrier during photograph, a VF-191 Panther is crash barriers. Inthisdramatic action and theirpilotswere saved by the more difficult. As aresult, many F9Fs deck landingsoften proved to be to return to theircarriers, butsafe damage over theirtargets were able Some Panthers thatsustainedbattle Wayne Russell) MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 51 aircraft began began aircraft With the capacity of these the capacity of these With destruction. Anti-aircraft fire was was destruction. fire Anti-aircraft no losses. very were light and there VF-72 logged a total of VF-71 and 32 CAP sorties, and the photo detachment came back with excellent this During post-strike imagery. period of daily strikes the F9F-2s a total of 11,298 20 mm roundsfired 106 250-lb GP bombs.and dropped mostly used for flak The latter were that small as weapons suppression, against been ineffective would have thick plants’ the hydroelectric walls. concrete facilities considerably reduced, www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Aside from providing effective fighter escort for CVG-9’s Corsairs and fighter escort effective for CVG-9’s providing Aside from Princeton’s deployment, the end of the Towards came on station Bon Homme Richard sailed months after Princeton Two in time for the four carrier strikes on North was combat-ready CVG-7 Skyraiders, the Panther pilots also employed sound flak suppression tactics. sound flak suppression pilots also employed the Panther Skyraiders, by the gun batteries over followed were the F9F-2s As a safety measure, making additional strafing piston-engine aircraft F4U-4s, the bent-wing silenced. that they were to ensure attacks on the gun positions serviceable F9F-2s to provide close escort serviceable F-86s while the bombers, for to provide F9F-2s struck AD-4/4Ns and The F4U-4s high altitude. the strike from covered were they the area withdrawing from and as they were their targets, CAP. the Sabre in below had evidently come that six MiG-15s jumped by and after five 12 Panthers, turn engaged by in jets were The communist the strike force enabling off, broke dogfightingminutes of the MiG-15s carrier intact. to the to return conducting CAS missions for troops in the frontline. Again, the results Again, the results in the frontline. for troops conducting CAS missions back to the focus shifted October good. In VF-191 were by achieved targets far to the north, each of these attacks the carrier-based and during in so many, were There of MiG-15s. large numbers encountered aircraft Those that for the F-86s to contain them all. fact, that it was impossible of 20 mm cannon. Most then had to face the Panthers’ the Sabres evaded areas. and Hungnam Wonsan the these fights developed over TF 77 that would last with waters to begin a deployment into Korean was 1952. Although CV-31 to 18 December through 21 June from cruise, carrier air its embarked War making its second, and last, Korean VF-71 squadrons, two Panther was new to the conflict. Its CVG-7, group, The and 24 pilots. VF-72, each had a complement of 16 aircraft and fleet of N, with a mixed Detachment VC-61’s included also group and F2H-2Ps. F9F-2Ps with an attack plants, which commenced on 23 June hydroelectric Korea’s 30 miles northeast Bon Plant, of Hamhung. Two Number on the Kyosen to Panthers contributed at least seven Homme Richard’s carrier air group had logged 20 CAP the two F9F units dusk on the 23rd each strike, and by Plant, Four Number day was Kyosen The target for the following missions. complete in the facility’s strike resulted This Tanchon. six miles inland from Osprey © Lt R P Yeatman of VF-71 has just fired has just fired VF-71 of Yeatman Lt R P wing under the left rockets the HVAR during of his F9F-2 (hence the smoke) late in on a bridge a diving attack 250-lb A solitary 1952. November the inner to bomb is visible attached right beneath the jet’s pylon stores the The pilot has extended wing. keep so as to brakes dive aircraft’s his attack during his speed in check had an outstanding record VF-71 run. Korean the North its time off during harsh winter facing despite coast, as forces that aided Chinese weather In late an offensive. for prepared they conditions improved 1952 November on focus to VF-71 for sufficiently strikes’ ‘Cherokee in so-called targets for the unit high marks that earned and effectiveness, both coverage the poor flying weather. considering pilots were Panther The unit’s their especially commended for exposed left on vehicles attacks night attacks by and damaged ) (Jim Barnes 52 CHAPTER THREE Richard able toreturn totheBonHomme flak, butallaircraft concernedwere reports ofbattledamage inflictedby enemy fire. There were numerous only oneofthesemachinesfell to three Panthers and VF-71 one– mid-December, VF-72 hadlost effective defenceofthetaskforce. based aircraft were to provide an ifcarrier- information wasnecessary than wasthenpossible.Such about contactsatagreater range equipment capableofproducing rapidandaccuratealtitudeinformation make asuccessfulinterception. Future naval fighterswouldneedradar on thealtitudeoftheir‘opponents’. impossible to This madeitvirtually flights. However, pilotswere hampered by alackofaccurateinformation practice interceptions onreturning strikeandphoto-reconnaissance the coastofNorth Korea. At thatpointtheywere stillsome75milesfrom TF 77vessels sailingoff Panther pilotstoenablethempositively identifythejetsasMiG-15s. reported over cityof the port Wonsan, andtheywere closeenoughtothe aircraft camewithinrangeoftheF9Fs’ guns. The nearest banditswere unidentified swept-wing jetsandcontrails were sighted,butnocommunist the Chinese-Soviet border. On atleastfouroccasionsnumerous commendation fromthecommanderof TF 77. of thecarrier’s entire andearnedthepersonnelinvolved cruise, a places. This operationproved missions tobeoneofthemostimportant followed therailwaylinesleadingfrom thearea andcuttheminseveral locomotives destroyed. demolished, three keyrepair shopswere levelled andseven to14 Records statethatabuildingcapableofhousing20locomotives was suppression through strafingandthedropping of250-lbGPbombs. The F9Fshadbeenactive providing theattackaircraft withflak late afternoontheentire complexwasreported tobe90percentdestroyed. strikes were madethatday, andby corner ofKorea nearMusan. Two repair facilityinthenortheastern attack amajorrailcomplexand December CVG-7 wasordered to their suppliesafterdark. On 9 now beingforced tomove more of also keptbusy, astheChinesewere and AD-4NLnighthecklerswere summer andautumn.Its F4U-5N assigned targetsfortherest ofthe CVG-7 switchedtoattackingother By thetimeCVG-7 left TF 77in As aresult ofthisever-present threat, Panther pilotsconducteddaily Sorties flown inNovember andDecember tookthePanthers closeto The Panthers andSkyraiders inthesecondstrikeoncomplex orreach friendlyairfields. © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com stragglers ( first lightsoasto catch any planned to reach thetarget area at of thePanther missionswere during thehoursofdarkness. Many which carried heavy traffic especially the conflictwere thecoastalroads, carrier-borne aircraft atthispointin wing. Priority targets assignedto general purpose bombundereach explosive bombsandasingle100-lb VF-72 isarmed withtwohigh 500-lb late autumn of1952. BuNo123418 of Korea onastrike mission during the The aircraft were enroute to North launching from BonHommeRichard. VF-71 and VF-72 forms upafter A four-ship divisionofPanthers from decades ( been sadlylostover theintervening cloud andacronym BLPFSTK have 1952. The significanceoftherain embarked inBonHommeRichard deployment aspart ofCVG-7 the unit’s solitarycombat assigned to EnsGeorge Clare during F9F-2 BuNo127180 of VF-71 was George Clare) George Clare ) in MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 53 startedand final, second, its Essex Panthers flew 112 246 strike and Panthers cruise of the war on 16 June 1952. 1952. cruise 16 June the war on of ATG-2 with deployed The carrier squadrons its two F9F-2 embarked, The being VF-23 and VF-821. in had seen combat latter unit F4U-4s 12 months earlier, in Korea from VF-23 flying alongside ATG-2 Princeton with CVG-19. that the ship did not show records and mid-July, until Bay Subic leave missions were that the first combat on the 19th of that month. A flown total of 16 photo-reconnaissance by that day flown sorties were www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing ATG-2’s combat reports note that the strategy adopted by its Panther its Panther note that the strategy adopted by combat reports ATG-2’s much the remained squadrons Panther The mission split for ATG-2’s when, on the end of its time on-station Essex was approaching Records for August show that Essex’s show for August Records units during this period – and adhered to for the rest of the cruise – was rest to for the units during this period – and adhered tasked with flak suppression. were missions flown that half the offensive about 15,000 ft, the jets usually The F9F pilots began their attacks from started their bombing the Corsairs and Skyraiders attacking just before with the remainder would attack, only half the jet force runs. Sometimes had started aircraft to going in immediately after the last of the propeller the that was soon found, however, their bombing runs.pull up from It jets attacking first. all the sorties involved flak suppression most effective that 1952 show for November Figures same for most of the deployment. the F9Fs flew missions and 105 strike sorties, reconnaissance 56 armed just 339 sortiesThe combined total of for both squadrons 90 CAP sorties. set in. US Navy as winter that month was attributed to bad weather during the cruise, with two VF-23 lost four Panthers that show records of these losses Two days in November. on consecutive being destroyed without suffering a VF-821 completed the deployment in combat. were as in November diminished single loss. F9F maintenance effectiveness 93.7 VF-821’s VF-23 posted a 92.4 per cent in-service to rate compared fired were per cent. A combined total of 22,485 20 mm cannon rounds the two units during the month. by TF 7722 December, carriers then sailing off the east all three ordered armed reconnaissance sorties, as well as 360 CAPs. When all missions sorties, as 360 CAPs. as well armed reconnaissance combined, the two units flew a VF-821 were VF-23 and by flown This meant that each Panther staggering 829 sorties during that month. 17.2 sorties,pilot averaged totalling 27.7 flying hours each. Furthermore, in August. or operationally, not a single F9F was lost, either in combat F2H-2Ps escorted by F9F-2s, but it was not until 1 August that the first that the escorted it was not until 1 August F9F-2s, but by F2H-2Ps days ATG-2 the following Over missions began. full group-strength fire. met intense anti-aircraft it where area, concentrated on the Hamhung both by missions flown flak suppression This was in spite of intensive The fast, to be highly effective. considered which were squadrons, Panther the F9F pilots saw them neutralise firing passes made by low-level batteries without suffering any losses. gun numerous Osprey © made two combat cruises off off combat cruises made two Essex embarking Korea, the coast of North of these the second for ATG-2 This air task 1952-53. in deployments units F9F-2 included two group and VF-23 namely within its ranks, the from an aircraft Here, VF-821. when it damage unit suffered latter been having after the barrier’ ‘took AAA while making a by hit hard on an run strafing low-level the late ammunition dump during able Its pilot was summer of 1952. but needed the carrier to to return ship aboard back help in recovering system hydraulic partial due to well-defended When attacking failure. Panther Korea in North targets that only one ensured squadrons with approach be made, run would ft 10,000 between varying altitudes the sun, Coming out of and 20,000 ft. was 40 degrees angle of 35 to a dive results usually with good used, ) (Jim Dodge 54 CHAPTER THREE flights were subjecttoattacksby theSoviet-built jets.Allaircraft returned in attacksonroad andrailtraffic. Panthers fired 187anti-tankmissilesand35,48320mmcannonrounds mmcannonrounds. During thefirsttwoweeks ofOctober the 20 In addition, 228rockets were fired, togetherwithmore than28,000 dropped 152250-lbGPbombsand only 49260-lbfragmentationbombs. pilots were shootingat. unabletofindanythingworth searching forothertargetsinthesame area, butdespite clearweather their destroyed. The following daybothPanthers andBanshees were airborne that post-attackphotographsshowed thetargethadbeencompletely Hungnam. The pilotsinvolved usedtheir250-lbGPbombssoeffectively success whenadivisionofPanthers stumbledonaradarsitesouthwest of concentrated onarmedreconnaissance missions,andtheyachieved early on 17September, 94sorties. whenitspilotsflew The F9Fsagain squadron, operatingF2H-2Banshees. The group firstwent intoaction CVG-101 when aboard Boxer Panther squadron was VF-721, whichhadseenactioninKorea with 1952through11 August to17March 1953. The carrierairgroup’s sole embarked whenitconducteditssole Korean War from combatcruise targets through totheendof conflict.KearsargehadCVG-101 to Yokosuka, before headinghometotheUSA. On 10January thevessel attacking enemyfrontline positions. to provide CASforUNforces Essex December andintoJanuary 1953, coast. Throughout theremainder of main supplyroutes alongtheeast despatched aircraft toattackthe days latertwoofthecarriers and USSOriskany(CV-34). Five from force includedcarrierairgroups Kwangsuwon airfield. The attack facilitiesat construction and destroy billets,vehicle shelters coast ofNorth Korea tostrikeand Although MiG-15s were usuallyabsentduringthisperiod, someF4U Group records forthelasttwoweeks ofSeptember statethattheF9Fs TF 77continuedtodeploy atleastfourcarrierstoattackNorth Korean launched itsbombersandjets Essex, USS Kearsarge withdrew (CV-33) in1951. VF-11 wasthecarrier’s otherjet © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (Gene Bezore) uniform inaveritable ‘sea ofgreen’ row, wearing hisdistinctive blue USAF exchange officer intheback whilst flyingwith TF 77. Note the VF-721 lostfour jetsand onepilot equipped VF-11 withinitsranks. air group alsoincludingF2H-2- squadron withinCVG-101, thecarrier cruise. VF-721 was thesolePanther during theship’s 1952-53 combat flightdeck ofUSS squadron photograph onthe Pilots from VF-721 posefor a bomb pylons ( 1000-lb weapons attached to their Pohang (K-3)routinely sortied with US Marine Corps F9Fsflyingfrom the runways atlandbases. Indeed, length oftheflightdeck compared to bombsbecauseoftheshort500-lb restricted to smaller100-, 250-and Carrier-based Panthers were usually equipped with AD-4s within ATG-2. aloft by aSkyraider, with VA-55 being Such ordnance couldonlybecarried by aPanther flyingfrom acarrier. beingtoo heavypounder’ for carriage for either jet, however, the ‘thousand This large weapon isnotdestined side by sideon VF-23 thathave beenchained down bomb pastPanthers from VF-821 and summer of1952, pushinga1000-lb deep inNorth Korea during the aircraft ready for abombingmission Ordnance crews work hard to get Bruce Bagwell) Essex’s flightdeck. Kearsarge (CVA-33) MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 55
Kearsarge’s , which was making its www.ospreypublishing.com • was equipped with H-8 catapults, which were ideal for both was equipped with H-8 catapults, which were Oriskany, which also completed only a solitary war deployment. Publishing ‘The the F9F-2 squadron. by flight was used successfully four-aeroplane as a fighter- effective be more that the F9F-2 would is believed ‘It VF-721’s and January December of the bitterly cold weather During quiet days during this period due to heavy snowfall several were There days earlier Two CVG-14. was re-designated CVG-101 4 February On Kearsarge was withdrawn to CVA-33 re-designated the recently 23 February On TF 77 it had operated much of Kearsarge’s time on station with For When working against defended targets some of the jets tended to get of the jets tended defended targets some against When working of aware well the pilots were so that was quickly rectified This separated. were flights in their divisions. Several aircraft the position of the other the slower over missions to fly CAPs strike or recce their diverted from was difficulty there these cases, In in the area. were bombers when MiGs This the F-86 and MiG-15. between the differences in quickly recognising that at least one division was added to about a simple change in brought altitudes. jets at lower to alertact as airborne lookouts the covering is anticipated that with It installed. racks were bomber if Mk 51 bomb that areas and Hamhung Wonsan jets in the sightings of enemy the recent escort for the cover as protective jets will be employed of the Navy more it is recommended in this capacity, employed are When Panthers props. the wings.’ from that the Mk 9 rocket launchers be removed maintenance personnel kept the in-service about 90 per cent – a rate at show December for figures US Navy squadron. little ahead of the Banshee for the period admit records but CVG-101 VF-721 lost two Panthers, that to an engine flame-out only one loss, on the 28th, which was attributable CV-33 immediately after launching from An engine fire near the carrier. to ditch on 23 November. pilot had also caused a Panther noted that 11 long list of damaged aircraft so, a and high winds. Even their targets or suffered had sustained multiple hits over Panthers mentions of frequent were There during missions. mechanical failures in hitting the deck too hard aircraft damage to landing gear caused by when an F9F on 22 January struck CVG-101 Tragedy windy conditions. the impact of However, made what looked like a normal deck landing. one from to be fired round the wheels touching the deck caused a 20 mm on the forward deck. cannon, killing a plane director of the Panther’s its only combat VF-141 on the 4th) had suffered VF-721 (which became flak during an attack on loss when one of its new F9F-5s was hit by a US by coast and was rescued The pilot ditched off the harbour. Wonsan destroyer. Navy than those fitted to older reliable and more types deployed jet aircraft for the cruise indicate that F9Fs and F2Hs used the port carriers. Records one 650 times. catapult 578 times and the starboard the ship sailed for home via Pearl base. After a brief stay, naval Yokosuka Princeton place was taken by The carrier’s Harbor. fourth, combat cruise. and last, alongside 1953, to 2 May 1952 through 29 October saw action from CV/CVA-34 safely to their carrier, however. The intensity of ground fire varied and, varied fire of ground intensity The however. to their carrier, safely nine of October, the end by lost any Panthers had not VF-721 although on report battle damage. A CVG-101 sustained of its aircraft stated; operations at this time Panther Osprey © 56 CHAPTER THREE simple –Intercept. Aftertwo minutesintheclouds,things begantoget directly north, inboundtoward thetaskforce. The order83 miles was radio camealive withtheinformationthatbogieshadbeendetected climbing underfullpower at5000ftperminute. swallowed in theblindingsnow flurrieswithintheclouds,theirnoseshigh, the blowing snow oftheSiberian blizzard, thefour dark bluejetswere soon David Rowlands moved intopositionbehindElwood andMiddleton. In their landinggear. Section leaderLtRoyce Williams andwingmanLt(jg) the bow inquicksuccession,dippinglow over thegrey seasastheyretracted aeroplanes inpositionby standingonthebrakes. They were thenshotoff and wingmanLt(jg)John Middleton advanced theirthrottles andheldthe Panthers of VF-781 ontothecatapults.Division leaderLtClaire Elwood forming TF 77. Siberian blizzard howled over the pitching,rolling shapesoftheships of Japan, withvisibilityestimatedattwomilesinblowing snow asthe Chongjin. Cloudcover atjust500ftabove thatdaystarted thefreezing Sea task force, whichwasoperatingsoutheast oftheNorth Korean cityof F9F-5s and seven MiG-15s. The actiontookplaceabout45milesfrom the on18Novemberperiod wasa15-minutedogfight involving three squadrons didnotexpendanyordnance. maintenance crews. There wasonlyonedayinOctober whentheF9F during thatperiod,andtheintensityofoperationshadanimpacton carrier’s twoPanther squadrons recorded anaverage of8.7flightsperpilot Fine weather wasamajorcontributortotheincreased missiontempo. The Oriskany’s aircraft lossesreflected this.Between lateOctober and22November 1952 by demanding,and thecarrierairgroupstempo observed wasparticularly MiG-15 operationswere attheirhighestlevel duringthewar. The mission combat debutonthisdeployment. F9F-5variantthe new (powered by thePratt & Whitney J48engine)its re-designated VF-121 and VF-122, respectively, on4February 1953,gave two Panther units, VF-781 and VF-783. These squadrons, whichwere its CVG-102 featuring itssecondcombat cruise) (which wasundertaking As eachpilotstrainedtomaintain visualreference oneachother, the On theflightdeckofOriskanydeckcrew manoeuvred twoF9F-5 CVG-102’s records show forthecruise thatthehighlightofthisbusy CVG-102’s missionsover were flown enemyterritory atatimewhen carrier air group flew 929 sorties in just 11.5 days of operations. injust11.5daysofoperations. carrier airgroup929sorties flew © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com the ‘Dash-2’(US Navy) latter makingtheaircraft faster than Whitney J48-P-6 turbojet engine, the a taller finandmore powerful Pratt & this deployment. The F9F-5 featured the Panther itscombatdebutduring VF-783 gave CVG-102, VF-781 andsister-squadron 15 November 1952. Assigned to (CVA-34) off thecoastofKorea on (BuNo 126034)aboard USS Oriskany