BILL EWING COLLECTION
No. 6491. McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee (126464 c/n 174) Royal Canadian Navy
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McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee

05/31/2007. Remarks by Bill Ewing: "The Banshee, nicknamed the "Banjo", was the Hawker Sea Fury replacement for the RCN's fleet air defense, and became the one and only carrier-based jet fighter used by the RCN. The RCN received 39 second-hand F2H-3 Banshees from the USN and the first was delivered in November 1955. The last one delivered, USN BuNo 127510, was in fact the 40st aircraft, being a replacement for BuNo 126330 that was lost on its ferry flight on April 22, 1956.

The Banshees were flown by VX10 Experimental Squadron (acceptance evaluations) and fighter squadrons VF 870 and VF 871 at naval air station HMCS Shearwater, and were also deployed aboard the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure. By September 1962 all Canadian Banshees had been withdrawn from service.

The pictured aircraft was manufactured on March 28, 1953 and with USN BuNo 126464 it was accepted by the USN on April 10, 1953. It was struck off charge by the USN on August 14, 1957, and the following day taken on strength by the RCN; it was struck off charge on September 12, 1962. It was refurbished by the personnel of 400/411 Squadron, Canadian Forces Air Command, CFB Toronto. Supervisor for the restoration was the then Chief Warrant Officer of the combined Squadron, CWO Ron Wylie."

Created May 31, 2007