Three XF2H-1 / XF2D-1 aircraft were built and all 56 of the contracted F2H-1 models were produced. The latter batch featured the Westinghouse J34-WE-22 turbojet engine of 3,000lb thrust. An improved version, the F2H-2, followed with the aforementioned wingtip fuel tanks in addition to eight underwing hardpoints for the carrying of stores (up to 1,580lb). This model was powered by 2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-34 engines of 3,250lb thrust and production totaled 308 units. Supported armament included 500lb drop bombs and High-Explosive (HE) aerial rockets.
The F2H-2B was a dedicated fighter-bomber form with support for the Mark 8 nuclear drop bomb though only 25 of this mark were produced. The F2H-2N was a dedicated night-fighter platform outfitted with APS-19 series radar in a revised, lengthened nose assembly. Just fourteen of this mark were realized. The F2H-2P became a dedicated photo-reconnaissance model with a special nose assembly housing up to six cameras. Eighty-nine of this model were built.
The F2H-3 evolved into an all-weather fighter mount with a longer nose, more internal fuel, external weapons support, revised tail design and APQ-41 radar. Two-hundred fifty of the variant were produced. These later became the F-2C in the 1962 U.S. military restructuring. The F2H-3P was to become its photo-reconnaissance version but this was not follow through with.
The F2H-4 was an improved version of the F2H-3 fighter and this model fitted 2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-38 turbojet engines of 3,600lb thrust (each). Additionally, the APG-37 radar fit was introduced and 150 of the aircraft were contracted for. This version became the F-2D in 1962.
A proposed swept-wing model emerged as the F2H-5 but this design was not furthered.
Only two global operators of the Banshee came to be, the United States and Canada. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) made use of the F2H-3 model across three total squadrons (one being a test outfit) and this marked the only jet-powered fighter to be taken on by the service. For the Americans, the Banshee was a standard sight in inventory throughout the 1950s as both the USN and United States Marine Corps (USMC) relied on the type. Twenty USN squadrons were formed around the type and seven USMC squadrons appeared.
Service introduction of the Banshee occurred during August of 1948 and this meant that they were in widespread circulation by the time of the Korean War of 1950-1953. They were used from the decks of American carriers stationed offshore and could provide escort for the larger, lumbering and high-flying American bombers while also support ground forces through on-call tactical strikes (though in most cases limited by bad weather / cloud coverage).
While air superiority lay with the United Nations in the early-going, the Banshee performed to expectations throughout 1950. However all this changed in November of 1950 when the Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet-powered fighter (detailed elsewhere on this site) arrived on scene with its swept-back wings and very-high-performance. This placed the Banshee at a decided disadvantage going forward for the straight-winged mount of 1940s vintage could not compete in a head-to-head duel - especially when the MiG-15s were secretly piloted by Soviet airmen. As such, the Banshee was soon relegated to operations closer to friendly forces and left the dogfighting to newer, more advanced gunnery platforms like the North American F-86 "Sabre" (detailed elsewhere on this site). Beyond ground attacks, the Banshee was soon found to be a heady player with the USMC in the realm of photo-reconnaissance where its operational altitude was an advantage.
In the whole of the conflict, of which the Banshee survived from beginning to end in active operational service, no aircraft were lost to enemy fighters. However, the series did not score any air kills itself and some three were lost to ground-based fire. The Korean War marked the only combat action the Banshee family of aircraft would ever see.
In time, the line was succeeded by more capable mounts and the USN and USMC finally began to adopted higher-performance, swept-wing products to keep pace with the enemy. The Banshee existed in the active USN and USMC inventory up until 1959 and reserve units gave up their mounts in 1961. The RCN followed in 1962 formally ending all global use of the type.
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