serving with VF-781, landshisF9F-5 pilot from theRoyal CanadianNavy Lt Joseph JMacBrien, anexchange the ‘Dash-5’ version of MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 57 Royce ‘Finally, the leader and his leader and his the ‘Finally, as they commenced a firing pass. off to the right while wingman went after the section leader of the I went went He shot down. I’d aeroplane into the sun and I lost him, then the leader and wingman come I saw for a diving attack on me. around I turned at the into them and fired and the turned away He leader. on me, and down wingman rolled as past belly-to-belly went we I raked him with a long burst. www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing . He passed the lead to me and turned back in the direction of lead to me and turned back in the direction passed the Oriskany. He ‘We were just going through 26,000 ft when the Russians split up and 26,000 ft when the Russians just going through were ‘We dogfighting Williams joined in too, with now MiGs The other three The four Panthers continued straining upwards. As they passed through continued straining upwards. The four Panthers dove out of the contrail layer – the first ones came at us from the side in came at us from – the first ones out of the contrail layer dove climbing left turn pulled into a hard formation, shooting. I a four-aeroplane a burst and he went I fired MiG. Four on the Number and came around leaving me alone’. him down, wingman then followed smoking. My down of the first MiGs remaining The three one against six. now The odds were They reversed for another firing run. to position themselves climbed group as they flashed turned into them again and again, firing Williams course and at a very rate. ‘Theyby high closure had me cold on manoeuvrability and on those counts to the F9F’. superior was vastly acceleration – the MiG to been able that should not have six enemy fighters in an aeroplane against the gaggle, he saw jinked and rolled While he reversed, compete. a very him to execute forcing position, o'clock’ locked on his ‘six a MiG times he tracked an individual MiG, to escape. Several turn in order hard these to hit his target, but he could not follow that appeared firing rounds ‘I was firing at every clear. o'clock’ trying instead bursts up, to keep his ‘six Williams he recalled. that passed within gun range as they came by’, MiG the enemy fighters each time turning into at full throttle, kept the Panther the task force, with his wingman flying as his safety escort’. The odds hadThe flying as his safety escort’. with his wingman the task force, as the MiGs seven, to two against four against seven just gone from maintained his climb. Williams continued inbound. Williams explained to historian Thomas McKelvey Cleaver in 2012. in 2012. Cleaver McKelvey Thomas to historian explained Williams it gave the squadron ‘When extra CAP, decided to launch an the carrier able to fly a been hadn’t we reasons, of us because, for various to the four cold had been days after catching a first mission in ten My lot recently. that morning’. against Hoeryong the strikes at contrails far above, spotted seven Williams Leader 16,000 ft, Section caught the sun flashing his sharp eyes later, A moment 40,000 ft or more. the of each other, flying abreast MiG-15s of seven on the shiny swept-wings ‘I flipped on on their flanks. Union jets carrying star of the Soviet the red that moment, Lt Elwood, to test my guns. At a burst my gunsight and fired on. his fuel pump warning light had come reported Leader, the Flight The CIC overhead him to report Center] directed [Combat Information the brighter and suddenly all four pilots were out of the cloud and in clear cloud and of the out were four pilots all and suddenly brighter before’, together flown had ever of us ft. ‘None at 12,000 skies Osprey © Royce Williams) the sea (Royce This gun camera film still shows one film still shows This gun camera Lt by MiG-15s downed Soviet of four on 18 VF-781 Williams of Royce The communist jet is 1952. November as it plummets smoke trailing clearly towards 58 CHAPTER THREE and aprobable damaged following thismission. Williams wouldofficiallybecredited withjustonekill disappeared intothe dark sea. crew heaved thebroken carcass overboard andit ofvalue fromeverything BuNo 125459,thedeck armed withthose20mmcannon’. Afterremoving aboard. Iwouldn’t have hadachanceifIhadn’t been engine. Ihadfired offall760rounds of20mmIhad including theoneinwingthatwent intothe mmhits–there were some37mmhitstoo, 23 counted 263holesintheaeroplane, mostlyfrom at thedamage,surprisedhehadmadeitback.‘They her down’. come aboard, andIcaughtthethree wire andshut from to thewind,whichgave metheopportunity captainofOriskany ‘The made astraight-inapproach, maintaining 170knots. Williams keptthebuckingjetundercontrol ashe The Panther’s normallandingspeedwas105knots. the water wassocoldIwouldn’t lastten minutes even inmypoopysuit’. I coulddoitsuccessfullyinmydamagedaeroplane.that Ialsoknew going tobeacrashlanding.‘Ididn’t wanttoditch,becauseIwasn’t sure have achancetoreally aim,sonobodyhitme’. hundredfew feetoverhead. ‘Fortunately, Iwaslow enoughthattheydidn’t destroyers thetaskforce openedfire escorting on Williams ashepasseda to maintainhighspeedregardless’. It alsodidnothelpthatseveral ofthe or not.Isoondiscovered itwasuncontrollable below 170knots,soIhad eject from aPanther, soIwasstuckwithstayingintheaeroplane, likeit too low toeject–you hadtobeabove 1200ftandclimbingtosuccessfully it dived towards thesea.‘Icameoutofcloudsataround 400ft.Iwas I went intotheclouds’. finally gotbackinthefightandcameonhim,hepulledawayas at 13,000ft,andhewas500ftbehindme,stillshooting.My wingman that really worked were theelevators. Idove toward theclouddeckbelow aileron control. andflaps,onlyhadpartial lost rudder The onlythings section,andIsuddenly and messedupthehydraulic unitintheaccessory 37 mmcannonandhitmeinthewing. The shellwent intotheengine spotted oneoftheothersasheslidinonmysix.He fired aburstwithhis clear mytail.IwastrackinganotherwoundedMiG whenIsuddenly in onemission.But thefightwasnotover. pilot hadaccomplishedinthiswar–theshootingdown offourMiG-15s In thefightofhislife,Royce Williams haddonewhatnootherAmerican came around againandIfired, cameoffhimashedove andparts away’. I turned intohimandopenedfire. He toowent down. The Leaderthen burning enemyfighter. sectionleaderthencamearound, and ‘The down onfire’. WilliamsHe went dulypulledupandawayfrom the Royce Royce Despite hisoutstandingperformance, Williams climbedoutoftheriddledjetandstared Aboard Williams wasinserioustrouble, fightingforcontrol ofthePanther as ‘As Imanoeuvred and toavoid thewreckage, Iwasporpoisingtotry Oriskany, theflightdeckwascleared forwhatwasobviously headedtheshipjustaway © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (Royce Williams) and itdisappeared into thedark sea heaved thebroken carcass overboard from thePanther, thedeck crew After removing everything ofvalue (BuNo 125459)back to Oriskany. and thennursedhiscrippled jet dived into cloudsatalower altitude his opponentstillontail, Williams only effective meansofcontrol and cables. With hiselevators beinghis hydraulics andsevering therudder section, knocking outthefighter’s his Panther’s engineaccessory left by a37mmcannonshellthathit Lt Royce Williams pointsto thehole MORE MISSIONS AND MORE MiGS 59
. www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Following the end of the Cold War, in 1992 the Russians revealed that revealed in 1992 the Russians War, the end of the Cold Following Oriskany’s 1952, to 22 November period 28 October the reporting For squadrons, to be a busy time for the Panther proved also December 20 mm 155,831 to year-end, that through show records CVG-102 Williams had indeed downed four MiG-15s, flown by Capts Belyakov Capts Belyakov by flown four MiG-15s, had indeed downed Williams (the VVS-PVO of the Tarshinov and and Lts Pakhomkin Vandalov and and Pakhomkin Vandalov, Air Force). of the Red Forces Air Defence in the fight, while Belyakov, shot down all been directly had Tarshinov and crash-landed as Williams had been badly shot up by the flight leader, crash. being killed in the resulting soon as he was over territory, Soviet war’ of the ‘forgotten Aviator was the top-scoring Naval Williams Royce in a performance unequalled since. on the move, The Chinese were conditions. despite marginal weather flew 95 one day CVG-102 On as cover. using the bad flying weather performing squadrons armed reconnaissance sorties, with both Panther buildings housing They shot up several River. Yalu missions close to the miles of north-south several roads. traffic from and cleared enemy troops for an attack flak suppression pilots provided VF-781’s A few days later targets. All the ADs on some heavily defended VA-923 from Skyraiders by safely to Oriskany returned missions.during armed reconnaissance – most fired were cannon rounds VF-783 expended while with firing 56,009 rounds, VF-781 was credited and a combined total of 722 anti-tank rockets 54,285. Both units also fired during flak a considerable number of fragmentation bombs dropped statistics VF-783. Such VF-781 and 358 by missions – 458 by suppression offensive help explain why the Chinese had not mounted any effective types of mission the four operations during the final months of 1952. Of armed reconnaissance most were F9F pilots assigned to CVG-102, by flown number was The lowest logged a total of 149 such sorties.– both squadrons 53. were escort missions, of which there attributed to photo-reconnaissance The reason miles just 90 operating 77 had been TF was simple. for this tracking the radar With took place. action when this Vladivostok from was little there direction, that from approached as they aircraft communist levels fear at the highest was real There MiGs. Soviet these were doubt that forces Soviet US and between ‘incident’ UN command that an of US and War World into of Korea action’ ‘police one could change the such as this Adm Vice about the fight, to tell no one Williams 3. After cautioning East, informed him that Far Forces Commander Naval P Briscoe, Robert cruiser the USS Agency (NSA) had a team aboard Security the National leading up to and radio traffic all Russian Helena (CL-50) that had recorded of at least three that he had downed The NSA had proof during the fight. and that the fourth had crash landed. the MiGs, VF-781 and completed a total of 270 sorties.two F9F-5 squadrons Both asVF-783 flew a similar number each, with most of their sorties recorded missions – most of the escort the carrier’s missions for armed reconnaissance a total recorded CVG-102 USAF F-86 Sabres. by flown were types propeller of 668 sorties 16 November. for the period, with one of its busiest days being tons of a combined total of 61 dropping involved, were All of its aircraft in attacks on multiple carried four 260-lb weapons each The Panthers bombs. launched late in the afternoon, and they of the fighters were targets. Several the trucks they caught out in the open. destroying successful in were Osprey © 60 CHAPTER FOUR MORE MiGS RESCAP, CAS AND INTERDICTION, agency andstill beabletodive communications witharescue but toclimbaltitudeestablish The airbornepilothasnochoice before additionalhelpcanarrive. single shipairbornetoclearthearea and onegoesdown. This leaves a intointenseanti-aircraft fireruns doctrine iswhenatwo-shipelement suppressed withaminimumlossoftime. The worstscenariointhis advancing enemytroopsclose enoughtoalert as tohisexactposition. enough tokeepthepilotoraircrew memberinsightatalltimes,butnot sector from thepositionofdowned pilot. These mustbeflown close between them,eachofwhichallowsa120-degree complete surveillance be required toorbit,by section,inthree orbits,withasafealtitudegap types. When oneortwodivisionsofPanthers arrive onthescenemostwill communication between theinbound helicoptersoramphibious[rescue] more fightersinthedivisionmaintainingsufficientaltitudetohave aclear mission. It noted; usually amongthefirstaircraft onthe scene. passes onenemytroops attempting to capture downed airmen. They were mm cannonandhighspeedallowing theirpilotstomakemultiplefiring latter situationsthatthePanthers were ideallysuitedto,theirpowerful 20 to becaptured thanoneontheground inenemyterritory. Anditwasthe situation. It was recognised that adowned pilotinthewaterwaslesslikely enemy fighters.Panthers, andlaterBanshees, were thekeyaircraft inthis aircraft involved in theretrieval ofdowned airmenwithinrangeof slower Combat AirPatrol) Doctrine. This gave prioritytotheprotection of rescue downed pilots. TF 77had whatitreferred toasaRESCAP (Rescue A ‘From theseorbitingcircles threats detectedcanbeattackedand firstjobistosecure thearea around ‘Their thedowned pilot,withoneor The TF 77doctrinecovered afour-aeroplane divisionflyingaRESCAP continued toprovide cover formissionsspecifically generatedto fighter-bombers from maraudingMiG-15s, Naval Aviators inF9Fs lthough F-86Sabre pilotshadthemainresponsibility forprotecting © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (Ken Brownell) asset for naval airsupport and down thecoastwas a major area. The carriers’ abilityto range up ample loiter timeover targets inthis could reach the Yalu River andhave in-shore meantthatcarrier aircraft 1953. Beingableto comesoclose when itran short offuelin early after landingaboard thelatter vessel few miles off theNorth Korean coast flightdeck ofPhilippineSea embarked inCVA-45, launches off the An F9F-5 from CVG-5’s VF-53, just a INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 61 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The F9F was considered to offer the optimum level of protection in of protection optimum level to offer the considered The F9F was began its fourth, 1952 Valley Forge and final, combat 20 November On was clearly role in the armed reconnaissance value The F9F’s Valley stated that all F9F-5 pilots on board this period a report During rescue scenarios as long as other Panthers had been launched from the from had been launched as long as other Panthers scenarios rescue was Their loiter time scene. first on the were those that carrier to relieve types like Skyraiders certainlylimited, and as good as propeller-driven not and Corsairs. of CVG-5, under the control was force aerial strike Its cruise of the war. Combat operationsVF-53. and VF-51 squadrons, and included two F9F-5 with the launch hrs on 2 January1953 at 1145 commenced for the vessel the first to take off. was among VF-51 Panther sorties.of 72 offensive A of targets variety launched to attack a wide The next day 96 sorties were at the bomb line all the and supply concentrations troop ranging from from A Panther Korea. of North way into the most northern extremities a wave the carrier that same day when, on VF-51 had to ditch alongside The into flames. an internal explosion and burst suffered the aircraft off, helicopter. the plane guard by pilot was rescued stumbled onto major when a single Panther demonstrated on 16 January After a few strafing runs area. the pilot radioed Wonsan rail activity in the of ADs and one of the location back to Valley Forge, and a squadron The complex was found to contain Corsairs was launched to attack. bombers left the scene they had destroyed 150 wagons.When CVG-5’s was landing on the strike force 20 and damaged another 40. As the last of They were, to be launched. at dusk it was the turn of the night hecklers of heavy atmospheric haze. unable to finish the job because however, a conventional no difficulty in operating from Forge had encountered The ‘Dash-5s’ carrier equipped with the newer H4B catapults. CVA-9-type take off while engines and the H4B helped them powerful had more an externally carried 1200-lb strike load the With carrying ordnance. more explain why the shorterThis helped carriers 19,000 lbs. F9F-5 weighed down and offer attack cover for the downed pilot. The rule here is that it is that ruleThe here pilot. for the downed cover offer attack and down an immediate possible unless quickly as help as to get practical is more on the ground is critical.’ to the pilot threat Osprey © The pilot of this F9F-5 Panther from from Panther The pilot of this F9F-5 lowering trouble experienced VF-51 on final main gear right the jet’s the during Forge Valley to approach but he still managed of 1953, spring crew Deck landing. a safe make to with be charged now would as as swiftly the fighter removing fit the carrier get to possible in order once again. aircraft recovering for TF 77 increased for Mission tempo in an months of 1953 the early during the communists to force to attempt Panther US Navy peace talks. attend April 30 to 1 January losses from with 22 F9Fs accordingly, rose 1953 from of them were being lost – four Association) (Tailhook VF-51 62 CHAPTER FOUR was effective in that none of these sorties was interfered with by marauding wasinterferedwas effective withby inthat none ofthesesorties marauding time fortheanti-aircraft gunners. The topcover provided by theF9F-2s as quicklypossibleandthenleave thetargetarea. This cutdown reaction air groups. The keytotheF9F-5Ps’ success wastogetthephotosrequired being processed, printedandsentouttoallfourofthetaskforce’s carrier Pilots dulybrought backbothpre-strike andpost-strikeimages,thefilm withitsthreeintelligence officersaskedittofly 50sorties assignedPanthers. Between 31January and7March theunitwasingreat demandastheship’s target andcrashed.He waslistedaskilledinaction. VF-91 lostitsfirstjetwhenEns EANixon washitby enemy fire over the had toditch.He wasrescued, butsuffered backinjuries. Two weeks later, was shotup, butthepilotmadeitbackasfarapicketshipwhere he them becauseofenemyaction. Two dayslateranotherof VF-93’s aircraft Panthers wouldbelostbefore hadended,althoughnotallof thecruise aircraft sankquicklyandthepilotwasnotrecovered. ten Afurther ditch intotheseabefore makinghisfinalapproach tothecarrier. The badly damagedby ground fire. Its pilotreached thetaskforce buthadto either squadron cameon16February whenoneof VF-93’s Panthers was moving Panthers, theyalsosuffered theirshare ofthelosses. The firstfor fire, andsincemostoftheflaksuppression wascarriedoutby the fast- driven bombers. wereThese efforts metwithunusuallyintenseground up anddown thecoast. topcoverThey alsoflew fortheslower propeller- Wonsan, andamajorsupplydump. andincludedanairfield to launchitsfirstcombatstrikes. The targetswere locatedinandaround Air Self-Defence Force, soitwasnotuntil31January thatCVG-9 wasable however, sawCVA-47 exercising offthecoastofJapan withtheJapanese just daysafterthecessationofhostilities. Their firstorder ofbusiness, by VF-91 and VF-93, andtheywouldremain onstationuntilearlyAugust, of thewarwithCVG-9 embarked. The carrierairgroup’s F9F-2swere flown by Panthers during‘Cherokee Strikes’. HVARs878 5-in and1016ATARs –manyofthesehadbeenexpended itwasnotedthatCVG-5’s27 July pilotshadfired acombinedtotalof six months.Indeed, whenthevessel completeditscombatactivitieson reports filedby ValleyForgeduringthewar’s final the frontlines. They were frequently mentionedin intended toactasamoraleboosterfortroops on hence thenicknamegiven totheoperations. descended from thenative AmericanCherokee tribe, Clark, commanderoftheSeventh Fleet. Clark was assets. They were ordered by Vice-Adm Joseph ‘Jocko’ from fourcarriers,aswell asUSMarine Corpsair ofthebomblinebysupply routes aircraft justnorth of early1953. These were attacksmadeonenemy to beaproblem duringthefamous‘Cherokee strikes’ from Panthers. thenew maximum performance needed plentyofwindacross theirflightdeckstoget VC-61’s Detachment Mwasalsoonboard atthistimewithitsF9F-5Ps. For thenextfive weeks thetwoPanther squadrons hammered targets andfinal,cruise On itsfourth, 15December 1952PhilippineSeastarted The strikeshadtobesuccessfulastheywere A lackofdeckspaceonthesmallervessels proved © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com and VF-154 (Dick Starinchak) and VF-154 5s’ behindthejetare from VF-153 painted inmidnight blue. The ‘Dash- replacement canopy fitted, which is riding theflightdeck elevator hasa deployment with CVG-15. The aircraft three natural metalF9F-5Ps on years later, when VC-61 DetDsent taken on VC-61 DetE. This photograph was 1950, deployed atrio ofF9F-2Ps from was Princeton which, inNovember reconnaissance variant ofthePanther to embark theF9F-2P photo- plenty ofprotection. The firstcarrier VC-61, which were slow andneeded TF 77were theF4U-5P Corsairsof reconnaissance aircraft available to cruises theonlyphoto- During thefirstfew carrier combat Right M (aft oftheelevator) (USNavy) elevator) andan AD-4N of VC-35 Det the right ofthelowered deck starboard bow, two infront andto AD-4Ws of VC-11 DetM(oneonthe VA-95, 11 F4U-4sof VF-94, three six AD-4/-4NA/-4NL Skyraiders of (one ontheport deck edge elevator), 14 F9F-2 Panthers of VF-91 and VF-93 are various aircraft ofCVG-9, namely North Korea on3May 1953. Ondeck Philippine Sea Princeton two-and-a-half sailsoff thecoastof INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 63 ) CVG-9 CVG-9 Princeton The heavy Panther losses of the The heavy Panther MiG-15s. During the first ten days first ten the During MiG-15s. photo-reconnaissance of February were that the Chinese revealed aerial gauntlet the UN’s challenging 3392 trucks as a total of in force, Wonsan in the moving seen were alone. area (when months of 1953 first three 14 US lost to all jets were Navy with an identical causes, compared half of the number in the second continued into April, year) previous www.ospreypublishing.com fourth, and final, deployment covered the period between the period between covered fourth, and final, deployment • Publishing The fighting war ended on 27 July, and the preceding week was was week and the preceding on 27 July, The fighting war ended Princeton’s carriersTF 77 had five combat cruise the early stages of CVA-37’s During when a further eight F9Fs were destroyed. Although things improved in improved Although things destroyed. when a further eight F9Fs were in VF-153, embarked (both from when just two aircraft May, enemy supply of all the main non-stop interdiction characterised by Philippine Sea’s the ceasefire days before the three During routes. led those of the other carriers on these sorties. the 28th CVA-47 On replacement to provide completed its time on-station and withdrew for TF 77 ship then left The East. other carriers in the Far for aircraft and soon afterwards sailed back to the USA. Japan, major Their job was to support a UN efforts in preventing on station. All F9F squadrons the Chinese at that late stage of the war. by offensive troop and known routes made continuous attacks on major supply its assets with a large the enemy protected return, In concentration areas. inThis was reflected gun batteries. array of mobile automatic anti-aircraft were lost, no fewer than 16 Panthers were destroyed in June and July. and July. June in destroyed were lost, no fewer than 16 Panthers were VF-91 had a particularly of it, with six of its F9F-2s being lost. bad time VF-153 included CVG-15 1953. Its and mid-September mid-January VF-837, VF-154 (which had startedVF-831 and the cruiseand as 1953) with their on 4 February being re-designated before respectively, from F9F-5Ps as a detachment of photo-reconnaissance F9F-5s, as well D. Det VC-61 Osprey © Jerry Miller) Jerry VF-831 Panther pilots are pictured pictured pilots are Panther VF-831 with in Hawaii training undergoing that they ensure Suit’ to ‘Poopy the of in the event do what to know the off waters in the frigid ditching These Naval coast. Korean North subsequently were Aviators with CVG-15 in Princeton embarked combat 1953 the vessel’s during re-designated was VF-831 cruise. shortly 1953, on 4 February VF-153 action into went Princeton before came in very This training TF 77. with lost an astonishing VF-153 as handy, its eight-month during nine F9F-5s ( deployment 64 CHAPTER FOUR attributed tothe muchhigherairspeedsofthejets. Anactionreport noted often failedtofire becauseofbroken electricalconnections. This was Most hadbeenmanufactured during Worldthe F9Fs. War 2,andthey added pressure ontherackswhenyou toucheddown andcaughtthewire.’ with abombthathadn’t dangerous droppedbecauseofthe wasalsovery The wingswouldcomedown rightbefore catapultlaunch. Comingback with thebombsattached,thereby takingalotofpressure offtheracks. failing. The safestwaytoreduce theoddswastokeepwingsfolded of theproblems. The heavierthebomb, thegreater thechanceofrack bent andbroken searsanddefective armingsolenoidswere causingmost each malfunctionandareport madeaboutthefailure. It wasfoundthat In accordance with TF 77directives, therackswere disassembled after from designdefectsthataffectedloading,maintenanceandbombrelease. with adifferent bombracktotheF9F-2s. The Aero 14Ahadsuffered Panther. Ihadexperienceof bothmodels. The “Dash-5s” were equipped encountered duringhistwocombatcruises; Schnitzerwith helpfrom reflected experts. ofthetroubles onafew he wouldn’t beanyflameouts,especiallyatsuchalow altitude.’ smooththrottle movementsto thecarrierImadevery toensure there finding the TJC selectorswitchandmoving ittomanual.On theapproach hand justasitpassedthrough the105 percentmark, whilesimultaneously revealed therapidgaininrpm.Isnappedthrottle toidlewithmyleft to accelerate.Aquickcheckoftheenginepower settinginstrument a power settingofabout86percentwhenIfelttheaircraft suddenlystart mission. Wea CAP were flyinginanopenspread-out formationwith to manual. This couldthenleadtoanotherproblem –engineflameout! this wastopullthethrottle totheidle positionandswitchthe TJC control centpower level. 100 per The onlythingthepilotcoulddotoprevent fuel wasbeingsenttoit.If notstopped, theenginecouldgoover the toacceleratebecausetoomuch after thishappenedtheenginewouldstart unit “froze” duetoitstemperature sensitivityathighaltitudes.Shortly acceleration. The problem wascausedwhentheturbojetcontroller [TJC] aeroplanes were above 25,000ft. This wasduetoaconditioncalledauto- engines over-speeding. It happenedinbothPanther squadrons whenthe Lt George Schnitzer of VF-153 wasintheunluckyminority, however; period, Panther pilotsencountered remarkably in-flightproblems. few beingflownsorties duringthis accounted fortherest. problems orfaultycatapultshots fire over targets.Mechanical of thistotalwasattributedtoground and VF-154 two,althoughonlyhalf conflict. VF-153 lostninePanthers during thefinalfourmonthsof the lossessustainedby CVG-15 Problems were alsoencountered withthe5-inrockets carriedby ‘We hadsomedifficultieswiththe Aero 14Abombracksinuseonthe When problems cropped uptheyhadtobedealtwithquickly, often ‘I hadpersonalexperienceof TJC “freeze” whilstat35,000ftduring ‘During manyoftheCAPflightsthere were frequent problems withjet Considering thesheernumberof © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com speed ( vulnerable dueto their575mph levels ofbattle damage andwere less vibration. They alsosustainedlower due to theirspeedandlack of jets produced better qualityimages Panthers andF2H-2PBanshees. The to TF 77–F4U-5PCorsairs, F9F-2/5P strength from large carriers assigned types ofaircraft indetachment During thewar VC-61 operated three afflicted theunpainted airframes. abandoned whenexcessive corrosion Panthers was subsequently seen onthisandmany otherlate-war experimental natural metalfinish the late spring of1953. The towards wing-fold mechanism prior to taxiing VC-61 DetDjethasactivated the his unpainted F9F-5P, thepilotofthis Safely back from anothermissionin Dick Starinchak) the bow ofPrinceton during INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 65
Princeton’s www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Lt Schnitzer also recalled problems with the Panther’s 20 mm cannon; 20 mm with the Panther’s problems also recalled Lt Schnitzer The ‘They on average. one stoppage per 1800 rounds usually suffered Jack Ens cannon comes from on the Panther’s Another perspective all four cannon, could fire for each gun, and we carried 190 rounds ‘We days the junior aviators helped the armourers replenishment ‘During ‘When turned cold a disconcerting became the weather problem 1953 Princeton’s and mid-May mid-April the period between During As a result of these failures the rocket motors did not ignite, and pilots motors did not ignite, the rocket failures of these As a result two Panther squadrons flew 431 strike missions and 381 CAPs. When flew missions and 381 CAPs. squadrons 431 strike two Panther 904 total reached also included the overall other types of missions were the high loss rate suffered fire to ground so much exposure With sorties. The in-serviceVF-153 and rate for was understandable. CVG-15 by F9F-5 carried four 20 mm cannon, and each had 600 rounds of of 20 mm cannon, and each had 600 rounds F9F-5 carried four a jammed gun on almost This meant that someone had ammunition. 0.50-cal to the a comforting fact! Compared wasn’t sure every mission. It was the 0.50-cal there a verymachine gun, it was For rate. high failure that the demands of wartime appeared It rounds. one stoppage per 8500 built into these new way ahead of the technology jet aircraft. flying were seemed to be running though we even on a peacetime schedule The Navy fighting a war.’ were Leyte during the early F9F-2s from VF-31, who had flown Cogdell of stages of the war; had ten seconds worth we of all four, fired we or two at a time. If almost always We per second. 19 rounds ammunition since each gun fired rather violently shook the aircraft did, the recoil When we all four. fired of airspeed. A one-second and caused an immediate and noticeable loss ammo was loaded as a combination The on target. burst put 76 projectiles tracer [APT] armour piercing and high explosive of armour piercing, incendiary rounds. We in their squadron. the aircraft the ammunition for with “belting” the belting machine and took it in turns to VF-31 pilots stood around our case it was AP, In tray. place a specific kind of ammo in its loading APT and HEI – a very potent mix. HEI, AP, APT, switched on and charged we the target area approached As we apparent. pulled the When we in the chamber. This placed the first round the guns. No first round. that single but they only fired trigger all four guns fired, pulling the trigger amount of switching the guns on and off or repeatedly had four single shot cannon, which we firing. Effectively, more produced baffled the ordnance This problem fighter. Navy was bad for a frontline ordnance days a Marine and it persisted for some time. After several crew, was determined to Leyte and the solution was found. It expertover came all the idea was to remove His that the lubricant being used was freezing. worked.’ It and accept the added wear. the guns “dry” lubricant, fire final cruise in 1953 at least 30 cases of hung rockets were recorded. This recorded. final cruise were rockets 30 cases of hung in 1953 at least for Fortunately carried. proportion an alarming of the rockets represented on the racks during stayed most of the rockets the flightdeck crews, landings. arrested often returned to their carriers with unfired ordnance. During During ordnance. their carriers with unfired to often returned that, ‘Thethat, in link weakest is the rockets for connection electrical pigtail whip and Banshees Panthers of the high speeds The system. the rocket base’. at the rocket or saw the wires into pieces the wires Osprey © 66 CHAPTER FOUR appeared thattheaircraft wouldhave tobegrounded untilamajor badly damaged,althoughhewasabletoreturn tothecarrier. At firstit natural metalfinishwhenitwashithard by flak. The Panther’s tailwas interesting Blue creation thatwouldbecomeknown as‘The Tail Fly’. fromtook thesalvageable twoPanthers parts andcameupwithan aircraft intheunitbegantodrop alarminglyduetoattrition. They duly maintenance personnelhadtogetcreative whenthe number ofserviceable extremely scarce duringthelatterstagesofKorean conflict,so VF-153’s Lt(jg)Richard ‘Stretch’ Cliniteof pilot VF-153. Panther were parts Blue the legendof‘The Tail Fly’ andthefateofexperiencedF9F-5 the upposition,leadingtoanencounterwithbarriers,orworse. they toucheddown thetailhookhitramp. This causedittolockin records wasthat someF9Fsmadenormallandingapproaches butwhen stable whenitswingswere folded.Anotherissue mentioned ingroup This incidentprovided acleardemonstrationthattheF9Fwasnotvery aircraft’s engine. The wingonthedamagedaircraft hadtobechanged. its wingsfoldeditwasblown over onitssideby theblastfrom another on deck. When aPanther wasbeingtowed across Princeton’s in excess of283,00020mmcannonrounds. more than3900250-lbbombsand3500+100-lbbombs,whilefiring the ship’s ordnance notedthatbothPanther department unitsdropped being made.Recordsdemonstrated thescaleofeffort maintainedby –atotalthatclearly byof 1050offensive theendofcruise sorties and 13for VF-154. Nevertheless, CVG-15’s Panthers hadflown atotal much of June. By theendofJuly, thefigure for VF-153 hadfallento11, each unitoftenhavingonly16F9F-5savailable onadailybasisfor VF-154 duringtheJune-July perioddropped considerablyasaresult, with In earlyMay 1953 Clinitehadbeenflyinga‘Dash-5’ inanexperimental One ofthemostinteresting talestocomefrom Princeton’s All carriersencountered problems whentheF9F’s wingswere folded © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com cruise was cruise deckwith (Jerry Miller) before hecouldberecovered parachute andhedulydrowned prevented Clinite from collapsinghis the surface ofthewater and but strong gustsofwindwhippedup helicopter was quickly onthescene, eject over thesea, A rescue flying anotherPanther, forcing himto Clinite was hitagain by AAA while Tail Fly. A few days after thisincident, resulting inthecreation ofTheBlue F9F-5 thathadbeenbadlyshotup, repaired withsectionsfrom another May 1953. This aircraft was later an attack onamajortarget inearly large calibre anti-aircraft fire during the damage to hisF9F-5 causedby on hissecondcombattour, shows off Lt(jg) Richard Clinite, a VF-153 pilot INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 67 ‘It is strongly recommended that recommended is strongly ‘It It has been experienced on Boxer that has It and 22-24 Panthers 20-22 props The constitute a full deck load. practice is to spot all jets withpresent except the catwalks, tail pipes over spotted tofor four to six aeroplanes This along the island. starboard permits 100 per cent turn up of all jets prior to leaving the spot, with the adjacent of those aircraft exception limited to aThese are to the island. 60 per cent turn up until spotted on the catapults. of F9Fs are squadrons when three www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The next day Clinite took off for a mission in another F9F. Near Near took off for a mission in another F9F. The next day Clinite stated that 1953 the US Navy issued in late February release a press In Boxer, of the conflict involved The penultimate carrier deployment was home to three for the time CVA-21 records Carrier air group have squadron and one Skyraider jet squadrons with three ‘Operations Wonsan he encountered heavy flak that damaged his aircraft so badly that so badly aircraft heavy flak that damaged his he encountered Wonsan the helicopter was quickly on the sea. A rescue he had to bail out into up the surface gusts of wind whipped scene, but strong of the water and The helicopter crew collapsing his parachute. Clinite from prevented to be an but this proved pilot to safety, downed attempted to hoist the the parachute out. the high winds kept billowing impossible task because USS Samuel N the destroyer by rescued eventually Although Clinite was attempts and drowned, had already late. He Moore (DD-747), it was too This tragic story numerous repeated was probably him failed. to revive times during the war at sea. and it had lost 522 aircraft War during the first 30 months of the Korean it was a very that respect war. expensive Corps 481. In the US Marines and whose fourth, and final, combat cruise commenced on 30 March 1953, four months after the war had ended. lasted until late November they mounted as would find itself pitted against Chinese forces ATG-1 Its to the was different the end of hostilities. ATG-1 last-ditch efforts before earlier in the conflict because it that had deployed carrier air groups present were although not all of them squadrons, Panther included three with F9F-2s while equipped VF-151 were VF-52 and for the full cruise. the newer F9F-5s. VF-111 had the ‘part-time’ stated; squadrons Panther the number of However, handling problems. no unusual aircraft presented can be spotted for a maximum deck load launch is limited. that aeroplanes overhaul could be accomplished in port. In the meantime another VF-153 another the meantime port. in be accomplished could In overhaul its forward with F9F-5 standard back a brought Wilds, W A Ens pilot, the maintenance crew was then that flak. It holed by fuselage badly undamaged partsThe were of the two aircraft its ingenuity. displayed to be Clinite allowing session, work during an all-night combined Fly’ Tail The story of ‘The Blue a new with Panther. hybrid presented the cockpit when with Clinite in 12 May) its 12th mission (on ended after to the USA for rebuilding. back was ordered the aircraft Osprey © Jerry Miller) Jerry VF-153’s famous F9F-5 BuNo 126652, BuNo 126652, F9F-5 famous VF-153’s taxies Fly, Tail The Blue christened aboard area parking the forward into a combat from returning after CVA-37 12 – it completed 1953 in May sortie missions in this configuration such Atsugi for NAF being sent to before ( a rebuild 68 CHAPTER FOUR were prepared toflyinsuchconditions becauseofthetacticalsituation marginal atbest.It wasconsidered thatallthegroup’s important pilots operations hadtobeconducted infoggyconditions,whenvisibilitywas by their predecessors. The communists’ meantthat offensive efforts TF 77 differentfinal weeks tothoseexperienced ofthewarfacedconditionsvery thought thatalay-offofmore than15dayswasexcessive forjetpilots. considered tohave doneanoutstandingjobduringitssecondtour, itwas had elapsedsinceitlastseenaction.Althoughthesquadron was still weather conditionsofMay andJune 1953. experienced trouble launchingcombat-loaded‘Dash-5’ Panthers inthe catapultsinstalledin CVA-39. Boxer’sH-4Bcatapultshad H-8 type exchange wastoenabletheF9F-5stakeadvantage oftheimproved already completed46daysof‘on the line’ operations. The reason forthe VF-111, ledby CdrAF Vickery, wasanexperienced squadron, having 16 F9F-5sof VF-111 swappedBoxer’sflightdeckforLakeChamplain. Juneon 30 VF-44, withitsF4U-4s,wastransferred toATG-1 providing thejetfightercomponentofcarrierairwing.However, included noPanther squadrons, F2H-2-equipped VF-22 and VF-62 would remain on-stationuntil4December 1953. Its CVG-4 initially had beenthefirstinlate1950). The ship, whichjoined TF 77on10June, the secondKorea War by anEastCoastflattop(Leyte undertaken cruise would bethefinalcarrierdeployment oftheconflict’s latestages,andonly at 2200hrs. ATG-1 before generated77combatsorties theceasefire cameintoeffect continued towar’s lastdayoftheconflict(27July) end,foronthe very Andthis such daysthecarrierairgroup was flyingatleast150sorties. and thelastdivisionstoflyinafternoonwere recovered atdusk.On days whentheweather wasgoodthe firstjetswere launchedat0459hrs were usuallyarmedwith5-inHVARs, aswell astheir20mmcannon.On pressure tocutofftheenemy’s supplylinesfrom thenorth. Their aircraft when itcompletedits60,000thlanding. ceasefire. Nevertheless, Boxerreached asignificantmilestoneon5July Chinese troops were pushinghard togainground priortotheinevitable last monthofthewar, flown cuttingthenumberofsorties atatimewhen there was.Bad weather alsoadversely affectedflightoperationsduringthe and Skyraiders, whichallowed themtotakeoffsafelyintowhatlittlewind insufficient. The Panthers hadlighterweapons loadsthantheCorsairs toincrease thefighter-bomberpotentialofairgroup.’etc.) wouldserve embarked inratiotoloadandno-loadflights(CAP, photo-recce escort, increasecomplement withproportionate inthenumberofF9F-2s F9F-5 whileembarked CVAs. onunconverted Reduction ofthe“Dash-5” capabilitiesofthe difficulttoachieve designload-carrying make itvery Limitations oftheH4Bcatapults,coupledwithlow windconditions, same missionsbutare notinterchangeable forpilotassignment. where theassignedjets(F9F-2andF9F-5)are employed the toperform embarked onthesamecarrierthattheyallbeoftype,especially The Naval Aviators flyingfrom thefourcarriersonstationduring By thetime itssecondcombattour,VF-111 started aperiodof22days Starting inlateApril 1953,USSLakeChamplain(CVA-39)madewhat Throughout ATG-1’s timewith TF 77,F9Fpilotswere underalotof Operations continuedeven whenwindvelocity over theflightdeckwas © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com while the INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 69 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing records state that CVG-4 followed the Allied Tactical Tactical the Allied followed state that CVG-4 Lake Champlain’s records On catapult with very used the H-8 little difficulty. Panthers The unit’s engine was a large number of low ‘thirsty’ of the ‘Dash-5’s’ result One on the ground. Yet earlier in the war air operations might have been been earlier in the war air operations might have Yet on the ground. weather. suspended for a day or two in such dangerous its jets to rendezvous 1 in arranging for No Volume Manual Procedures altitude low as the standard 10,000-15,000 ft, as well at between in or less eight aircraft were there was found that whenever It procedure. altitude join-up was far superior because it permitted a jet flight the low for the target a speedier departure and, therefore, a quicker rendezvous rendezvoused two units jet squadrons, this cruise with three During area. when all three Usually, well. This was found to work and one high. low ‘Dash-5’ VF-111’s to the carrier after a long mission, returned squadrons landed first because of their limited fuel endurance. Group Panthers ft for ten minutes at 82 per that an F9F-5 flying at 10,000 showed figures burned 400 lbs of fuel. cent power to launch with a normal the F9F-5s carriers this allowed aircraft CVA-class the increasing load of eight 250-lb bombs with very little risk. However, the jet’s a further loading by 1200 lbs significantly lowered ordnance configuration its interceptor radius of action and combat endurance. In the F9F-5 had a radius of action of about 300 nautical miles. As a fighter- only 12 200 nautical miles, with to around bomber this was reduced With for target identification and the actual attack. minutes allowed fuel of fuel. Its carried 5800 lbs wingtip tanks fitted, the ‘Dash-5’ consumption was considerably higher than that of the F9F-2 due to its of of 1.5 hours with external ordnance engine. Flights powerful more 14A launchers were 2000 lbs carried on two Mk 51 racks and six Aero normally scheduled during this period. time was late or when improper the recovery fuel emergencies whenever the margin for had been used in flight, reducing cruise procedures control Mk 51 that the inboard matters it was recommended improve To safety. Osprey © ) (CVA-39) upon the (CVA-39) Archibald (Archibald Japan to return carrier’s der Lugt McCleish via Henk van on Boxer aft parked Panthers ATG-1 other F9Fs VF-111, Besides in 1953. ‘200’ modexes) (S VF-52 to belonged VF-111 However, ‘300’). (H VF-151 and with F9F- the only unit equipped was difficulty and it soon experienced 5s, jets from these heavier operating On old-model catapults. Boxer’s unable to was occasion the carrier both due to aircraft launch and the deck wind over insufficient and the unsuitability of its catapults, handlers had difficulty aeroplane on ‘Dash-5’ the larger manoeuvring elevator. the number two the incompatibility of Additionally, sections with flying mixed F9F-2s about 25 were (the latter F9F-5s a decision to prompted knots faster) USS Lake to VF-111 cross-deck Champlain 70 CHAPTER FOUR the airfields from differentthe airfields angles. The cloudcover wasstillpresent over them. Flying low, spread out over 100ft,we couldallgetagoodlookat around Hamhung toverify thatthere hadbeennowork done to improve ceasefire, we launched anarmedreconnaissance flightover theairfields flown.number ofsorties On onemission,about twoweeks before the enemy airfields; the pressure placedonalltheon-stationcarrierstomonitorknown by VF-111’sPanthers. inside North Korea, thephoto-recce Banshees neededthecover provided aircraft before theceasefire. Since were mostoftheseairfields locateddeep tomaintaintheminoperationalconditionsothattheycouldreceiveeffort determine theiroperationalstatus. The Chinesewere making amajor aircraft toreconnoitre known onadailybasissoasto enemyairfields missions MiG-15s were notencountered. top cover. This systemwasfoundtowork well, andonmostoftheseescort would therefore alwaysflyatlower altitudeswhiletheBanshees undertook ceiling wasconsiderablylower thanthatoftheF2H-2. The Panthers Banshees wouldflytopcover. Naval records statethattheF9F-5’s service bombersoverescorted ‘MiG Alley’ ortheextreme ofKorea, northeast the F2H-2Ps. It hadbeenstandard procedure thatwheneitherfightertype suppression missionsandescorting VC-61 Det 44’s photo-reconnaissance thepropeller-drivenfully occupiedescorting typeswhileflyingCAPs, flak 500-lbbombsonthetwoinboardfor by Mk14Alaunchers. carrying ceiling.Ordnance and raisetheservice loadingswouldalsobecompensated racks beremoved. This woulddecrease fuelconsumption,increase airspeed ‘The weather inearlyJuly‘The waserratic,andonsomedaysithalved the VF-153’s LtSchnitzer, from whoflew Princetonatthistime,recalled Standing orders from TF 77required CVG-4’s photo-reconnaissance At thislatestageofthewarpilots ofPanthers andBanshees were © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com der Lugt (Archibald McCleishviaHenkvan to thefighter’s four 20mmcannon been pulledforward to permit access cockpit. The Panther’s noseconehas the discrete bombtallybeneaththe last bombsoftheKorean War –note Finlay, whodropped thesquadron’s the aircraft was flown by Lt(jg) W A was Lt(jg)Rollo Young, buton27July July 1953. The jet’s assignedpilot 126037 aboard Lake Champlain Sailors crowd around F9F-5 BuNo ) in INTERDICTION, RESCAP, CAS AND MORE MiGS 71 This combat-weary F9F-5 from from F9F-5 This combat-weary at Osan photographed was VF-153 when the AB (K-55) in July 1953 its end. approaching was War Korean sustained had probably The aircraft to unable and was damage battle home Osan was the carrier. to return of the fighter-bombers the F-86F to Bomber Group Fighter 18th USAF’s ) Gelveles (Charles www.ospreypublishing.com . • Publishing Osprey © , logged 58 CAP and 134 armed reconnaissance Lake Champlain, logged 58 CAP and 134 armed reconnaissance The downtime for the ‘Dash-5’ Panthers was reflected in the July in the July was reflected Panthers ‘Dash-5’ for the The downtime As the war moved towards its end the tempo of sorties flown by each by its end the tempo of sorties flown towards As the war moved and our with 152 sorties‘The flown, set a record, next day our group operating now VF-111, of the Panthers final two weeks the war’s During statistic for ordnance expended. Of the 199,841 20 mm rounds fired by by fired the 199,841 20 mm rounds expended. Of statistic for ordnance only expended 32,375, although squadron the Panther aircraft, CVG-4’s 250-lb GP bombs) – 1930 bombs (1346 of them were the jets did drop VF-111 did not lose a single Panther squadrons. than both Banshee more during the final 30 days of the war (it had lost one to fuel starvation on caused damage had suffered aircraft although several however), 19 June, enemy targets. Group high-value protecting automatic weapons by with most of the hit 15 times in July, were that Panthers show records able to reach All were 37 mm rounds. heavy calibre damage caused by VF-111 had compiled an impressive their carrier or a friendly air base. Lake Champlain during its short stay aboard record sorties. It was noted that since the Panthers of VF-111 had not been VF-111 had not of that since the Panthers was noted sorties. It numerous transferring to CVA-39, particularly days before in the 22 active systems became apparent minor defects in their electrical and mechanical the old that This proved during their first two days of combat operations. operating performance improve to regularly must be flown adage that aircraft applied to jets. the need for minor maintenance also and reduce the frontlines, so the second flight of the day was another radar drop. With With of the day was another radar drop. so the second flight the frontlines, bombing mission was to do high-level division’s the marginal weather, point, the drop approached This time, as we 18,000 ft. once again from me and us, violently rocking between AAA shell exploded a large calibre apart far enough neither of that were for us we my wingman. Fortunately that round The gun that fired us picked up any flak holes in our aircraft. and verywas a big one, and its air burst was huge, black ugly!’ recalls; as Schnitzer rapidly, increased carrier air group The first one was around division flew strikes”. two “Cherokee Panther This type of attack was designed and the second near Hoieng. Hyon-ni lining up on the target, dive to fly in at about 20,000 ft, make a steep as possible. as fast and then get the heck out of the area the ordnance drop accurate as more as well The AAA was steadily getting heavier and heavier, After these strikes my division made a reconnaissance under radar control. shoot up with our system looking for something to the road run over days of the cruise.’ was one of our busiest 20 mm cannon. It from 72 CHAPTER FIVE T ENTER THE WAR MARINE PANTHERS several minutesbefore thenexttwo aircraft coulddepart. We quickly cloud raisedby ourtailpipeswassothickthataftertakeoffwe hadtowait of time. We hadtomakeourtakeoffsintwoaeroplane sections. The dust with asphaltspraysbutnothing couldreally holditdown foranylength for ahard surface. The AirForce compacted triedtokeepthedustsurface the kindofmissionsflown by hisunit; squadron’s CO,LtColNeil RMacIntyre, describedconditionsthere, and Chinese troops rapidlydrove friendly forces south. aircraft were however, tobeshort-lived, all UN as‘humanwaves’ of jet aircraft hadbeendeployed by incombat.Operations thatfarnorth mission, flown on10December, marked thefirst timeUSMarine Corps mountainous terraintenmilessouthwest oftheChosinReservoir. This ofthe8thArmy in theirfirststrike missioninsupport its pilotsflew initial operationalbasewas Yonpo AB(K-27)inNorth Korea. From there up tothe Yalu River, butthen theChinesehadentered thewar. VMF-311’s missions. AllMarine F9Fsdisplayedthe‘WL’ tailcode. to theairbaseatItami tomaketheirfinalpreparations forcombat carrierUSSBairoko escort 30 November 1950personnelbeganunloadingtheiraircraft from the in-theatre by sending VMF-311 anditsF9F-2BPanthers toKorea. On access tokeytargetsdeepinNorth Korea. and down bothcoastsoftheKorean Peninsula, givingitsaircraft easy maintained aslightstrategicadvantage becauseitscarrierscouldrangeup much helpinsuchconditions.On balance,therefore, theUSNavy Even pierced steelplanking(PSP)couldnotprovide of South Korea. transformed intostickymudby the heavyseasonalrainfalltypical for takingoffwithheavyloads,except, were thatis,whentherunways no suchproblems. Operations from landbasesprovided plentyofroom (the onlyland-basedunitstoseecombatwithPanthers inKorea) faced originally designedforpiston-enginedaircraft. of thewar, yet theaeroplane hadtooperate from thedecksofcarriers carriers. The F9F-2wasunderpowered, especiallyduringtheearlystages ‘The stripatK-9was laidoutonanoldriverbed, with Marston matting ‘The On 13December VMF-311 established itselfatPusan AB(K-9). The At thisstageofthewarUNforces hadpushedtheNKPA alltheway The USMarine Corpsresponded totheneedforjetfighter-bombers On thefaceofitUSMarine Corpspilotsof VMF-311 and VMF-115 of ordnance whenlaunchingfrom their theiraircraft couldcarry the Korean conflict,astheyfoundthemselves limitedinthe amount he USNavy’s Panther squadrons were atadisadvantage throughout (CVE-115)inJapan, from where theymoved © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 73 ‘We knew we were having mechanical troubles troubles having mechanical knew were we ‘We became expertsbecame and four- takeoffs two section in the target. to en route join-ups division aeroplane conditions to operate under these continued We jets. took its toll on our until the dust The told us so. cockpit warning lights when the fuel pump breakdown, was problem immediate The Panther malfunctions. along with fuel control the jet with that provided had a dual pump system of them broke one event a back-up pump in the However, us some margin of safety. This gave down. instrumenta warning light on the panel doesn’t mind, especially on a mission lend itself to peace of deep into enemy territory. www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The crowded conditions at Pusan AB, and the consequent wear and AB, and the consequent wear conditions at Pusan The crowded in 1951 I was the CO of Marine ‘When to Korea returned the squadron VMF-311 was scrambled on two occasions to aid 1951 April During ‘Flying under control of Fifth Air Force, we had our missions assigned had we Air Force, of Fifth control under ‘Flying tear on the F9Fs, meant that the squadron was ordered back to Itami AB to Itami back was ordered tear on the F9Fs, meant that the squadron pilots jets and three lost three VMF-311 had already 1951. on 25 January the unit re-grouped, Whilst in Japan of them in combat. then, two by with 22 F9F-2Bs. AB (K-3) on 17 February heading to Pohang before back in action, undertaking a successful days later its pilots were Two of the rest For Chinese-held territory. mission over armed reconnaissance missions. reconnaissance road the month they concentrated on CAS and and was the destruction of 39 buildings, four warehouses The result of Chinese troops group also caught a small trucks. railway several Pilots return, In and dealt with them summarily. just north of the 38th Parallel AB (K-5). Ju was lost during a landing accident at Kwang a single Panther this brief period when the Panthers recalled Fontana Paul Gen Maj of VMF-311 saw action once again; VMF-311 had remedied this time AB. By 33 at Pohang [MAG] Air Group F Kinney, of Lt Col John the command Under its fuel pump problems. applied his combat sortie rate. He an impressive reached the squadron ingenious mechanical abilities, which he had earlier used to maintain the helped 2. He War World in Island Wake flying off Wildcats F4F Marine performance from VMF-311 a very operational unit. Its effective make that time on was outstanding.’ the CPVA. from in contact with a numerically superior force troops on a daily ops order. For example, it might be an armed recce mission might be an armed recce example, it For on a daily ops order. would start we but, as where That’s on the east coast. Wonsan near on would get diverted over to a CAS mission happened, we frequently for such possibilities, each of us had quite be prepared To coast. the west with a master chart a library on top to solve indexed of maps all carefully were that we of getting into the general area the immediate problem had to do was select the map all you there, were we Once supposed to go. the through identify it, make a descent grid coordinate, for the target by proper it in its re-insert cloud hole, fold the map back up and nearest leg, check the fuel state, monitor the warning lights, niche under your or under the own on your wingman and then go to work smile at your airborne or on the ground!’ either FAC, of a control Osprey © An unnamed pilot from VMF-311 VMF-311 An unnamed pilot from the benefit of the for mops his brow he had a lucky after photographer wingtip escape when the starboard after exploded tank of his F9F-2 The pilot managed AAA. being hit by (K-3) at Pohang land his jet back to (US dramas further without any ) Corps Marine 74 CHAPTER FIVE commitment, the unitlostonlyasinglePanther (on18June) incombat. only twohourstocomplete. Despite VMF-311’s highoperational Unit records statethatenginechangesonitsPanthers took anaverage of maintenance wasproving tobelower thanboththeF4UandAD. the F9F’s speedamajorpluspoint for VMF-311, itsdown-time for Panthers were usuallyonthescenelongbefore theCorsairs.Not onlywas aid hard-pressed troops. When aFAC calledforhelp, USMarine Corps time againtheF9Fsproved theirvalue inresponding quicklytocalls flights jetsrangedeastward tothecoastalongSea ofJapan. Time and interdiction ofSeoul, fortroops some75milesnorth althoughonsome hours. MostCAS and sawpilotsperforming undertaken ofthesorties 1951 theyrevealed thatthesquadron’s Panthers hadflown atotalof2241 resourced enemy. aerial campaignisnotalwayssuccessfulagainstadeterminedand well- of thecommunistspringoffensive demonstratedthateven aneffective hamper themovement of suppliestothefrontlines. However, thesuccess help recover ground gainedby theenemy. The aircraft alsocontinuedto and Corsairunitsresponded to instrength ofalargeUNeffort aspart on the1stand7thMarine Divisions’ lines.AllUSMarine CorpsPanther place. Enough, however, gotthrough tohelptheChinesemakeadrive and equipmentmoving southtoprevent aneffective offensive from taking Strangle the FEAFbeganamassive interdiction campaignknown asOperation the strikeforce over theairfield. MiG-15s oftheriver, north althoughnonemadeanyattempttoengage During thatbriefperiod VMF-311’s pilotsreported sightingnumerous 18 minutesbefore low. turningbacktobaseastheirfuelbeganrun range oftheMiG-15s. The Panthers were abletostayover thetargetfor at Sinuiju. Locatedonthesouthsideof Yalu River, itwaswell within ina300-aircraft attackonthebigairfield when its20F9Fsparticipated first losssince18March. The unitwasinvolved inamajorraidon9May down on1May andthepilotcaptured, thisaircraft being VMF-311’s resulting in12aircraft returning withdamage.Afighterwasalso shot state thatitspilotsencountered intenseAAAonalloftheirmissions, of badweather eachweek, limitingthesquadron’s effectiveness. Records the onlyunitinKorea tooperateonthisbasis. armed Panthers ontenminutesstandby. VMF-311, withits24F9Fs,was the squadron maintainedfourfully system.Fromscramble alert thenon CAS missionswasreplaced by a scheduled armedreconnaissance or practice ofsendingflightsoutfor procedures were changed. The these twoincidentsoperational defeat oftheenemyforce. Following of theclashandcontributedto unit’s pilotsinfluencedtheoutcome Thanks totheirspeedyresponse, the When thestatisticsfor VMF-311 were compiledattheendofJune The pressure on VMF-311 wasratchetedupanotchinMay 1951when Throughout April andformuchofMay there wasanaverage of1.5 days . ofsufficientenemysupplies The objective wasthedestruction © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Starfire (viaSPM Aero ) that hehaddestroyed anF-94 later, Pepelyaev erroneously claiming down by theSoviet acemoments flown by 1LtRobert W Bell, was shot Korea on21July1951. The Panther, and 15MiG-15sinnorthwest North engagement between three Panthers range metres ofjust200 during an Evgeniy Pepelyaev’s gunsightata framed inthecross-hairs ofLtCol F9F-2B BuNo123464of VMF-311 is MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 75 This encounter did nothing This encounter did nothing the fighters. Even oncoming enemy still out of range, though they were long bursts pilots fired the Panther 20 mm cannon at the their from being no chance despite there MiGs of them scoring any hits. After some quick manoeuvring the enemy off their attacks and fighters broke Yalu. the headed back towards either side. by reported were No hits to efforts to VMF-311’s impede damage the railway lines north of as they however, Pyongyang, continued to target them through without and October September any let-up. www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing As VMF-311 seldom flew far enough into North Korean territory to Korean flewVMF-311 seldom enough into North far As as the in CAS missions involved continued to be heavily The squadron escorted were fighter-bombers flying missions north of Pyongyang Most In July 1951 the Chinese began moving more effective anti-aircraft anti-aircraft effective more began moving Chinese 1951 the July In encounter MiG-15s, 21 July was an exceptional day. A division of three of three A division day. an exceptional was 21 July encounter MiG-15s, and Sunchon between northwest Korea CAP over flying a Panthers Regiment, Air Fighter 196th from 15 MiGs was jumped by Pyongyang the superior performance Despite of the Air Division. 324th Fighter a lucky pilots managed to elude them until communist jets, the Panther ejected W Bell, Robert pilot, 1Lt one of the F9Fs. Its cannon hit downed enemy territory and was captured. safely over during the summer months than usual aggressively Chinese acted more mission pilots carried out a remarkable Panther 16 August of 1951. On loaded with F9Fs were Four 7th Division. in support of the US Army’s mm ammunition. as full loads of 20 as well napalm and 5-in HVARs, with deadly their weapons that the pilots had dropped reported The FAC The damage inflicted strafing runs. up with accuracy and then followed able to drive were troops that the embattled US on the enemy was so great hill they had been stoutly occupying in what amounted to the them from a Their efforts the aviators involved during this mission earned a rout. CO of the Claude Ferenbaugh, Gen Maj letter of commendation from pilots had done an outstanding said that the Panther He 7th Division. job on behalf of his troops. However, MiG-15s. attacks by of the threat them from F-86s to protect by in a dangerous a flight of eight F9Fs found themselves on 25 September 35 miles north a rail-cutting mission of Pyongyang, situation. Undertaking 12 MiGs suddenly bounced by the jets were coast of Korea, on the west fully loaded with were that flying Panthers without warning. Still and turned into the pilots immediately jettisoned their weapons ordnance, weapons closer to the frontlines. To counter this the Panthers started Panthers this the counter To the frontlines. closer to weapons attacks The strikes included on these positions. attacks flying 16-aircraft to be so They proved runs. as strafing bombs, as well with fragmentation types propeller for the slower made safer were that conditions effective jets. the following Osprey © VMF-311’s hardworking maintainers hardworking VMF-311’s in F9F-2s on engine changes perform the (K-3) during the open at Pohang The Panther summer of 1951. late tail section designed so that its was of the just aft could be detached thus allowing edge, wing trailing turbojet the fighter’s easy access to or removal maintenance engine for ) Corps (US Marine 76 CHAPTER FIVE (and theiraircraft) embarked inthelightcarrierUSS to Korea. personnel Afterabrieftrainingsessionincold-weather survival, in North Carolina, toNaval AirStation San Diego toprepare forthemove F9F-4sfromits new homeatMarine CorpsAirStation Point, Cherry a secondPanther squadron toKorea. tofly VMF-115 wasdulyinstructed F9F nosedover andcrashed.Its pilothadnochancetogetout. two followed onhiswingforabouttenmileswhen,suddenly, thestricken makingitbacktobase. its pilotradioedthathewasgoingtotry The other ofSeoul.about 50milesnorth One ofthePanthers tooknumerous hitsand descended to2000ftforacloserlookwhentheyencountered awallofAAA for anysignsoftheenemyonfrozen, snow-covered terrain. The pilots element from VMF-311 wasengagedinarmedreconnaissance, searching cost theunit13Panthers destroyed. logged. VMF-311’s statisticsduring1951were impressive, buttheyhad missions were relatively inlength,withatotalof1353flyinghours short 250-lb fragmentationbombsandfired 905-inHVARs. The month’s particular. While flyingCASagainst enemytroops, theydropped 16 The smallerbombsproved highlyeffective againstrailwaylinesin They alsodropped 167500-lbGPbombs aswell as1860250-lbweapons. pilots logged845flightsandexpended62,17920mmcannonrounds. deployment ofmodernanti-aircraftweapons by theCPVA. on from twolosttoflakinAugust. This reflected anincrease inthe by flakbegantorisealarmingly–two jetswere alsoshotdown, following required familiarisation flightswithPanthers of VMF-311, theyundertook VMF-311. Eight oftheunit’s toPohang pilotsflew ABand,afterthe – bothpilotshadbeencaptured. the factthat VMF-311 hadlostasinglePanther inFebruary and March the squadron’s althoughthismilestonewastempered 10,000thsortie, by taking thefighttoenemy. On 28March CaptFrank JHubka flew flights, VMF-311 remained theonlyjet-equippedunitwithinMAG-33 F2H-2P Banshees. myriadfamiliarisation While bothsquadrons undertook as wellformedphoto-reconnaissance asthenewly VMJ-1 equippedwith all ofasudden,itssize wasdoubledwiththeadditionofanotherF9Funit, which sailedon27January 1952. With VMF-311’s workload steadilyincreasing, itwasdecidedtosend 1952 didnotgetofftoagreat either. start On 3January athree-ship For themonthofDecember 