Following the success of the FH-1 Phantom in US Navy and US Marine service, McDonnell was requested to submit its design for a new and improved jet fighter to supersede the FH-1. The company's design submission led to the receipt of a contract in early 1945 for three McDonnell XF2D-1 prototypes, these later gaining the name Banshee. McDonnell's design covered an improved version of the Phantom of increased size, incorporating folding wings, and with a lengthened fuselage to house more fuel, and with similarly-mounted and more powerful Westinghouse turbojet engines. The first prototype was flown on 11 January 1947, by then redesig-nated XF2H-1, and successful testing and evaluation led to contracts that were to call eventually for a total of 892 production aircraft of which details are given under Variants. Initial deliveries of production F2H-1s, to US Navy Squadron VF-171, began in August 1948, and the type proved of great value as an escort fighter during the Korean War. By the end of that conflict the F2Hs had been superseded by more advanced fighters, but continued in use in a reconnaissance role for a number of years and, in service with US Navy Reserve units, were flown until the mid-1960s. In November 1955 a total of 39 ex-US Navy F2H-3s was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, these being that service's first operational jet fighters; when the last were retired, in September 1962, they also proved to be the last carrier-based fighters in Canadian service.

3-View

A three-view drawing of F2H-4 Banshee (1660 x 1130)