Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F9F>HA7206
Grumman F9F-5 Panthers VMF-311 "Ted Williams"
General Background
The F9F Panther entered service in 1949. It was the first Grumman jet fighter, first Carrier-Borne Navy jet fighter in combat, first USN jet to shoot down an enemy airplane, first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels. A total of 1,382 F9Fs were made. VF-781 was the first squadron to volunteer for combat in Korea and were 100% volunteers earning them the name “Pacemakers”. The F9F flew 78,000 sorties with VF-781 flying 2,721 of them without a single loss of life. The Panther was removed from front-line service in 1956
The Aircraft
On May 1, 1952, at the age of 34, Ted Williams was recalled to active duty for service in the Korean War. After eight weeks of refresher flight training and qualification in the F9F Panther jet at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, he was assigned to VMF-311, Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), based at K-3 airfield in Pohang, Korea.
On February 16, 1953, Williams was part of a 35-plane strike package against a tank and infantry training school just south of Pyongyang, North Korea. During the mission a piece of flak knocked out his hydraulics and electrical systems, causing Williams to have to "limp" his plane back to K-13, an Air Force base close to the front lines. For his actions of this day he was awarded the Air Medal.
On February 16, 1953, Williams was part of a 35-plane strike package against a tank and infantry training school just south of Pyongyang, North Korea. During the mission a piece of flak knocked out his hydraulics and electrical systems, causing Williams to have to "limp" his plane back to K-13, an Air Force base close to the front lines. For his actions of this day he was awarded the Air Medal.
Specifications :
Engine: |
1 X Pratt & Whitney J42-P-6/P-8 turbojet |
| Rated at – 5,000 lb.s.t. for takeoff dry | |
| 5,950 lb.s.t. for takeoff with water injection | |
| Performance: | Maximum speed – 575 mph at sea level, 545 mph at 22,000 feet, 529 mph at 3,500 feet |
| Cruising speed – 487 mph | |
| Landing speed - 105 mph | |
| Initial climb rate – 5,140 feet per minute | |
| Service ceiling – 44,600 feet | |
| Normal range – 1,353 miles | |
| Dimensions: | Wingspan - 35 feet 3 inches |
| Length - 37 feet 3 inches | |
| Height - 11 feet 6 inches | |
| Wing area - 250 square feet. | |
| Weights: | Empty – 9,303 pounds |
| Combat - 14,235 pounds | |
| Gross - 16,450 pounds | |
| Take-off - 19,494 pounds maximum | |
| Internal fuel capacity: | 923 US gallons |
| Armament: | 4 X 20-mm cannon. |
| Under-wing loads of up to 2,000 pounds of bombs | |
| and rockets could be carried on eight under-wing racks. |