1951 VMF-311’s records statethatits As anotherKorean winterapproached thetallyofPanthers damaged When VMF-115 reached Japan itfollowed asimilarroutine tothatof Until thenMAG-33 hadbeenoperatingwithjusttwosquadrons. Now, © Osprey Publishing • Bataan www.ospreypublishing.com (CVL-29), (Richard Schoeneman base ofPohang (K-3) end withtheirrecovery attheirhome second missionoftheday which will spring of1952, are aboutto flytheir seen atSuwon (K-13)intheearly entirety inlate April 1953. These jets, available to re-equip VMF-115 inits 1952-53 untilsufficient F9F-5s were ‘Dash-2s’ and14 ‘Dash-4s’ during unit flewamixed force ofnine fewer hoursontheirairframes. The its F9F-4s for ex-US Navy F9F-2s with previous monthstarted exchanging aircraft rockets (ATARs), having the using thenewlydeveloped anti-tank On 21May 1952 VMF-115 began ) MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 77 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing VMF-115 was tasked with interdicting, bombing and strafing the the bombing and strafing with interdicting, VMF-115 was tasked line and then continue with a mission was to bomb a railway ‘Our its pilots were and combat-ready VMF-115 was declared 1 April On enemy’s north-south railway lines. Lt Col Thomas M Coles recalled one Thomas M Coles recalled north-south railway lines. Lt Col enemy’s during this period; the unit particular by sortie flown high-speed strafing run of anti-aircraft concentrated group on a highly took Panther my round The enemy of the target. positions straight ahead that shell, was pieces of the curvaturein its nose, based on of souvenir than any 37 mm round damage did more It like 80-90 mm in size. more all the way blewoff the nose section of my aircraft done. It could have leaving my four 20 mm guns shaped like pretzels. back to the firewall, of 500 mph and the next I was doing I was flying in excess moment One took me three seemed as if it hit a brick wall. It 180 mph – it was as if I’d turn for home, outrunning of tracers the wall hours to make a 180-degree A shortand big, fiery time later I was landing on exploding fireworks. red As miles inside friendly territory. strip about three a muddy frontline out of gas!’ my engine quit . . . I turned off the main runway, experienced their more no longer expected to fly missions with had a full complement The unit now VMF-311. counterparts from armed reconnaissance, it to fly interdiction, of Panthers, which allowed escort missions, as well CAS, CAP and photo-reconnaissance RESCAP, on an almost daily basis, flown of these missions were as ferry flights. Most VMF-115 personnel. deal of strain on the maintenance which put a great attacks on the For a few too. also introduced minor changes in tactics to his dive out’ system each pilot was told to ‘shallow railway enemy’s a This prevented point. the release reaching just before about 20 degrees into the blast of the the chance of ‘mushing’ high-G pull-out and reduced accuracy. same time improving while at the bomb, their first combat mission on 26 February. By 18 March the remainder of the remainder 18 March By 26 February. mission on combat their first duly were two AB, although Itami from arrived had aircraft the squadron’s by Nevertheless, eight days later. Yongwoi collision near lost in a mid-air to the missions assigned of the was flying its share VMF-115 month end with an the squadron of the sorties provided units. Several two Panther Mouse’ new 2.75-in ‘Mighty opportunity the US Navy’s to evaluate continued to at Itami Personnel of targets. variety against a wide rockets and their Panthers, maintenance on the Pohang do most of the major The new equipped with F9F-4s. unit was high. remained workload Osprey © ) Lt Col Darrell Irwin, CO of VMF-311, VMF-311, CO of Irwin, Lt Col Darrell of his F9F-2B stands up in the cockpit to returning (BuNo 123451) after (K-3) at the end of yet Pohang another successful mission in May Irwin commanded the 1952. through February late from squadron the large Note June 1952. early to number of mission symbols painted This jet of his aircraft. on the fuselage with flying 445 credited was combat 1002 missions (totalling its time with 1st MAW. hours) during It subsequently flew 96 combat Boxer from VF-151 missions with and July 1953 May between (Bill Nowadnick 78 CHAPTER FIVE explosion shortly aftertakeoff.explosion shortly The blastinstantlykilledthepilotof dangerous, with VMF-115 losingtwoPanthers on14June inafluke action. Two pilotswere killedandonecaptured. days between 10and18May, withtwooftheselossesbeingduetoenemy experiencing problems ofitsown. The unitlostfourPanthers ineight embarked in eight ‘Dash-2s’ inexcellent conditionbefore headinghomewithATG-1 relief whenUSNavy Panther squadrons VF-52 and VF-111 handedover on-site oreven attherear maintenancefacilityinJapan. There wassome some hadnon-functioningejectionseats! They couldnotberepaired batch of16 ‘Dash-2s’ issuedtotheunitwere insuchpoorconditionthat would allow VMF-115 toemploy ATARs. the new However, thefirst resumed combatoperationson21May. It washopedthattheseaircraft Facility Atsugi, inJapan, andF9F-2swere senttoPohang. VMF-115 this process beganwhenthefirstF9F-4s were ferriedbacktoNaval Air led toarequest forthe‘Dash-4s’ tobereplaced by F9F-2s.On 12May not fatal. These suchcompressor-relatedfourth incident,althoughthefirstthree were earlier, VMF-115 hadsuffered itsfirstcombatfatality). This wasthe compressors, whichcausedafatalaccidentonthe23rd (three days Carrying the VT-fusedCarrying 260-lbfragmentationbombsalsoproved tobe While tocompleteitsjetswap,VMF-115 struggled VMF-311 was In April thesquadron encountered majorproblems withengine Valley Forge failures were ofsuchgreat concerntoMAG-33 thatit . © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com limited (BillRockwell) the target area was somewhat fuel tanks, buttheirloiter timeover River withouttheneedfor external reaching targets closeto the Yalu Corps Panthers were capableof wet winter weather. All USMarine in thesummerbutlessthanideal Panther hasbeenparked –adequate unpaved surface onwhich the HVARs beneatheach wing. Note the example, isloadedwiththree 5-in missions. This VMF-311 F9F-2 jet, for ordnance onCAS andinterdiction and VMF-311 carried avariety of Land-based Panthers from VMF-115 (Frank Drury) Argentina inDecember1958 on to the 125116, which was subsequently sold been uploadedonto F9F-2 BuNo tanks andtrains. This ‘Tiny Tim’ has They were very effective against and arange metres. ofabout 1500 approximately 246metres persecond weapons having atop speedof US Marine Corps aircraft, the of World War 2by bothUSNavy and rockets were usedtowards as thisphotograph confirms. These often armed with ‘Tiny Tim’ rockets, US Marine Corps Panthers were Comando de Aviación Naval the end MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 79 jet carrying exploded, bomb that the to the damage so much and did that he had aircraft wingman’s had toenemy territory. over eject A quick MAG-33 by investigation in a decision not personnel resulted the bombs on VT-fused to hang an Mk 55 racks due to Panther’s unsatisfactory forward wire arming of fuses was also solenoid. Use system positive banned until a more the prevent could be devised to while they bombs becoming live still attached to the aircraft. were A by detailed investigation more that revealed however, MAG-33, www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Maj Henry W Hise of VMF-311 was airborne on the day VMF-115 VMF-311 was airborne on the day of W Hise Henry Maj with Korea deep into North flown ‘This was one of the first times we’d VT it was a malfunctioning minutes for me to realise several took ‘It some of the problems with this ordnance were the result of certainsafety result the were with this ordnance some of the problems during the arming of aircraft. not being followed precautions sent off together to having been both squadrons lost the two Panthers, All the jets assigned to this mission were attack airfields east of Pyongyang. fragmentation bombs; VT-fused armed with was the lead element of the flight and VMF-311 frags. VT-fused the Each of its Panthers. with at least a dozen up the rear VMF-115 brought at the leading edge could look out You F9F carried four of these bombs. enemy over were We nose and fuse. of the wings and see each bomb’s territory assigned targets to go after our at about 8000 ft and getting ready had just VMF-115 pilot say that one of their Panthers a when I heard the fatal damage from had received aircraft The wingman’s up. blown enemy territory. him to get out over explosion, forcing on against our targets pressed We bomb that had caused the explosion. nevertheless, a very and it seemed all of us got rid of the long time before seen the Panther guys who’d VMF-115 of the Some bombs. VT-fused the sea and jettisoned their bombs as a safety explode flew out over it was determined that the investigation After a thorough precaution. arming installed the VMF-115 had improperly personnel in ordnance Osprey ©
During the early months of 1953 months of 1953 the early During on supporting concentrated VMF-311 Division when it was the 5th Marine rice in rain-swollen down bogged for the battle paddies during the was This area Vegas’. ‘Outpost a big Chinese troop point for focal offensive. build-up ahead of a spring is undergoing Panther VMF-311 This (K-3) at Pohang major maintenance the during usage heavy following The AD ‘Outpost Vegas’ operation. by operated was at right Skyraider of also part was which VMA-121, ) (Ed Pierkowski MAG-33 VMF-115’s F9Fs concentrated on F9Fs concentrated VMF-115’s which during missions, interdiction and infrastructure transport enemy While standard came under attack. Panthers US Navy loads for ordnance land- GP bombs, 250-lb included four were aircraft Corps based Marine 500- 1000-lb and even carry to known fused for were The weapons GPs. from ranging with delays detonation Awaiting six hours. instantaneous to rare featured this F9F-2 ordnance, when it was wingtip tank art (K-3) at Pohang photographed summer of 1952 late during the (Ralph Reed) 80 CHAPTER FIVE totalling 54,000 lbs.It also fired squadron dropped 124bombs successive raidsonPyongyang, the combat in-theatre. In three operations sincetheyhadentered one ofthemostoutstandingdays of 1952 that VMF-115’s pilotsenjoyed Korean capital.It wason11July located inandaround theNorth same, withmosttargetsbeing Panther squadrons remained the tasking ofbothUSMarine Corps extremely dusty. Basically, the all thesame–hot,humidand The summermonthsinKorea were attack capability. held by someinthe1stMarine Air Wing (MAW), aboutthePanther’s in MAG-12, buttheirexcellent bombingresults puttorest thedoubts, lighter ordnance loadsthantheirsisterCorsairandSkyraider squadrons massed forastrikethatdeepintoNorth Korea. The F9Fscarriedmuch been destroyed. This wasthefirsttimethatbothsquadrons hadbeen MAG-33 photo-reconnaissance aircraft showed thatthetargethad a bitofluck. subsequentlybrought backby aThe targetimagery and itreturned safelytobasealongwiththeothersthanksskilland day, andthey gotittoo. Only oneofthePanthers washit,however, destroyed several otherbuildings. VMF-311 and15from VMF-115 againattackedthecomplex and station wascompletelylevelled. The following day20F9Fsfrom ground fire allaircraft returned from onewall,thepower safelyand,apart AB withfullbombloads. The results were excellent. Despite heavy Panthers from VMF-311 and18from VMF-115 tookofffrom Pohang On littlelet-upbetween thefirstday22 sorties. mission, withvery power stationcomplexattheChosinReservoir. It wouldbeatwo-day so theproblem waseventually solved.’ wires. None ofthe VMF-311 aircraft hadanytrouble withthesebombs, SUMMER SORTIES The pilotsinvolved expectedintenseanti-aircraft fire onthesecond In lateJune bothPanther squadronsacombinedattackonlarge flew © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Demopoulos totalling 1256flyinghours(Rocky completing 705combatsorties monthly operational records by progressed, VMF-115 broke all signs ofcombatweariness as August In spite ofitsPanthers exhibiting infrastructure targets inPyongyang. VMF-115 alsotargeted key of Korea Army andtheBritish Army. US Marine Corps, US Army, Republic month supporting troops from the heavily tasked throughout that August 1952, theseaircraft were Photographed atPohang (K-3)in (Gene Autrey) the nextday’s missions ordnance crews, preparing themfor swarmed over by maintenance and cannon ports. Soon, they would be gunpowder residue around the over North Korea, hencethe returned from aninterdiction mission 1952. These aircraft have just at Pohang (K-3)intheautumn of with two ofthesquadron’s Panthers Capt Gene Autrey of VMF-115 poses ) MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 81 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing Immediately after these attacks an additional capability was established after these attacks an additional capability was established Immediately F9Fs continued with their priority tasking of armed VMF-311’s divisions had been tasked with hitting a major two four-aeroplane ‘Our 3817 rounds of 20 mm ammunition during multiple strafing attacks on 3817 rounds of militarya wide variety targets. started when squadrons using Corps Panthers US Marine for the versatile This new capability screens. wing-mounted external tanks for laying smoke especially when helping friendly troops VMF-115, was often used by fighting at close quarters with numerically superior Chinese forces. north being flown with a large number of these missions reconnaissance, Corps jets only occasionally received the US Marine Since of Pyongyang. they ran the risk of encountering MiG-15s. F-86 Sabres, from top cover he was leading was time the strike force the recalled Louis H Steman Maj a large number of MiGs; jumped by AAA gun emplacementssupply dump together with a number of heavy Right after takeoff one of the River. Yalu along the southern bank of the was a long flight It aircraft. to seven down That cut us had to abort. Panthers our fuel. and it meant stretching Yalu, all the way up to the Pohang from Osprey © ) ) September 1952 was by far the worst the worst far by was 1952 September of attrition in terms month of the war units. Panther Corps US Marine for than six F9F-4s no fewer On the 10th Unmun- into crashed VMF-115 from (K-3) san mountain near Pohang land at the airfield in while trying to the following poor weather All six pilots completion of a mission. more lost three VMF-311 killed. were and 30 19 between aircraft although only one of September, The last action. enemy to these fell was in September destroyed aircraft which seen here, BuNo 125083 F9F-2 of an engine flameout short suffered the Sadly, (K-3). 2 at Pohang Runway W 2Lt Odyce pilot of the fighter, subsequently succumbed Livingston, in the he had received the injuries to Demopoulos (Rocky crash Capt Rocky Demopoulos of VMF-115 VMF-115 of Demopoulos Capt Rocky (BuNo poses beside his Panther August (K-3) in 127143) at Pohang displayed aircraft All squadron 1952. tail code on their vertical ‘AE’ the flying The unit started stabilisers. 19 from combat missions in Korea equipped when it was 1952, February because the with only eight F9F-2s still jets were remaining squadron’s By the middle in Japan. AB, at Itami had its full the squadron of March complement of personnel and Demopoulos (Rocky aircraft 82 CHAPTER FIVE I pulled in for a short burst. I pulledinfor a short This chasing anotherofourpilots.Again from us.One secondlaterIsawone smoke. He easilyclimbedaway up sharplywithahugepuffofblack This causedtheenemypilottopull lead” andfired aburstof20mm. I estimateda“Kentucky windage shot athim.Iwasoutofrangebut me IsawhehadaMiG onhistail. one ofourpilotspassedrightbelow fighters following ourformation.As tight turntoseeallkindsofenemy me”. Iimmediatelywent intoa radioed, “Help! They’re shootingat the lastPanther inourformation onus.I’dfiring run justreleased mybombsonthesupplydumpwhen fuel tanks,andthisstrategyalsoprevented themfrom makingahigh-side they’d burntheirfuelmuchfaster. They’d already jettisonedtheirexternal could hitourtargetandthenturnquicklyintotheMiGs. and onlyuseaminimumamountofspeedbrakesinthedive sothatwe onouroriginaltargets.Iradioedtotheothersstayclose, bombing run of afightataltitudeanddecidedthatallusshouldpress onwiththe a 270-degree turntotheleftswinginonourtails.Idiscarded theidea long. On climbingin asecondglanceIsawthe swept-wing fightersstart into theoncomingMiGs, withallofusbeingat25,000ft–butnotfor For asplitsecondIconsidered dumpingourbombsandturningtheflight seven more cominginbehindthefirst–atotalofeightjets. I counted those F-86s!”Iradioedbackthattheyweren’t Sabres butMiG-15s. of my F9F. At thesametimeoneofourpilotsyelled out,“Watch outfor Secondsdescending bombrun. intoitaMiG-15 flashedby thenose ‘I tightenedmyturnforaclear ‘My planwastodrawthemdown andfightitoutattreetop level so ‘All wasnormaluntilIspottedthetargetandbegan ahigh-speed © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Armstrong (USNavy) astronauts John GlennandNeil flying Panthers in Korea were future would go onto achieve fame after February andJuly1953. Others who serving with VMF-311 between famous pilotsto seeactioninKorea, Williams was oneofthemost Major LeagueBaseballplayer Ted (John Verdi) its pilotescapedwithminorinjuries January 1953, was atotal wreck, but had onlybeeninKorea since11 and limpedaway. The aircraft, which opened hiscanopy, struggled out threatening thecockpit. The pilot promptly burstinto flames, with sparks flyingfrom it. The nose tarmac onitsbellyfor almostamile on fire. The jetskiddedalongthe Suwon (K-13), where hebellieditin Williams nursedhisfighter back to Needing to landassoonpossible, hit by ground fire andcaughtfire. when hisF9F-5 (BuNo126109) was of Pyongyang on16February 1953 attacking targets onHighway 1south VMF-311’s Capt Ted Williams was MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 83 In August VMF-115 had sent VMF-115 had sent August In at Pyongyang. These included the at Pyongyang. complex, the munitions bureau ministry of finance and a big When workshop. repair locomotive the dust settled at the end of the day 73,000 had delivered the Panthers lbs of bombs while braving heavy fire. anti-aircraft some of its maintenance personnel the F9F-4s that to prepare to Japan ageing and the unit’s to replace were of heavily used F9F-2s. Regardless the shortage of equipment and its parts, broke the squadron spare www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing The fight broke apartThe fight broke scene as fast enemy pilots left the quickly and the 1952, VMF-311 in June of who assumed command Henry Hise, Maj flew stacked in formation through as 20 aircraft as many frequently ‘We targets everyVMF-311 continued to pound enemy VMF-115 and Both VMF-311 combined with VMF-115 and from Panthers 29 August On as they had arrived. The Panther pilot who had been bringing up the rear rear been bringing up the pilot who had The Panther arrived. as they had radioed him Steman no one could see him. Maj was calling for help but that the MiGs as he could because it was known to head for the sea as fast time, due to the violent this By water. squeamish about fighting over were on fuel to reach was too low Panther Charlie’ manoeuvring, the ‘tail-end the airfield all When he reached to refuel. so he landed at Suwon Pohang to look round members gathered pilots and groundcrew the squadron The pilot stabiliser. its horizontal which had lost half of Panther, his over whizzing golf balls’ shaken after seeing the ‘orange stated that he was still safely to base. returned Panthers All seven past his aircraft. in bad weather; about bombing targets even his unit went explained how all the way to the feet of cloud that sometimes stretched thousand several would at the initial point in the clouds, the letdown arriving target. On all out the flight would climb and drop break didn’t be started. we If altitude was The normal approach under the guidance of radar. ordnance make a high- Then we’d speed of 270 knots. 