Little
remembered today save as the predecessor of the F-4 Phantom II, the
McDonnell F3H Demon was revolutionary when it first appeared in 1951,
as it held out the promise of a carrier-based fighter that could meet
or exceed the performance of land-based types.
Some highlights:
3 shots of the NMF Demon prototypes, including one of the #2 aircraft
aboard USS Coral
Sea.
12
shots of the F3H-1N, which had the APD-50 radar for all-weather use.
The failure of the J40 engine led to some -1Ns being re-engined with
the J71, while the others were written off without going into service
Includes several shots of -1Ns being towed and barged away for disposal.
20+ shots of the F3H-2N version, and a 3-view
includes a shot of a Demon refuleing another F3H
6 shots of the F3H-2M with Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles
10 color profiles, including:
VF-14 aboard USS Franklin Roosevelt
VF-124 USS Lexington
VF-61 USS Saratoga
VF-122 USS Ticonderoga
VF-82 USS
Forrestal
VF-24 Corsairs USS Lexington
VF-31 Topcatters
Advanced Demon design
In Service - 54 shots
includes VF-121 Pacemakers
VF-161 1964 - last fleet F-3
VF-131
VF-64 Freelancers
VF-61 aboard HMS
Ark Royal
NAOTS aircraft with blue fuselage and inner wing sections / outer wings
in white
VX-4 aboard USS Midway
VF-114 Aardvarks
------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: sample book
provided by Squadron/Signal
Other
F3H references: [Photo:
F3H of VX-4 with 3,000lb demolition bomb] Naval Aviation News
February 1963 p.36 [Photo: ground crew installing J71 on VF-121 F-3] Naval
Aviation News June 1963 p.30
[Photo: F-3B of PMTC during Operation Nite Owl with Sparrowair rocket
underwing] Naval Aviation News October 1963 p.18