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[1964.085.001] Aircraft - 'F9F-2 Aircraft, Bureau Number 123050' |
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F9F-2 Aircraft, Bureau Number 123050
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| Accession Number |
1964.085.001 |
| Accession Date |
16/10/1964 |
| Creator |
| Creator |
Creator Role |
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Manufacturer |
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| Date Created |
1949 |
| Object Desciption |
Grumman manufactured F9F-2 Panther (Bureau Number 123050) aircraft displayed in the markings of Fighter Squadron (VF) 151, to which it was assigned to in the Summer of 1953 aboard the carrier Boxer (CV 21) during combat operations off Korea. The F9F-2 is a single seat aircraft, its armament consistin of four 20-millimeter machine cannon in the fuselage and provisions for a 4,000-pound payload. Its propulsion system consisted of one Pratt and Whitney J48-P-8 jet engine, which has been removed for display purposes. |
| Object Notes |
This aircraft, while assigned to VF-151, was flown by Lieutenant (junior grade) Alan R. Bedford and is noted in his flight logbook (accession number 1995.320.006). Much of Bedford's flight gear from this time period as well as a color reproduction of a page from his flight logbook noting this aircraft is on display in the National Museum of Naval Aviation's Korean War exhibit. |
| Place of Origin |
Bethpage, New York |
| Notes |
F9F-2 Panther, Bureau Number 123050. Accepted by U.S. Navy on September 28, 1949.
The sixty-fifth production F9F-2 to come off the Grumman assembly line, BuNo 123050 began its career with assignment to VMF-115 at MCAS Edenton, NC. During the aircraft's eighteen months with the "Silver Eagles", the squadron deployed to the Caribbean and transferred to a new home at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. In addition, on 20 November 1950, during flight operations aboard Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), VMF-115 became the first Marine jet fighter squadron to qualify aboard a carrier.
By April 1951, with the "police action" in Korea almost a year old, the services of Bureau Number 123050 were needed on that far-flung Asian peninsula. By early-1952, the aircraft was at war, assigned to VMF-311 at K-3 (Yongil-man Airfield) at Pohang, South Korea. While with
VMF-311, which in 1950 had flown the first jet combat missions in the history of the United States Marine Corps, Bureau Number 123050 flew close air support, reconnaissance, and interdiction missions. Following this time with VMF-311 and a short stint flying from K-3 with its maiden squadron, VMF-115, Bureau Number 123050 joined FASRON-11 at NAS Atsugi, Japan, in May 1953. A carrier deck awaited the war-weary leatherneck bird.
By Summer 1953, Bureau Number 123050 was flying missions with VF-151 from the deck of Boxer (CV-21), which was on its fourth combat cruise to Korean Waters. All told, the aircraft flew from the deck of "Busy Bee" for a few weeks before a barrier crash ended her days with VF-151. The departure of Bureau Number 123050 signaled the end of its service as a front-line aircraft. Following a period of overhaul and repair at NAS Alameda, CA, and NAS Corpus Christi, TX, the aircraft began duties as a jet trainer at NAAS Kingsville, TX, in Spring 1954. Transferred to ATU-201 at NAS Corpus Christi, and eventually to ATU-206 at NAS Pensacola, the aircraft made its last operational flights at NAS Forrest Sherman Field in 1956. Bureau Number 123050 was stricken from the Navy inventory on August 31, 1956.
Eventually placed on static display at the Naval School, Pre-Flight, Survival Training Unit in Pensacola, the aircraft drew the attention of the personnel at the recently established Naval Aviation Museum, who made a formal request for custody of the aircraft in March 1964. Bureau Number 123050 joined the museum collection the following month.
During the ensuing years, the Panther underwent numerous facelifts. While receiving one of these coats of paint, the aircraft's true bureau number was replaced by Bureau Number 122563. However, in 1995, the aircraft was restored to its familiar markings and its true identity returned. Wearing the colors of its old squadron, VF-151, and the Bureau Number 123050, this F9F-2 Panther is one of five showpiece aircraft suspended in the Quarterdeck at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. |
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