25,000 ft, with a ground at a a dive begin When that happened we’d at 14,000 ft. speed approach our bombs and pull to 3000 ft, drop angle all the way down 45-degree flight at about 1000 ft.’ out in level both from of aircraft a mixture by flown were of these missions Many day. Chinese had ringed key targets with the summer of 1952 the units. By a Through the Soviets. by usually provided the latest automatic weapons, combination of good luck and perfect only squadrons timing both losses would, September and none in August. one loss in July suffered to both units. be devastating however, missions to attack major targets successive on three aircraft other MAG-33 time I was a lot closer, but after I fired a couple of rounds my guns guns my rounds couple of a after I fired but closer, I was a lot time I knewjammed. but them, good against do much no longer that I could on for him I went me straight towards enemy jet coming as I saw another the MiG the hell out of only scared not course at full speed. It a collision me too.’ pilot, it scared Osprey © Peter Mersky) Peter Maj John Glenn also saw action with action Glenn also saw Maj John A veteran in 1953. in Korea VMF-311 of 59 combat missions in the South Glenn 2, War World during Pacific in 63 sorties an additional completed he VMF-311 – whilst with Panthers the dubious nickname gained his apparent ‘magnet ass’ from he Twice flak. enemy attract ability to than 250 base with more to returned as seen in flak holes in his aircraft, a Glenn flew for this photograph. and Williams, Ted time with a second subsequently completed on an inter- combat tour Korean with programme service exchange He Wing. 51st Fighter the USAF’s F-86F 27 missions in the logged MiG-15s three shooting down Sabre, of in the final days River Yalu near the the conflict ( 84 CHAPTER FIVE of thesefelltoenemyaction. lost three more aircraft between 19and 30September, althoughonlyone following thecompletionofamission.Allsixpilotswere killed. VMF-311 near Pohang inpoorweather tolandattheairfield (K-3)whiletrying the 10thnofewerthansixF9F-4sfrom VMF-115 crashedinto amountain units, September wasby fartheworstofwarintermsattrition.On F9F-2s and15F9F-4s. months theaverage aircraft complementof VMF-115 includednine brought withitcausingabriefsuspension ofoperations.For thenextfew major typhoonhadswept through thearea, the50mphwindsstorm These figures are impressive consideringthatthetailendofatleastone 1256combathoursduringthecourseofmonth. andflew sorties previous operationalrecords when itspilotsloggedatotalof705combat If August 1952 hadbeenasuccessfulmonthfortheland-basedPanther © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com 10 March 1953 (USMarine Corps) mission briefing atPohang (K-3)on Walley of VMF-311 conductapre- (bottom ofphotograph) andMaj Capts Ritchie andLovette, LtDavis (US Marine Corps) 250-lb bombsbeneatheach wing jet appearsto bearmed withthree Pohang (K-3)on15March 1953. Each VMF-115 taxidown therunway at 4s’) ofMajJames ‘Buzz’ Sawyer’s Panthers (both ‘Dash-2s’ and ‘Dash- MARINE PANTHERS ENTER THE WAR 85 www.ospreypublishing.com • Publishing February 1953 saw all land-based Panthers fitted with new Aero 14B fitted with new Aero Panthers 1953 saw all land-based February launched a the Chinese on 15 April mentioned, As previously & Pratt by 18 new F9F-5s powered received VMF-115 28 April On conflict, with fighting continued to the very of the Korean end Fierce war was just that the end of the aware well were the Chinese 25 July By Fortunately, no further Panther losses were suffered by either unit until either by suffered were losses no further Panther Fortunately, bomb racks, which allowed the jets to carry 1000-lb six 500-lb GP or two bomb racks, which allowed lbs. of the two up to a weight of 3000 GP bombs, or a combination territory in a bid to gain determined offensive the war ended. Both before VMF-311 attacking effort, put in a maximum squadrons with Panther latter unit had dusk the By the other. VMF-115 striking one flank and flying 114 sorties conflict by for the Korean record established an all-time This effort, combined with dropped. bombs were in which 127.2 tons of in its tracks. halted the offensive FEAF aircraft, by the missions flown a them a top speed of 579 mph and This gave Whitney J48-P engines. early the ‘Dash-5s’ VMF-311 also received higher ceiling of 42,800 ft. on 6 May. lost in bad weather month, and two of these jets were following killed when he hit a mountain trying pilot was One to descend through in the sea once his after he ditched cloud and his wingman was rescued fuel ran out. – just ten days on 17 July VMF-311 suffering its worst day for losses off crashed into the sea Panthers Three ended the war. the ceasefire before A fourth and only one pilot was rescued. AAA after being hit by Pusan when its 20 mm ammunition was ignited by at Pohang jet was set on fire another Panther. the jet blast from and they did everything from they could to gain ground a few days away, squadrons Both Panther Corps divisions in the frontline. the US Marine dawn to past dusk flying from aircraft with all available the call, answered 32 tons of bombs. Although the Chinese had gained to deliver December, when each squadron had single jets downed by AAA during AAA by jets downed had single each squadron when December, and an F9F-4 to lost an F9F-2 VMF-115 of December. the first week aircraft VMF-311 had an month 1953 and the following AAA in January alight when Already fire. small arms after being hit by Suwon limp back to flames shortly by the jet was consumed the pilot landed, after it was on the runway. abandoned Osprey © This veteran F9F-2 was assigned to assigned to was F9F-2 This veteran 33 (hence the Air Group Marine ‘WM’ tail code) and flown unusual Maintained by officers. staff by its the unit when and used by VMF-311 of serviceable Panthers short it was the fighter missions, operational for at Pyongtaek photographed was of the war (K-6) in the final weeks ) Alley (Lawrence 86 CHAPTER FIVE without loss. were stillabletouse theaircraft toshootdown five oftheSoviet jets its pilotstorely ontheirsuperiortrainingandexperience, Naval Aviators aircraft. Andeven iftheF9Fwasnot as quicktheMiG-15, forcing a carrier, thefirsttoflyincombatandshootdown anenemy too. AsaUSNavy jet,itwasthefirsttoflyoperationalmissionsfrom and theUSMarine Corps. The Panther rackedupitsshare of‘firsts’ withtheUSNavywell withthepiston-enginedtypestheninservice into ausefulweapons platform,andevolving tacticsenabledittowork fast enoughtodemandrespect. typical product oftheGrumman ‘iron works’. It reliable wasrugged, and MiG-15, thatwasinevitable),thestraight-wingPanther proved tobea Sabre (given itsoutstandingsuccessincombatwiththe Soviet-built been overshadowed inpopularimaginationby thefaster, swept-wing F-86 duringtheKoreanefforts conflict.AndalthoughtheGrumman F9Fhad US Navy inplayingamajorrole incontainingcommunist counterparts Korea flying. bombingranges,andincludedagooddealofinstrument in ahighstateofcombatreadiness. These were conductedover South maintained theirtrainingprogrammes soastoensure thatpilotsremained Instaggering 18,851sorties. theweeks following theceasefire bothunits during thewar. In 30monthsofKorea War duty VMF-311 hadflown a that itspilotshadflown totalling15,350flyinghours, 9250combatsorties, 311 immediatelyhaltedallcombatflying.Records for VMF-115 showed anddropped morea totalof222sorties than300tonsofbombs. the war’s finaldayitsaircraft, includingF4Us, ADsandF9Fs,hadlogged casualties. Final figures from the1stMarine Air Wing revealed thaton approximately twomilesofground, thecosttothemhadbeen72,000 During three years ofbitterfightingthePanther had beendeveloped US Marine CorpsPanther unitshadjoinedtheirmore numerous Once theceasefire cameintoeffecton27July both VMF-115 and VMF- © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com (E S ‘Mule’ Holmberg) F9Fs ontheirdive-bombing missions good viewofthedive brakes usedby of itsordnance. This angleprovides a 1953, thefighter having expendedall from abombingmissioninMarch VMF-311 aircraft hasjustreturned missions from Pyongtaek. This VMF-115 and VMF-311 began flying In thewar’s later stages both APPENDICES 87
(CV-31)
(CV-47) (CV-45) (CVA-33)
(CV
-37) (CVA-34)
(CV-21) (CV-9) Homme Richard
Valley Forge Valley Philippine Sea Boxer Princeton Bon Valley Forge (CVA-45) Valley Oriskany Essex Kearsarge
15 October 1951 to 3 July 1952 V ATG-1 VF-111 F9F-2 code tail USS VF-52 F9F-2 tail code S code VF-52 F9F-2 tail VC-61 Det H F9F-2P PP tail code USS 1952 31 December 1951 to 8 August V CVG-11 VF-112 F9F-2 code tail VC-61 Det C F9F-2P M 8 February 1952 to 26 September 1952 tail code PP CVG-2 code VF-24 F9F-2 tail USS VC-61 Det A F9F-2P tail code PP 21 March 1952 to 3 November 1952 B CVG-19 VF-191 F9F-2 code tail USS VC-61 Det E F9F-2P tail code PP VF-71 F9F-2 tail code L 20 May 1952 to 8 January 1953 CVG-7 code VF-71 F9F-2 tail USS VF-72 F9F-2 tail code L code VF-72 F9F-2 tail VF-51 F9F-5 tail code S 20 November 1952 to 25 June 1953 CVG-5 code VF-51 F9F-5 tail 15 September 1952 to 18 May 1953 CVG-102 (re-designated CVG-12 4/2/53) VF-781 (re-designated VF-121 4/2/53) F9F-5 VF-783 (re-designated VF-122 4/2/53) F9F-5 tail code D USS tail code D VC-61 Det N F9F-2P M 16 June 1952 to 6 February 1953 tail code PP ATG-2 code VF-23 F9F-2 tail 11 August 1952 to 17 March 1953 CVG-101 (re-designated CVG-14 4/2/53) VF-721 (re-designated VF-141 4/2/53) F9F-2 USS tail code A S code VF-53 F9F-5 tail USS VF-821 (re-designated VF-143 4/2/53) F9F-2 USS tail code A VC-61 Det B F9F-5P tail code PP
www.ospreypublishing.com • APPENDIX A APPENDIX Publishing APPENDICES Osprey © (CV-31) (CV-47) (CV-45) (CV-37) (CV-37)
(CV-36)
(CV-21) (CV-9) (CV-32) Valley Forge Valley Philippine Sea Leyte Princeton Boxer Bon Homme Richard Princeton Essex Antietam
VF-51 F9F-3 tail code S 1 May 1950 to 1 December 1950 CVG-5 code VF-51 F9F-3 tail USS VF-52 F9F-3 tail code S code VF-52 F9F-3 tail USS 5 July 1950 to 26 March 1951 V CVG-11 VF-111 F9F-2 code tail VF-112 F9F-2B tail code V code VF-112 F9F-2B tail K 1951 6 September 1950 to 3 February CVG-3 code VF-31 F9F-2 tail 9 November 1950 to 29 May 1951 B CVG-19 VF-191 F9F-2 code tail USS USS VC-61 Det E F9F-2P tail code PP 2 March 1951 to 24 October 1951 A CVG-101 code VF-721 F9F-2B tail USS VC-61 Det F F9F-2P 10 May 1951 to 17 December 1951 D tail code PP CVG-102 code VF-781 F9F-2B tail USS VC-61 Det G F9F-2P tail code PP VF-23 F9F-2 tail code B 31 May 1951 to 29 August 1951 CVG-19X code VF-23 F9F-2 tail USS VC-61 Det ? F9F-2P S 26 June 1951 to 25 March 1952 tail code PP CVG-5 code VF-51 F9F-2 tail USS VC-61 Det B F9F-2P tail code PP 8 September 1951 to 2 May 1952 H CVG-15 VF-831 F9F-2 code tail USS VF-837 F9F-2B tail code H code VF-837 F9F-2B tail VC-61 Det D F9F-2P tail code PP
F9F CARRIER DEPLOYMENTS F9F CARRIER 88 APPENDICES US NAVY F9FKOREANWAR LOSSES(COMBAT ANDOPERATIONAL) USS C6 e FF5 tailcodePP tailcodeH tailcodeH F9F-5P VC-61 DetD F9F-5 VF-837 (re-designatedVF-1544/2/53) F9F-5 VF-831 (re-designatedVF-1534/2/53) CVG-15 24 January1953to21September tailcodePP F9F-5P VC-61 DetM 2/11/51 VC-61 F9 9- tail VF-93 F9F-2 code N
21/10/51 VC-61 16/9/51 VF-51 16/9/51 VF-51 Det 4/9/51 VF-51 4/9/51 VF-51 3/9/51 VF-51 D 24/8/51 VF-781 14/8/51 VF-721 28/7/51 VF-23 27/7/51 VF-781 3/7/51 VF-781 5/6/51 VF-23 31/5/51 VF-781 30/5/51 VF-721 7/5/51 VF-191 6/5/51 VF-191 8/3/51 VF-191 20/12/50 VF-31 19/12/50 VF-112 9/12/50 VF-31 30/11/50 VF-31 27/11/50 VF-112 19/10/50 VF-31 29/9/50 VF-111 24/9/50 VF-111 19/9/50 VF-51 18/9/50 VF-111 29/8/50 VF-111 20/8/50 VF-112 12/8/50 VF-51 7/8/50 VF-112 16/7/50 VF-51 Date 11/1/52 VF-52 6/1/52 VF-51 3/1/52 VF-111 28/12/51 VF-52 21/12/51 VF-52 21/11/51 VF-781 17/11/51 VF-781 13/11/51 VF-781 4/11/51 VF-831 4/11/51 VF-831 F9 9- tail VF-91 F9F-2 code CVG-9 15 December1952to14August1953 N USS Princeton Philippine Sea
(CVA-37) Squadron (CVA-47) Det D
Antietam Essex Essex Essex Essex Essex Bon HommeRichard Boxer Princeton Bon HommeRichard Bon HommeRichard Princeton Bon HommeRichard Boxer Princeton Princeton Princeton Leyte Philippine Sea Leyte Leyte Philippine Sea Leyte Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Valley Forge Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Valley Forge Philippine Sea Valley Forge Ship Valley Forge Essex Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Bon HommeRichard Bon HommeRichard Bon HommeRichard Antietam Antietam Antietam ©
Osprey
Publishing
APPENDIX B • www.ospreypublishing.com
F11 (crossdeckedto VF-111 ATG-1 30 March1953to28November 28/12/52 VF-23 28/12/52 VF-721 22/11/52 VF-23 21/11/52 VF-23 1/4/53 VF-51 27/3/53 VF-91 22/3/53 VF-122 20/3/53 VF-122 17/3/53 VF-153 9/3/53 VF-51 1/3/53 VF-91 24/2/53 VF-51 18/2/53 VF-93 16/2/53 VF-93 2/2/53 VF-781 31/1/53 VF-93 22/1/53 VF-53 18/1/53 VF-783 3/1/53 VF-51 23/11/52 VF-721 21/11/52 VF-721 1/11/52 VF-721 17/10/52 VF-23 16/10/52 VF-72 31/7/52 VF-71 27/7/52 VF-191 22/7/52 VF-72 11/7/52 VF-72 4/7/52 VF-24 20/6/52 VF-191 14/6/52 VF-191 25/5/52 VF-24 2/5/52 VF-111 2/5/52 VF-111 2/5/52 VF-52 21/3/52 VF-52 17/3/52 VF-52 11/3/52 VC-61 19/2/52 VF-52 19/2/52 VF-52 Det 4/2/52 VF-837 29/1/52 VC-61 26/1/52 VF-51 H 17/1/52 VF-837 Det D V-93//3FF5 tailcodeV tail USS CVA-39 30/6/53F9F-5 code tail VF-151 F9F-2 H VF-52 F9F-2 code S F11(rsdce rmCA2 065) 9- tailcodeV VF-111 (crossdeckedfromCVA-21 30/6/53)F9F-5 CVG-4 26 April1953to4December USS
Lake Champlain Boxer (CVA-21)
(CVA-39)
Valley Forge Philippine Sea Oriskany Oriskany Princeton Valley Forge Philippine Sea Valley Forge Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Oriskany Philippine Sea Valley Forge Oriskany Valley Forge Essex Kearsarge Kearsarge Essex Kearsarge Essex Kearsarge Essex Bon HommeRichard Bon HommeRichard Princeton Bon HommeRichard Bon HommeRichard Boxer Princeton Princeton Boxer Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Valley Forge Antietam Antietam Essex Antietam
APPENDICES 89
Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Philippine Philippine Sea Philippine Sea Boxer Princeton Princeton Philippine Sea Boxer Boxer Boxer Philippine Sea 25/6/53 VF-91 VF-91 25/6/53 VF-91 26/6/53 VF-91 26/6/53 VF-91 1/7/53 VF-151 8/7/53 VF-153 9/7/53 VF-153 20/7/53 VF-93 20/7/53 VF-52 24/7/53 25/7/53 VF-151 26/7/53 VF-151 26/7/53 VF-91 14/6/52 VMF-115 14/6/52 VMF-115 20/6/52 VMF-115 21/7/52 VMF-311 10/9/52 VMF-115 10/9/52 VMF-115 10/9/52 VMF-115 10/9/52 VMF-115 10/9/52 VMF-115 10/9/52 VMF-115 19/9/52 VMF-311 22/9/52 VMF-311 30/9/52 VMF-311 3/12/52 VMF-115 5/12/52 VMF-311 15/1/53 VMF-115 19/1/53 VMF-115 16/2/53 VMF-311 23/3/53 VMF-311 6/5/53 VMF-311 6/5/53 VMF-311 17/7/53 VMF-311 17/7/53 VMF-311 17/7/53 VMF-311 17/7/53 VMF-311 2 USS Philippine Sea VF-112, of BuNo 123511 F9F-2B 1950 September (CV-47), speeding Jr was Jackson Ens Edward September 1950, On 17 when he territory enemy in this aircraft above ft along at 100 just south of Seoul. across the Han River a cable strung struck was knocked Jackson was smashed and canopy fighter’s The his about 20 seconds. Coming to, he found unconscious for aircraft. Re-engined in late 1951 and re-designated as an in late 1951 Re-engined aircraft. Det E as part of VC-61 to combat with it returned F9F‐2P, through 1952 from 21 March in Princeton embarked CVG‐9 jet became the veteran 1954 In March 1952. to 3 November with specialised radio fitted a drone-directing F9F‐2KD, equipment and numerous antennae, and it served in this role Point, Barbers with Guided Missile Group 1, based at NAS 1958. until retirement in July Hawaii, www.ospreypublishing.com •
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Squadron
19/4/53 VF-153 VF-153 19/4/53 VF-121 20/4/53 VF-153 21/4/53 VF-154 23/4/53 VF-153 25/4/53 VF-154 28/4/53 VF-153 6/5/53 VF-153 13/5/53 2/6/53 VF-52 19/6/53 VF-111 26/12/50 VMF-311 2/1/51 VMF-311 8/1/51 VMF-311 26/2/51 VMF-311 18/3/51 VMF-311 1/5/51 VMF-311 18/6/51 VMF-311 21/7/51 VMF-311 30/7/51 MAG-33 6/8/51 VMF-311 12/8/51 VMF-311 3/10/51 VMF-311 16/10/51 VMF-311 18/12/51 VMF-311 3/1/52 VMF-311 4/2/52 VMF-311 4/3/52 VMF-311 26/3/52 VMF-115 26/3/52 VMF-115 20/4/52 VMF-115 23/4/52 VMF-115 10/5/52 VMF-311 11/5/52 VMF-311 13/5/52 VMF-311 18/5/52 VMF-311 13/6/53 VF-153 19/6/53 VF-91 Date 13/4/53 VF-122 VF-122 13/4/53 US MARINE CORPS F9F KOREAN WAR LOSSES (COMBAT AND OPERATIONAL) AND LOSSES (COMBAT F9F KOREAN WAR US MARINE CORPS 1 Forge USS Valley VF‐51, BuNo 123071 of F9F-3 July 1950 (CV-45), VF‐51 Leonard Plog of by Lt(jg) being flown was aircraft This to score Yak-9 a NKPAF when he shot down 1950 on 3 July jet fighter – note the the first kill credited to a carrier-based rare F9F‐3 relatively The victory symbol beneath the cockpit. Allison J33 engine, an by powered built) was (only 54 were in the more J42 found Whitney & rather than the Pratt the only units to see VF‐52 were VF‐51 and numerous F9F‐2. the F9F‐2, Unlike War. combat with the ‘Dash-3’ in the Korean to carry not modified external was F9F-3 Allison- powered the Most stores, making it of limited use as a fighter-bomber. with the J42 engine in place of the fitted were subsequently to the US Navy in September J33. Delivered lower‐thrust VF-51 with cruise completed a single war BuNo 123071 1949, into an F9F‐3P photo-reconnaissance then converted and was 90 APPENDICES marked theborderbetween NorthKorea andChina. Amen smoke andflames.Ithitthegroundnear the Yalu River, which Capt Mikhail Grac when they struck Suddenly, theirtarget. theMiG,flown by whether ornothisaimwas correct, astheshellsexploded the latter was usedbecausetheattacking pilotcouldclearlysee fighters, firingatitwith20mm APItracerandHEIrounds– wingman, LtGeorgeHolloman,chased oneoftheenemy their opponentswere wearing leatherhelmets. Amen andhis came soclosethatthePanther pilotscouldclearlyseethat batteries they were attacked by MiG‐15s. The enemy fighters as well astheir20mmcannon. While strafinganti-aircraft bombs theF9Fsbeingarmedwithlightfragmentation stations, had beenescorting ADs andF4Usattacking bridgesandpower in jetcombat.Hisdivisionoffour Panthers from by scoringthefirstair-to-airassigned pilotmadehistory victory is depicted hereasitappearedon9November 1950 whenits This aircraft, usuallyflown by LtCdr W T Amen,COof VF‐111, (CV-47), November 1950 F9F-2 BuNo 127184 of VF-111, USSPhilippineSea 4 Litchfield Park, Arizona. Field, in Texas. In August 1956 thejetwas retiredtoNAS Naval Air Advanced Training Command(NAATC) atNAS Chase the springof1955, whenBuNo123497 was passedonto December ofthatsameyear. Itremainedwiththisunituntil the veteran jetwas issuedto VF‐151 atNAS Alameda in O&R atNAS Alameda betweenMay andNovember 1953, CVA‐47, inDecember1952. Following asecondspellinthe Korean conflictwiththeunitaspartofCVG-9, embarked in Moffett Field-based VF-93 inJune 1952, anditreturned tothe facility atNAS Alameda. BuNo123497 was issuedtoNAS for asix-month-long rebuildintheOverhaul andRepair (O&R) back toJapan inNovember 1951 andthenshippedtoCalifornia jet remaininginthefrontlinewith VMF-311 untilitwas sent F9F‐2Bs flown by theunitto Pohang (K-3)on 17 February, the transferred to VMF‐311 atItami Air Base. Itwas oneof22 1951January BuNo123497 remainedinJapan andwas in December1948. When CV-32 departed TF 77controlinlate had beenthefirsteastcoastsquadrontoreceive the Panther April 1950. VF-31, basedatNAS QuonsetPoint, RhodeIsland, over Korea, hadbeenissuednew tothesquadronin Lt Cdr George Simmonsduring VF‐31’s five monthsincombat This aircraft, which was occasionallyflown by unitCO November 1950 F9F‐2B BuNo123497of VF‐31, USSLeyte (CV‐32), 3 CVG-9 commencedcombatoperationsover Korea. landing aboardCVA‐47 1953 on31January day –thevery CVG‐9 inDecember1952, butwas written off inaheavy five monthslater. Itdeployed withthelatter unitaspartof September 1951, thejetjoined VF‐23 inMarch 1952 and VF‐93 and itcompletedtherestofcruise. Passed onto VF‐191 in carrier’s short, pitching, deck. BuNo123511 was soonrepaired, via radiocommandstoamiraculously‘routine’ landingonthe Lt(jg) LKBruestle, tookover fromCrow andguidedJackson CV‐47. Onthedownward CVG‐11’s leg, LandingSignalOfficer, then slowed hismachine down andflew 120 milesback to Crow, andrequestedaltitude anddirectioninstructions. He facial lacerations.Jackson radioedhiswingman,EnsDayl 100 percentduetobloodpouringdown intohiseyes from jet in asteepclimbingturn andhisvisionimpairedby almost hyov of 1 of hyov 39th GvIAP , nosedintoadive, trailing © Osprey Philippine Sea Publishing
• www.ospreypublishing.com Argentina in April 1963. Corps theaircraft was soldtotheComandode Aviación Naval After withtheUSNavyandMarine almostadecadeofservice Korea before beingshippedback toCalifornia inFebruary 1953. BuNo 127184 afurtherfive survived monthsincombat issuedto marking.Subsequently VMF-311 inJune 1951, victory, itssistersquadron’s aircraft displayed theMiG‐15 kill borrowed from VF‐112, soalthough VF-111 gotthecreditfor the welcome. As ithappened, Amen hadbeenflyinga Panther and Holloman returned totheircarrier toreceive ahero’s eventually stricken inOctober1957. NAS SanDiegoandthenthe NAATC atNAS ChaseField.Itwas squadron initiallywithfleetutility training duties,serving at VU‐7 May 1953. Byearly1954 BuNo123657 hadbeenrelegatedto months laterandthentransferred toMiramar-based VF‐122 in Squadron(FASRON)Air Service 7atNAS San Diego three NAS Miramarin April 1952, thefighter was passedontoFleet back toNAS Alameda toberepaired.Reissued at to VF‐721 aircraft was subsequentlyoffloaded in Japan andthenshipped managed togetthejetback tothecarrier andlandsafely. The hit atreewhilestrafingon5 April 1951. LtCdrChesterGates with 5-inHVARs and6.5-in ATARs) was badlydamagedwhenit as partofCVG-101 aboardBoxer December ofthatsameyear. Deploying to TF 77with the unit ex-US Naval Reserveunit atNASVF‐721 SanDiegoin Delivered totheUSNavyinOctober1950, thisaircraft joined April 1951 F9F-2B BuNo123657of VF-721, USSBoxer (CV-21), 5 units throughtoFebruary 1952. Itwas thenshipped back to 123615 flyingphoto-reconnaissancemissions for 1st MAW October 1951 whenitwas issuedtoMAG‐33 atPohang, BuNo above wing root. theforward The aircraft returned toKorea in flew myriad sortiesjudging tallyjust by thefilmcanister mission G Elmies (hisnamewas stencilledbelow the cockpit), thisjet to TF 77by theF9F‐2Pvariant. OstensiblyassignedtoLt(jg) aboard Princeton –thisdeployment was actually thefirstmade to theunit’s DetE,itparticipated inCVG‐19’s combatcruise reconnaissance F9F‐2P VF‐191 inSeptember1950. Itwas soonconverted intoaphoto‐ This aircraft was originallybuiltasanF9F‐2andissued new to (CV-37), May 1951 F9F-2P BuNo 123615of VC-61 DetE, USSPrinceton 7 from escortingF9F‐2Ps of targets, VC-61’s DetE. VF‐191’s was tasking interdictionand,duetothevolume primary logistics networkdefended by mobilegunemplacements. also to AAA. BythistimetheChinesehadassembledaneffective to Brewer’s demisetheunithadlostBuNo123601 anditspilot the cruise with17 and28pilots. F9F‐2Bs Twenty‐four hoursprior the timeitwas lost. As CVG-19’s solePanther unit, VF‐191 began October 1950, thisaircraft hadcompletedjust114 flyinghours by missing inaction,presumedkilled.Issuednew to VF‐191 inlate Inchon on7May. Itspilot,EnsLowell RBrewer, was posted was shotdown by AAA duringalow-level strafing run near aircraft, BuNo123633 (nicknamed OCTANE SNIFFER),which Navy suffered numerousaircraft losses.Oneofthemwas this During thebusyperiodbetweenFebruary andMay 1951 the US (CV-37), May 1951 F9F-2B BuNo123633of VF-191 USSPrinceton 6 , however, andissuedto however, , VC‐61. Assigned , theaircraft (seenherearmed
APPENDICES 91 12 USS Essex (CV-9), VF-51, BuNo 125122 of F9F-2 1951 September Armstrong, who subsequently became the first man Ens Neil on this aircraft in shot down moon, was on the to set foot had only made his combat 21-year-old The 3 September 1951. was flying an armed Armstrong earlier. days debut five the primaryreconnaissance sortie over transportation and of south of the village of Majon-ni, west storage facilities by ground fire as he made a was hit when his fighter Wonsan, While trying to regain at about 350 mph. bombing run low control, he collided with a telegraph pole at a height of about right of the Panther’s about three feet sliced off which 20 ft, to friendly territory, the aeroplane back Armstrong flew wing. his only but due to the loss of the right aileron, ejection was rescue and await water option. He planned to eject over safe to an airfield near flew Navy helicopters, and therefore by US he However, wasPohang, blown back over land while still from a roommate by and a jeep driven beneath his parachute, Armstrong up when he landed. Issued duly picked flight school BuNo 125122 1951, San Diego in March VF‐52 at NAS to new VF‐51 just prior to the unit embarking to had been transferred of that year. in June and heading to Korea aboard CV-9 11 USS Bon Homme VF-781, BuNo 123702 of F9F-2B 1951 November (CV-31), Richard VF‐781, the sole F9F squadron by operated was aircraft This 1951 during the vessel’s Homme Richard in Bon embarked that during its first records show CVG‐102 combat cruise. squadron expended the 1951, of operations in May-June 47 days fired was most of which rounds of 20 mm ammunition, 210,000 runs Strafing on road and rail traffic. attacks during low-level vulnerable to small and medium calibre made the aircraft – albeit not all of them Panthers VF‐781 lost seven and weapons, others Many action – during its combat cruise. to enemy sustained hits. One to the ship having multiple flak returned it jumped the so hard that hit the deck aircraft battle-damaged of Two barrier. wires and slammed into the crash arrestor catapult to defective attributed were losses the Panther flame‐out just an engine caused by while a third was launches, Panther One of the flightdeck. the end reached as the aircraft BuNo 123702, rate was that survived the high attrition of the a two-tour veteran was aircraft This . PaperDoll nicknamed the fighter VF‐23 in January 1951, to new Delivered War. Korean its Following months later. four VF‐781 to transferred was the aboard CV‐31, cruise combat participation in CVG‐102’s replacement. an attrition as VMF‐311 passed on to was aircraft until late (K-3) further action from Pohang saw BuNo 123702 in Japan. 11 sent to FASRON point it was at which 1952, August to California, later shipped back was machine war-weary The of a succession of FASRONs where it remained in the employ In August 1953. at Miramar in late VF‐124 until assigned to and it continued to be VMFT-10, the jet joined October 1954 until placed ATU-201) by a series of training units (including flown Park in November 1957. Litchfield in storage at NAS 1953 and was then transferred to VMA‐323 at MCAS El Toro, Toro, El VMA‐323 at MCAS to then transferred was and 1953 other servedwith several The jet later. six months California, Corpus at NAS ATU-201 units until assigned to Marine Corps with was final assignment Its 1955. in February Texas, Christi, of tuition the jet being used in the at NAS Pensacola, ATU‐206 stricken until it was 1957 August from Aviators ‘nugget’ Naval year. following of the in June www.ospreypublishing.com •
Publishing Osprey © left TF 77 in September 1952. The jet was then jet was The TF 77 in September 1952. left sole Korean War combat cruise CVG‐15 CVG‐15 combat cruise War sole Korean Antietam’s boasted two squadrons of Panthers, VF-831 and VF-837. In VF-837. and VF-831 boasted two squadrons of Panthers, averaging air group was the carrier 1952 February-March TF 77 campaign to as part of a major around 90 sorties per day the Chinese from building up supplies and equipment prevent that between show Records an early spring offensive. for to the carrier returned Panthers 12 March, and 17 2 February were by ground fire, and two with significant damage caused an impressive a F9F‐2P). Boasting lost (one of those was VF‐831 in had been issued new to BuNo 125088 mission tally, in CV‐45 when embarked VF‐111 on to Passed 1951. May the jet subsequently joined 1952, TF 77 in May left CV-36 It two months later. 11 (K-3) via FASRON at Pohang VMF‐115 Alameda in January to the O&R at returned eventually was 10 USS Antietam VF-831, BuNo 125088 of F9F-2 1952 March (CV-36), During This F9F‐2 was one of 16 that equipped VF‐111 on board on VF‐111 that equipped one of 16 F9F‐2 was This the unit being led by in the early spring of 1952, Valley Forge amongst the 25 Aviator senior Naval The W Ramsey. Lt Cdr John previously Ramsey this deployment, for VF‐111 assigned to VF‐11, 2 when it was War World served with the squadron in Issued new of Guadalcanal in 1943. seeing combat in defence with remained in Japan BuNo 127174 1951, in July VF‐111 to 1952. in July when CV‐45 ended its combat cruise 11 FASRON in CV‐21,VF‐24, embarked replacement to Issued as an attrition 11 FASRON to was returned fighter the of that year, August in when Boxer and it in October, in CVA‐33, VF‐721, embarked assigned to to and returned combat cruise completed the unit’s VF‐721 had been then – by 1953 in March NAS Miramar the next and then stored for Overhauled VF‐141. re-designated at NAS ATU‐202 assigned to was months, BuNo 127174 14 was placed in storage fighter two The 1954. Kingsville in May 1957. August in later and stricken years 9 Forge USS Valley VF-111, of BuNo 127174 F9F-2 (CV-45), March 1952 March (CV-45), Issued to the US Navy in July 1951, this aircraft was supplied to supplied was this aircraft 1951, July Issued to the US Navy in month. In December San Diego the following at NAS VF‐112 as in CV‐47CVG‐11 with the rest of embarked the fighter 1951 Sent to Korea. cruise commenced its second combat VF‐112 was BuNo 127207 1952, in July in Japan 11 ashore to FASRON that same month. (K-3) later at Pohang VMF‐311 assigned to was adorned the Marine Corps the fighter joining Soon after to FASRON Returning motif. with claws with this unique Panther the to California shipped back was the aircraft 1953, in March 11 Training Advanced assigned to month and eventually following The in October 1953. Texas, Kingsville, at NAS 102 Unit (ATU) Pensacola at NAS ATU‐206 served subsequently with Panther 1958. grounded in June until it was 8 (K-3), Pohang VMF-311, BuNo 127207 of F9F-2 August 1952 California, stripped of its camera equipment and re-designated equipment and its camera stripped of California, 14 Following same year. of that in September as an F9F-2 squadrons in fleet support months of service with several at MCAS VMFT‐10 issued to the jet was and California, Hawaii in the and employed 1953 in November California, Toro, El with off written pilots. It was Panther of future training advanced 1954. accident on 23 September the unit in an 92 APPENDICES (CV-45), May 1952 with still serving VF‐52. Ocean duringa trainingflightfromUSSWasp (CVA-18) while was loston16 December1954 whenitcrashedintothePacific effective. Havingthreecombatcruises, survived BuNo123073 down hrson27July at2200 whentheceasefirebecame ATG‐1’s pilotsflew well over sorties.Boxer 100 before theceasefire.Onsomedaysgaining furtherterritory carrier operationswere gearedtopreventing theChinesefrom war’s final week proved tobeincrediblyintense for TF77as Champlain toBoxer during thecruise –on30June VF‐111 was transferred fromLake strength Panther squadronsunderitscontrol atvarious times in-theatre beyond war’s end. ATG-1 had,uniquely, threefull- endofMarchconflict atthe very 1953, andit would remain had joined TF 77for thefourth, andfinal,timeduringthe Korean (CV-36), February 1952 training flighton 10 May 1954. was written off whenitsuffered anon-fatalaccidentduring ATU-201 atNAS Kingsville, Texas, sixmonthslater, thePanther atNASthe O&Rfacility Alameda in April 1953. Transferred to remained withtheMarineCorpsuntil it was shippedback to (K-3) justpriortoCV-45’s departure from TF 77. The jet cruise, BuNo127173 was transferred to VMF‐115 atPohang officers.maintenance andservice ofthis bloody Asurvivor by closer coordinationbetweentheaircraft handling, for the Panthers’ J42engines. The problemwas partiallysolved fact thatonlyfourcoulddeliver refuellingstations fuelsuitable the difficulty ofspotting Panthers ontheflightdeck duetothe lost asingleF9F-2P. The carrier’s recordsfor thecruise mention VF‐111 hadthreePanthers destroyed andeven VC-61 DetH on well-defended targets, VF‐52 lostnofewer thaneightjets, well as VC‐61 DetHwiththreeF9F‐2Ps.Inhazardousattacks F9F‐2 squadrons VF‐52 and VF‐111, each with16 aircraft, as 1951 toearlyJuly 1952, thevessel had ATG-1 embarked with During F9F-2 BuNo127173 of VF-111, USSValley Forge 15 aboard CVA‐21 asanattrition replacementinJune 1953. Boxer in Japan atyear-end, BuNo123073 was transferred to VF‐52 between June andDecember1952. SentashoretoFASRON 11 second combatcruise withthesquadron,embarked inCV-9, year andFebruary 1952. Suppliedto thejetundertookits VF‐23, by theO&RfacilityatNAS Alameda betweenSeptemberofthat the firsthalfof 1951, BuNo 123073 was converted intoanF9F‐2 1950. with Subsequentlyserving andthen VF‐52 VF‐112 during oftheKorean start VF‐51 atthevery War inthesummerof in1949,Originally builtasanF9F‐3 thisaircraft saw combat with June 1953 F9F-2 BuNo123073of VF-52, USSBoxer (CVA-21), 14 during aneight-monthcruise aboardCV‐36. active on1February duty thatsameyear. ItlosttwoPanthers April 1951, theReserve-mannedunithaving beencalledto helicopter. BuNo125096 hadbeenissuednew to inlate VF‐837 then ditched inthe Yellow Seaandwas retrieved by aHO3S‐1 the way back before toCV‐36 He itsenginefinallyflamedout. was severely damaged, managed toflythejetalmostall Wilson by Lt(jg)RE on4FebruaryWilson 1952. Although thePanther This fightertank was hitinthefuelby AAAwhilstbeingflown F9F-2B BuNo125096of VF-837, USSAntietam 13 Valley Forge’s thirdcombatcruise, frommid-October , remainingembarked untilOctober. 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• www.ospreypublishing.com shot. The jet’s pilot,Ens Thomas FLedford, was notrecovered. the ship’s recordsthecauseofditching was a‘cold’catapult CVA‐21 ofaCAPmissionon26July. atthestart According to the Korean conflictwhenitcrashedintotheseaaheadof 1 July. BuNo127219 becamethepenultimateF9Flostduring VF‐151 (embarked inBoxer FASRON 11 inlateMay 1953, thePanther was suppliedto jet was assignedto VMF‐115 atPohang (K-3).Returning to headed for homeinSeptember1952. Three monthslaterthe 127219 was transferred toFASRON 11 inJapan whenBoxer during theunit’s transitionfromtheF4U‐4toF9F‐2,BuNo Accepted by theUSNavyinJuly 1951 andassignedto VF‐24 bombs hadbeenarmedthey didnot,therefore, explode. aircraft’s was tailhook extended priortolanding. As noneofthe GP bombs.Inmostcasestheweapon was droppedwhenthe Mk 55 ordnanceracks returned toCV‐21withhung-up250-lb records notethatonseveral occasionsF9Fsequippedwith fiveand munitionsevery toseven days. Carrier airgroup day, which meantthatBoxer prevent thelatter, CVG‐2 averaged morethan100 sortiesper preparations for anearlyspringoffensive. Inaneffort to to participateinattacks intendedtodisrupt Chinese The cruise beganinearlyFebruary 1952 –justintimefor Boxer the unit was equippedwith16 F9F‐2sfor its22Naval Aviators. again embarked inCV‐21,justfour monthslater. This time March andOctober1951, VF‐24 returned tothewar zone, Having seenactionwithF4U‐4CorsairsfromBoxer May 1952 F9F-2 BuNo127219 of VF-24, USSBoxer (CV-21), 16 While flyingCAPabove TF 77 inBuNo 125459 on 18 opportunitytaste ofaerialcombat. togive theF9F‐5itsfirst aboard CVA‐34, VF‐781 was soonpresentedwithan Arriving off NorthKorea’s eastcoastinlateOctober1952 (CVA-34), November 1952 F9F-5 BuNo125459of VF-781, USSOriskany 18 again within24hours. 93 per cent.Indeed,mostbattle-damaged jets were operational maintenance personnelkept thePanther’s rateat in-service to Essex. Despitethehightempoofoperations VF‐23’s damageoversustained butthey the target, were abletoreturn lost oneaircraft oneach day. InDecemberaloneseven Panthers being Yerger’s. The worst periodwas 21‐22November, whenit results. lostfourVF‐23 Panthers duringthetour, oneofthem would employ dive anglesof35to40degrees,usuallywithgood between 10,000 ft ft. and20,000 Comingoutofthesun,pilots one run would bemade,withapproach altitudes varying targets, (andsister-squadronVF‐23 ensuredthatonly VF‐821) territory. Hewas sooncaptured. Inattacks onwell-defended F Lt Cdr Maury Yerger, hadlittle optionbuttoforce-land inenemy untilhithard fighter survived by AAAon 17 October. Itspilot, in Essex withtheunitaspartof ATG‐2 from16 June 1952, the BuNo 122585 was assignedto VF-23 inFebruary 1953. Embarked Converted duringthelatter intoanF9F‐2 halfof1951, whointurnVF‐52, transferred itto VF‐112 inMay 1951. December ofthatyear. Itwas thenpassedontosister‐squadron with served fromFebruary asanF9F‐3 1950VF‐51 throughto Another ValleyForge/CVG-5 earlywar veteran, thisaircraft had October 1952 F9F-2 BuNo122585of VF-23, USSEssex(CV-9), 17 ) asanattrition replacementon hadtobereplenishedwithfuel between
APPENDICES 93
as an attrition replacement in as an attrition 23 USS Philippine Sea VF-93, BuNo 123704 of F9F-2 June 1953 (CVA-47), naval record for War Korean set a new CVG‐9 1953 June On 13 160 sorties supporting so-called ‘Cherokee when it flew aircraft billeted troops and attacking TF 77 aircraft saw which strikes’, holding UN forces for CAS supply depots and providing A large positions along the eastern sectors of the frontline. 22 USS Bon Homme VF-72, BuNo 123575 of F9F-2 1952 November (CV-31), Richard ‘Dick’ Richard its assigned pilot, Lt(jg) Big DICK by Nicknamed of fleet service had seen almost two years Allmann, this aircraft VF‐72 in VF‐61 prior to being assigned to VF‐21 and with with combat deployment an action-packed Following 1952. May whilst it lost three Panthers squadron, during which the latter was it 123575 remained in-theatre after BuNo flying from CV-31, jet The in December 1952. in Japan 11 to FASRON transferred VF‐821 aboard Boxer sent to was in PhilippineVF‐93, embarked and then joined January 1953, April, the in 11 to FASRON Returned Sea, two months later. the overhaul for Alameda to NAS was shipped back fighter the from December 1953, VF‐151 to Assigned month. following and April 1955 then relegated to training duties from jet was 1956. Park in August Litchfield retired to NAS eventually 21 USS Bon Homme VF-71, BuNo 123460 of F9F-2 July 1952 (CV-31), Richard in CV‐31, had an outstanding embarked VF‐71, part of CAG‐7 unit The coast. the North Korean record during its time off poor when continued to maintain a high mission tempo even early during the final stages of its eight- arrived winter weather Chinese took advantage of the The month-long combat cruise. TF 77 resulting in an offensive, conditions to prepare for from late strikes’ ‘Cherokee frantically implementing so-called for sufficiently improved the weather when 1952 November VF‐71earned high land once again. over missions to be flown despite the poor and effectiveness, both coverage marks for Panther pilots The squadron’s period. weather during this flying left on vehicles their attacks for especially commended were J S to Lt Cdr Assigned night attacks. and damaged by exposed was BuNo 123460 cruise, VF‐71 its 1952-53 during Hill, CO of in VMF-311 to new its pilot. Delivered by “PAPASAN” christened considerable combat with the unit in saw this aircraft April 1950, six months of Following 1951. through to November Korea Alameda, the jet joined refurbishment in the O&R facility at NAS aboard CV‐31, which cruise war VF‐71 just prior to the unit’s VF‐91 aboard Philippine to Transferred 1952. commenced in May TF 77 seven in replaced CV-31 vessel Sea when the latter repair during damaged beyond was the aircraft months later, 1953. on 5 July a heavy landing aboard CVA‐47 months later. It was transferred to VMF‐311 at Pohang (K-3), via at Pohang VMF‐311 to transferred It was later. months to back Shipped that same year. later 11, 8 and FASRONs six months with spent aircraft the 1951, in November California to prior to being assigned Alameda at NAS the O&R facility month following The 1952. in May Miramar VF‐781 at NAS San Diego, and VF‐721 NAS at to transferred was BuNo 125117 in July. CVA‐33 aboard the unit to Korea with it deployed was 1953-54, the aircraft VF‐53 in by flown Subsequently 1955 flight in May repair during a training damaged beyond Kingsville. NAS at while serving with the NAATC www.ospreypublishing.com •
Publishing Osprey © TF 77 had been operating Oriskany. F9F-2B BuNo 125117 of VF-721, USS Kearsarge VF-721, of BuNo 125117 F9F-2B its assigned pilot, Lt(jg) by Penny Bad The Nicknamed contributed to the 566 sorties flown this Panther R J Peterson, between 25 December 1952 CVG‐101 from CVA‐33’s aircraft by air alone the carrier On Christmas Day and 4 January 1953. by Lt Led weather. 44 sorties despite bad pilots flew group’s already a battle-seasoned VF‐721 was Cdr H C McClaugherty, and trains it mainly targeted trucks unit and, during this cruise, On most of these Wonsan. plying the supply routes north of escorted the group’s armed Panthers missions the heavily 1951, VF‐23 in March to types. new Delivered propeller-driven two aboard CV-37 with the unit to Korea deployed BuNo 125117 20 December 1952 (CVA-33), (CVA-34), November 1952 November (CVA-34), participated in the Rowlands, by Lt(jg) Dave flown aircraft, This MiG-15s Soviet action that resulted in four 1952 November 18 Williams, Rowlands’ who was Lt Royce by being shot down the 1952, VF‐781 in June to new Delivered section leader. transferred remained with the squadron until it was aircraft April 1953. replacement in late an attrition as to VMF‐115 of which (the last in early 1954 to a series of FASRONs Assigned CherryVMFT‐20 at MCAS San Diego), the jet joined at NAS was remained here until it BuNo 126034 of that year. in July Point Squadron 27 in Repair Aircraft sent to co-located Marine was 51 at FASRON to was then transferred fighter The 1956. May Here, April 1957. Air Station Florida, in Auxiliary Sanford, Naval established heavy with newly the jet served as a utility aircraft A3D Skywarrior. equipped with the VAH‐11, squadron attack in October VAH‐7 on to co-located subsequently passed It was Park in Litchfield being retired to NAS finally before 1957, year. October of the following 19 USS Oriskany VF-781, BuNo 126034 of F9F-5 November, Lt Royce Williams and a wingman were attacked attacked Williams were a wingman and Lt Royce November, of four out formation a strung by position ‘ten o’clock’ from the Williams, ‘and said Lt us’, toward came the four ‘As MiG-15s. into them, spoiling the hard left turned firing range, I reached and wrapped-up turn my I continued of their run. effectiveness tail a for came on around last MiG. I commenced shot at the his him into tail. My first burst sent off 15 degrees firing from this crippled followed Rowlands spiral. Dave an uncontrolled a deep it smoking in where he left to 8000MiG down ft, confirmed the kill of gun camera film spiral. Later, graveyard a MiG rejoined the flight from below, Rowlands As this MiG’. dogfight became The on him. attack promptly made a head-on this time To joined the battle. a melee as three other MiGs a hit, but this soon changed had suffered neither Panther he had been operating at fighter (which when Williams’ a cannon shell that by struck was engine power) cent 100 per in a his hasty departure control and forced the rudder severed A short while later Lt(jg) altitude. into clouds at a lower dive and a descending MiG, towards vectored Middleton was John the enemy Middleton saw extreme range. he opened fire at pilots All three crash into the sea. pilot bail out and the MiG to safely then returned just 90 miles from Vladivostok, and with radar tracking the and with radar tracking Vladivostok, just 90 miles from from that direction, there was approached as they aircraft had VF-781 MiG-15s. Soviet these were little doubt removing After of them. four down successfully knocked heaved crew the deck 125459, from BuNo everything of value carcass overboard. the broken 94 APPENDICES (CVA-47), June1953 F9F-2 BuNo123585of VF-91, USSPhilippineSea 24 until placedinstorageatNAS Litchfield Park inOctober 1956. BuNo 123704 spenttherestofitscareerwithtrainingunits return fromCVA‐47’s final war cruise in August 1953, Following awelloverhaul deserved atNAS Alameda after its 1952 and VF‐191 (CV-37) from August toOctober1952. to February 1952, VF‐111 (aboardCV-45) fromMarch toMay Korea with VF‐51 (aboardCV-9) fromNovember 1951 through 1953,VF‐93 fromlateJanuary thefighterhaving sortied over already acombatveteran priortobeingflown intoaction by striking supplydepotsnearthe Yalu River. BuNo123704 was sister-squadron VF‐91, Panther pilotsescortingSkyraiders CO LtCdr W ECarver, whoseaircraft isdepictedhere)andits number ofthesesortieswere undertakenby VF‐93 (ledby unit Eventually returned totheUSA inMarch 1954, thefighter was June 1952) was passedonto VMF‐115 atPohang (K-3). BuNo 126039 (which hadbeenissuednew totheunitin 29 October 1945. When Oriskany left TF 77inearlyMay 1953, fly a Bell P-59B Airacomet–the first on Americanjetfighter– pioneer jetpilots.Hehadbecomeonly the62ndNaval Aviator to Officer, LtCdr Thomas Tavernetti, who was oneoftheUSNavy’s BuNo 126039 was namedFoul Ball by thesquadron’s Executive Reserve status (tobecome VF-122) on4February 1953. F9F‐5 Oriskany’s 1952-53 cruise, andlike thelatter unititgave upits VF-783 ‘MinuteMen’ was thesister-squadron of during VF‐781 34), February 1953 F9F-5 BuNo 126039 of VF-122, USSOriskany (CVA- 26 to NAS Litchfield Park for storagein January 1957. Chase Fieldandwith ATU-202 atKingsville,priortobeingsent fighter trainingwiththeNAATC atNAS CorpusChristiand 20 mmammunition.Post-war, BuNo123451 was employed asa and worn out16 gunswhilefiringmorethan roundsof 100,000 lbsofordnance Panther haddroppedapproximately 400,000 96 combatmissionswith VF-151. Bywar’s endthisparticular month andheadedfor Korea –BuNo123451 subsequentlyflew The unit,aspartof ATG-1, embarked inBoxer with VF‐63 and VF‐653, before joining VF‐151 inFebruary 1953. 1st MAW. OncerefurbishedatNAS Alameda, thejetserved 1002missions (totalling combathours)duringitstimewiththe end ofitsspellinKorea. The aircraft was creditedwithflying445 Pohang (K‐3). The jetisdepictedhereasitappearedtowards the unit for almosttwoyears, itwouldofactionfrom seeplenty passed onto VMF‐311 thefollowing month.Flown by thelatter Delivered new to VMF‐312 inJune 1950, thisaircraft was May 1952 F9F-2B BuNo123451of VMF-311, Pohang (K-3), 25 flight on 11 April 1956. May 1954 andwritten off inacrashduringstudent training veteran jetwas thenissuedtotheNAATC atNAS ChaseFieldin aboard CVA‐47. Returned to Alameda inOctober1953, the in August 1952 andparticipated inCVG‐9’s TF 77deployment overhaul atNAS Alameda, theaircraft was assignedto VF‐91 returned to VF‐191 twomonthslater. Following alengthy fighter subsequentlyjoined in VF‐837 June 1951 andthen cruise. Having beenissuednew to VF‐191 inJuly 1950, the W Spangenberg Jr, alsoparticipated inCVA‐47’s finalcombat This colourfuljet,nicknamed Rosie by itsassignedpilot,Lt(jg) © Osprey thefollowing Publishing
• www.ospreypublishing.com Fame following hisretirement. league baseball,andhewas inductedintotheBaseball Hallof reservist. completedhistourandreturnedWilliams tomajor professional asaUSMarineCorps baseballplayer serving leatherneck’ inKorea, noneotherthan Ted astar Williams, had witnessedthedramaticescapeofmostfamous ‘flying with minorinjuries.Later, theairmenatSuwon learned they since 11 January 1953, wreck, was atotal butitspilotescaped out andlimpedaway. The aircraft, which hadonlybeeninKorea threatening thecockpit. The pilotblew off hiscanopy, struggled with sparksflyingfromit. The nosepromptlyburstintoflames, onitsbellyfor almostamile skiddingalongthetarmac landing, approached theairstrip. The Panther madeawheels-up became worse whenanexplosion rocked the aircraft asit jet infor anemergencylanding. An alreadytensesituation tobringthecrippled too low toeject.Hisonlyoptionwas totry obviously having difficulty controllinghisaircraft, buthe was ribbon offire,allindicatedserioushazard. The pilot was Its sluggishmovements, trailingsmoke andstreaminga30‐ft jet (BuNo126109 of VMF‐311) fast. andvery camein‘heavy’ their vehicles. Itdulyarrived whenamidnight blueF9FPanther they noticedthecrash,fireandrescuecrews hastily manning knew therewas goingtobetroubleon16 February 1953 when US MarineCorpsgroundcrewmen atSuwon’s K‐13 airfield February 1953 F9F-5 BuNo126109 of VMF‐311, Pohang (K-3), 27 bore thenameofDet CO, LtCdrG A White, beneathits embarked inCVA‐37 with VC-61 DetDaspartof CVG‐15 –it Nicknamed AWK, thisaircraft was oneofthreeF9F‐5Ps (CVA-37),1953 April F9F-5P BuNo126271of VC-61 Det D, USSPrinceton 30 in aflightmishapon 17 Aprilthatsame year. St Louis, Missouri,inFebruary 1955, thefighter was written off months later. SuppliedtotheNaval Air Reserve Training Unitin overhauled atNAS Alameda before beingissuedto VMF‐312 six eventually returned totheUSA 1954, inJanuary being Davis IIIduringthespringandearlysummerof1953. The aircraft countless missions,thejetwas often flown by Lt H Thomas to Korea withtheunitin April ofthefollowing year. A veteran of Delivered new to VMF‐115 in August 1951, was thisF9F‐4 sent 1953 F9F-4 BuNo125164 of VMF-115, Pohang (K-3), March 29 subsequently salvaged atPohang (K‐3). the jetwas damagedbeyond repairby AAA on14 April 1953 and 18 months ofnear-constant combatinthedeadlyskiesofKorea, 127143 was passed onto VMF‐115 atPohang (K-3). After vessel was replacedby Kearsarge inSeptember1952, BuNo Boxer March 1952. Itwas thentransferred to VF‐24, embarked in ’sAntietam solewar cruise fromOctober1951 throughto aircraft hadpreviously seencombatwith VF-837 during Assigned toCaptRocky Demopoulosduring1952‐53, this 1953 F9F‐2 BuNo127143of VMF-115, Pohang (K-3), March 28 to VMFT-20 atMCAS Cherry Point. written off inaflyingaccidenton26March 1955 whilstassigned , andsentback intoaction.Offloaded in Japan whenthe
APPENDICES/INDEX 95
62, 79 66, 66, 67, 95 54 81, 94 53, 53–54, 70 VF‐111, commanded by Cdr by commanded VF‐111, 84
’s third, and last, Korean War cruise. cruise. War last, Korean third, and ’s Clinite, Lt(jg) Richard ‘Stretch’ Cogdell, Ens Jack 11–13, 17, 65 Coles, Lt Col Thomas M 77 Davis III, Lt Thomas H 94 Davis, Lt Demopoulos, Capt Rocky Douglas AD Skyraider 23, 31–32, John 16 Duby, Elwood, Lt Claire 56–57 Essex, USS 25, 30, Ewen, Adm Edward 16 Ferenbaugh, Maj Gen Claude 75 Lt(jg) W A Finlay, 34, 47 28, 26, 27, 33 (CVA-21), USS Boxer VF-151, BuNo 123583 of F9F-2 July 1953 briefly served aircraft this 1950, July to the US Navy in Delivered of that August-September Field in Moffett at NAS VF‐191 with Alameda. 8 at NAS to FASRON being transferred before year, and 1951 Field in May VF‐23 at Moffett assigned to It was as part of War cruise Korean first participated in the unit’s a rebuild in the O&R facility After in CV‐37. embarked CVG‐19X, at the VF-653 assigned to was Alameda, the aircraft at NAS By the time BuNo 123583 same site in September 1952. in embarked ATG-1, as part of with the unit to Korea deployed to Transferred VF‐151. VF‐653 been re-designated had CVA‐21, shipped back the jet was 1953, Atsugi in July at 11 FASRON Panther The months later. Alameda five to the O&R at NAS 1954 Chase Field in May at NAS to the NAATC was supplied training flight during a student off and subsequently written on 7 October that same year. 32 Champlain Lake USS VF-111, 125644 of BuNo F9F-5 July 1953 (CVA-39), aboard Boxer, 46 days Following VF‐44 places with F4U‐4‐equipped swapped Vickery, Arthur E and more newer Champlain’s of Lake to take advantage started F9F‐5s 16 squadron’s The H-8 type catapults. powerful the Being 1953. on 30 June carrier the latter operations from and serviceability unit aboard, maintenance sole Panther was these problems were of F9F‐5 spares, and a lack hampered by with the type, unfamiliarity the deckcrews’ by exacerbated Obtaining and damage to aircraft. resulting in handling accidents and the cannibalisation of downed spares from other carriers of the type to remain high, however. availability allowed aircraft and to the US Navy in January 1952 delivered was BuNo 125644 later following Miramar ten months at NAS VF‐112 issued to was February in VF‐111 fighter joined The a long period in storage. the ATG‐1 the rest of with in CVA‐21 embarked and then 1953 Boxer month for following it was mid-deployment, VF‐111 with to CVA‐39 Switching 1953 Atsugi in November at NAF 11 to FASRON transferred at VMF‐314 to Assigned home. Champlain returned when Lake with Toro El MCAS to transferred the aircraft 1954, Atsugi in July at a rebuild in the O&R facility Following 1955. the unit in March with Virginia, the jet spent more than two years Norfolk, NAS Litchfield retirement to NAS at Kingsville, before the NAATC 1958. in May Park (film) 30, 31 www.ospreypublishing.com , USS 24–25, 52 • Publishing and 28, 51, 52 18, 76, 85–86; AA batteries 18, 23, 33, Yorktown Boxer, USS 10, 21, 21, 22, 23, 48, 49, 49, 67–68, 69 Brainard, Lt G S 33 Lowell R 90 Ens Brewer, The Bridges at Toko-ri, Briscoe, Vice Adm Robert P 59 Brown, Ens Eldon 7 Bruestle, Lt(jg) L K 90 Cdr W E 94 Lt Carver, Chilton, Lt Robert ‘Chili’ 16 11, 13, Army (CPVA) Volunteer Chinese People’s Clare, Ens George Clark, Vice Adm Joseph ‘Jocko’ 62 Bon Homme Richard Osprey © , Valley Forge bold. this aircraft was a was this aircraft Fly, Tail Blue The 82, 91 Philippine Sea When the two airframes were mated to When the two airframes were 14, 14–15, 90 30, 30, 33, 33 74, 75 80 . The experimental natural metal seen on this finish experimental natural The . , USS 32, , USS 72 , USS 76 Appropriately christened Appropriately christened 31 USS Princeton VF-153, BuNo 126652 of F9F-5 1953 May (CVA-37), F9F‐5s, both of which unique combination of two different storyThe of its . in Princeton embarked VF‐153 belonged to metal an F9F‐5 in an experimental natural creation involves by enemy Clinite. Hit C ‘Stretch’ by Lt(jg) Richard finish flown 1953, the aircraft’s fire during a sortie in early May anti-aircraft shrapnel but Clinite managed tail badly riddled by section was In the meantime Ens to the carrier. back to get the Panther in glossy sea blue to CVA‐37 Wilds Jr limped back William flak extensive the jet had suffered after 126652 BuNo Panther damage to its wings and forward fuselage. Its rear section was intact, however. The the result was produce one complete aircraft Blue Tail Fly. missions in this configuration It completed a further 12 a rebuild. BuNo 126652 for Atsugi sent to NAF before being this VF‐831 in September 1952, to new had been delivered By then both the 1953. on 4 February VF‐153 unit becoming across the Pacific sailing west were squadron and this aircraft its rebuild, Following in CVA‐37. embarked as part of CVG‐15 in USS VF‐63 embarked to issued the jet was and operating in TF 77 assigned to was which (CVA‐10), monitoring the recently signed ceasefire. the Sea of Japan (K‐3) in at Pohang VMF‐115 then passed on to was The jet Toro El with the unit to MCAS and it returned September 1954, service with other units at the California Following 1955. in July was placed VMA‐224) the fighter and VMF‐311 base (including 1958. April Park in Litchfield in storage in NAS cockpit. The F9F‐5P was a purpose-built reconnaissance version version reconnaissance a purpose-built was F9F‐5P The cockpit. from existing been modified F9F‐2Ps had F9F‐5, whereas of the the F9F‐5P in the nose of camera bay The F9F‐2 airframes. with a in comparison inches some 12 jet by lengthened the for its F9F‐2Ps with ‘Dash-5s’ replaced VC‐61 standard F9F-5. of cruises war the final Princeton and many other late-war Panthers was subsequently was Panthers late-war other and many unpainted the afflicted corrosion excessive abandoned when in VC‐61 to had been issued new airframes. BuNo 126271 the unit until sent to the and it remained with 1952, August aircraft The San Diego in December 1953. O&R facility at NAS unit then passed on to US Marine Corps reconnaissance was in a off written and it was 1954, Miami in July VMJ‐3 at MCAS VMJ‐4. while serving with 1955 July crash on 14 Belyakov, Capt 59 Belyakov, Boeing B-29 Superfortress 26, 32 INDEX References to illustrations are shown in Capt Gene Autrey, Bairoko Bataan Beebe, Cdr Marshall U 32 Bell, 1Lt Robert W Armstrong, Ens Neil Plates are shown with page and caption locators in brackets. Allmann, Lt(jg) Richard ‘Dick’ 93 Amen, Lt Cdr William T Antietam flight preparations 28–29 MacBrien, Lt Joseph J, RCN 56 70, 71; CVG-5 6, 7, 9–10, 25, 26, 30, 32, Fontana, Maj Gen Paul 73 MacIntyre, Lt Col Neil R 72–73 61, 62; CVG-7 51–52; CVG-9 62, 62, 63; McDonnell F2H Banshee 25; F2H-2 70; F2H-2P 47 CVG-11 8, 9, 16, 47, 48; CVG-15 32–34, INDEX Gates, Lt Cdr Chester 90 Melsek, Lt(jg) Norb 4, 24 33, 63–64, 65–66; CVG-19 17, 18, 19, 20, Glenn, Maj John 82, 83 Michener, James 30 21, 27, 50–51; CVG-19X 27, 27, 28; CVG- Gortney, Capt William ‘Bill’ 7, 9–10 Middleton, Lt(jg) John 56–57, 93 101 (later CVG-14) 4, 21–22, 23, 54, 55; Grachyov, Capt Mikhail 90 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 14–16, 57, 57–58, 59, CVG-102 24–25, 56, 59 Graham, Ens Herb 32 74, 75, 82–83 squadrons: VA-95 62; VA-115 15; VA-702 23; Grumman F9F Panther 61, 86; dive brakes 10, 86; missions: bridge attack 14, 30–32, 51; ‘Cherokee VC-3 Det G 28; VC-11 Det M 62; VC-35 engine changes 74, 75; engine compressor strikes’ 51, 62, 71, 93–94; flak suppression Det G 28; VC-35 Det M 62; VC-61 62; problems (F9F-4) 78; fuel pump problems 73; 33–34, 50, 53, 53; hydroelectric plant attack VC-61 Det 44: 70; VC-61 Det A 49; VC-61 turbo jet controller problems 64 50, 51; photo-reconnaissance 17, 20, 29, Det C 48; VC-61 Det D 33, 30(45, 94–95), F9F-2 15, 31, 72; BuNo 122585 17(41, 92); 62–63, 64 62, 63, 64; VC-61 Det E 17, 19, 19, 20, 27, BuNo 123073 14(40, 92); BuNo 123418 Missouri, USS 17 7(38, 90–91), 50, 62; VC-61 Det F 19, 21, 52; BuNo 123460 21(42, 93); BuNo 123575 22, 22, 23; VC-61 Det G 24, 25, 29; VC-61 22(43, 93); BuNo 123583 33(46, 95); BuNo National Security Agency 59 Det H 47; VC-61 Det M 62; VC-61 Det N 24 23 123585 (43, 94); BuNo 123704 (43, Nelson, Lt W O ‘Swede’ 23 51; VF-11 54; VF-22 68; VF-23 27, 27, 28, 81 93–94); BuNo 125083 ; BuNo 125088 Nixon, Ens E A 62 17(41, 92), 53, 54; VF-24 16(41, 92), 48, 49, 10 78 (39, 91); BuNo 125116 ; BuNo 125122 North American: F-51D Mustang 21; F-86 Sabre 49; VF-31 10–12, 13, 13, 15, 17, 3(36, 90), 12 28 30, (39, 91); BuNo 127143 (45, 94), 59, 60, 86 65; VF-44 68; VF-51 6, 6, 7, 9, 11, 29–32, 81 34 15 ; BuNo 127149 ; BuNo 127173 (40, North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) 10, 11 30, 32, 1(36, 89), 12(39, 91), 61, 61; VF-52 9 92); BuNo 127174 (38, 91); BuNo 127180 6, 15–16, 35, 14(40, 92), 47, 47, 67, 69, 52 4 ; BuNo 127184 (37, 90); BuNo 127207 Operation Strangle 74 78; VF-53 60, 61; VF-62 68; VF-71 21(42, 8 16 (38, 91); BuNo 127219 (41, 92); USMC Oriskany, USS 54, 55–56, 58 93), 51, 51, 52, 52; VF-72 22(43, 93), 51, 73 75 76 78 79 80 84 85 86 , , , , , , , , ; VF-23 52, 52; VF-91 24(43, 94), 62, 62, 63; VF-93 27 28 48 30 32 , ; VF-24 ; VF-51 , ; VF-52 Pakhomkin, Lt 59 23(43, 93–94), 62, 62; VF-94 62; VF-111 8, 47 69 51 52 52 , ; VF-71 , ; VF-72 ; VF-111 Parker, Lt Robert 15–16 35 4 9 15 47 47 69 50 14–15, , 35, (37, 90), (38, 91), (40, ; VF-112 ; VF-151 ; VF-191 ; Pepelaev, Lt Col Evgeniy 74 92), 32(46, 95), 47, 47, 67, 68, 69, 69, 70, VF-821 53 7 8 2 7 13 21 22 25 26 33 79 Peterson, Lt(jg) R J 93 70, 71, 78; VF-112 , , 8–9, 15, 16, (36, F9F-2B , , , , , , , ; BuNo Philippine Sea, USS 7, 8, 9, 11, 16, 18, 24, 47, 47, 89–90), 47, 47–48; VF-113 and VF-114 123443 8; BuNo 123451 25(44, 94), 77; 60 62 26 74 3 48, , , 62, 63 15; VF-122 (formerly VF-783) (44, 94); BuNo 123464 ; BuNo 123497 (36, 90); Plog, Lt(jg) Leonard H 7, 89 VF-151 33(46, 95), 67, 69; VF-153 (formerly BuNo 123511 2(36, 89–90); BuNo 123633 Princeton, USS 17, 27, 27, 28, 50, 50, 55, 62, 63, VF-831) 31(46, 95), 62, 63, 64, 65–67, 66, 6(37, 90); BuNo 123643 23; BuNo 123655 64, 65, 66, 67 67, 70–71, 71; VF-154 (formerly VF-837) 4, 24; BuNo 123657 20, 5(37, 90); BuNo 62, 63, 64, 65–66; VF-172 25, 30, 32; 123702 11(39, 91); BuNo 125096 13(40, Radkte, Ens Herman 49 VF-191 17, 18, 19, 20–21, 6(37, 90), 50, 92); BuNo 125117 20(42, 93) Ramsey, Lt Cdr John W 91 50–51; VF-194 47; VF-653 47; VF-721 F9F-2P 17, 18, 19, 19–20, 22, 62; BuNo Red Air Force, Air Defence Forces (VVS-PVO) 59; 4, 20, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23, 24, 24–25, 25, 123615 7(38, 90–91) Fighter Air Regiment, 196th 75 5(37, 90), 20(42, 93), 54, 54, 55; VF-781 F9F-3 6, 9, 11; BuNo 122574 9; BuNo 123071 Ritchie, Capt 84 (later VF-121) 24, 25, 26, 27–28, 11(39, 1(36, 89) Rowlands, Lt(jg) David 56–57, 58, 93 91), 18(41, 92–93), 19(42, 93), 56, 56–58, F9F-4 76, 78, 81, 84; BuNo 125164 29(45, 94) 59; VF-783 (later VF-122) 56, 59; VF-821 F9F-5 56, 56, 60, 61, 61, 62, 69, 69–70, 71, Samuel N Moore, USS 67 53 54 33 85; BuNo 125459 18(41, 92–93), 56–58, , 53, ; VF-831 (later VF-153) 32, , Sawyer, Maj James ‘Buzz’ 84 34 10 63 58; BuNo 125644 32(46, 95); BuNo 126034 33–35, , (39, 91), ; VF-837 (later Schnitzer, Lt George 34–35, 64, 65, 70–71 33 13 19(42, 93), 56; BuNo 126037 70; BuNo VF-154) 32, , 33–34, (40, 92) 126039 26(44, 94); BuNo 126109 27(44, Spangenberg Jr, Lt(jg) W 94 82 Steman, Maj Louis H 81–83 Valley Forge, USS 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 18, 21, 35, 47, 94), ; BuNo 126652 The Blue Tail Fly 61 31(46, 95), 66, 66–67, 67 , 61, 78 F9F-5P 62, 62–63, 64; BuNo 126271 30(45, tactics 26–27, 30–32, 34, 55, 69, 77 Vandalov, Capt 59 62 62 94–95) Tarshinov, Lt 59 Vought F4U Corsair: F4U-4 51, ; F4U-5P Task Force (TF) 77: 6–7, 8, 11, 22, 24, 26, 52, 84 Helena, USS 59 53, 59, 60, 63, 68–69, 70; RESCAP Doctrine Walley, Maj Hill, Ens Allen ‘Boot’ 8–9, 15, 16 60–61 weapons Hill, Lt Cdr J S 93 Tavernetti, Lt Cdr Thomas 94 bombs: 100-lb 21; 250-lb 21, 49, 51; 260-lb 25 54 Hise, Maj Henry W 79–80, 83 Tingey, USS fragmentation 31, 78–80; 1000-lb ; Holloman, Lt George 14, 90 Triumph, HMS 6, 7, 8 racks for 64, 69–70, 85 Hubka, Capt Frank J 76 cannon, 20 mm 10, 23, 65 79 Hughes, Lt Robert 25 US Air Force 6 land-based F9Fs US Army: 7th Division 75 rockets: 2.75-in ‘Mighty Mouse’ 77; 5-in Irwin, Lt Col Darrell 77 US Marine Corps 31, 72 64–65; 5-in anti-tank aircraft (ATARs) 76; MAG-33 76, 78, 79, 83, 85 5-in high-velocity aircraft (HVARs) 22, 51, Jackson, Jr, Ens Edward 89–90 Marine Air Wing, 1st 80, 86 78; launchers for 23, 55; ‘Tiny Tim’ 78 Marine divisions: 1st 74; 5th 79; 7th 74 Weber, Ens Frederick 15–16 Kearsarge, USS 54, 54 squadrons: VMA-121 79; VMF-115 28, Welch Jr, Cdr Frank 35 Kinney, Lt Col John F 73 29(45, 94), 72, 76, 76–78, 79, 79–81, 80, Weymouth, Lt Cdr Ralph 8 Kramer, Lt Ken 30–32 81, 83–84, 84, 85, 86; VMF-311 21, 8(38, White, Lt Cdr G A 94–95 91), 25, 27(44, 94), 72, 73, 73–74, 74, 75, Wilds Jr, Ens William A 67, 95 Lake Champlain, USS 68, 69, 70, 71 75–76, 77, 78, 78, 79, 79, 80, 81, 81–83, Williams, Lt Royce 56–59, 57, 58, 92–93 Lamb, Lt Cdr William 15–16 82, 84, 84–85, 85, 86; VMJ-1 76 Williams, Capt Ted 82, 94 Ledford, Ens Thomas F 92 US Navy 6, 72 Wilson, Lt(jg) R E 92 Leyte, USS 10, 11, 13, 13, 16–17, 18, 65 air task groups: ATG-1: 35, 47, 48, 67–68, 69; Livingston, 2Lt Odyce W 81 ATG-2 53, 54 Yeatman, Lt R P 51 Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star 6 carrier air groups: CVG-2 10, 21, 24, 49; Yerger, Lt Cdr Maury F 92 96 Lovette, Capt 84 CVG-3 10, 11, 13, 15, 17; CVG-4 68, 69, Young, Lt(jg) Rollo 70
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© Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Front Cover First published in Great Britain in 2014 by Osprey Publishing Between March and October 1951 PO Box 883, Oxford, OX1 9PL, UK the F9F-2Bs of VF-721, flying with Carrier Air Group (CVG) 101 embarked PO Box 3985, New York, NY 10185-3985, USA in USS Boxer (CV-21), excelled in road and rail interdiction across E-mail: [email protected] North Korea. In this specially commissioned artwork by Gareth Hector, Lt(jg) Norb Melsek pulls up Osprey Publishing is part of the Osprey Group off a strafing run in his F9F-2B (BuNo 123655) after catching a convoy of © 2014 Osprey Publishing Limited Chinese trucks out in the open during the retreat of communist forces following the failure of their All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, spring offensive. research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Design and During this period of intense Patents Act 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in action, both Panthers and F4U Corsairs from CVG-101 loitered over a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, the frontlines on a daily basis in an electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise effort to help UN ground forces harry without prior written permission. All enquiries should be addressed to communist troops as they fled north. the publisher. Most pilots in VF-721 managed to fly more than 120 sorties each during the offensive, ranging far behind the A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library fleeing enemy troops as they sought out road and rail targets. Usually, ISBN: 978 1 78200 350 2 most enemy transport (road and rail) would only move under the cover of PDF e-book ISBN: 978-1-78200-351-9 darkness, but the situation was so e-Pub ISBN: 978-1-78200-352-6 dire for the fleeing Chinese soldiers that the communists risked repatriating their forces during Edited by Bruce Hales-Dutton and Tony Holmes daylight hours. They paid a heavy Cover Artwork by Gareth Hector price for their boldness, as an Aircraft Profiles by Jim Laurier estimated 2200 enemy troops were Index by Alan Thatcher killed by strafing runs, this figure being verified by advancing Originated by PDQ Digital Media Solutions, UK UN forces. VF-721 records showed that its © Osprey Publishing. Access to this book is not digitally restricted. In return, Panthers had fired 48,018 20 mm we ask you that you use it for personal, non-commercial purposes only. Please cannon rounds, 378 5-in High Velocity Aircraft Rockets and 574 6.5-in Anti- don’t upload this ebook to a peer-to-peer site, email it to everyone you know, or Tank Aircraft Rockets during this resell it. Osprey Publishing reserves all rights to its digital content and no part of period, the unit also expending these products may be copied, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any dozens of 250-lb general purpose form by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise (except as bombs (Cover artwork by Gareth Hector) permitted here), without the written permission of the publisher. Please support our continuing book publishing programme by using this e-book responsibly.
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