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North American FJ-3 Fury 135868
North American Aviation, the manufacturer of the famed P-51 Mustang, built the XFJ-1 Fury for the U.S. Navy. It conducted carrier trials on Intrepid's sister ship, USS Boxer (CV-21), in 1948. The Air Force later ordered a modified swept-wing version of the Fury that became the famous F-86 Sabre during the Korean War (1950-1953).
Following the triumph of the Sabres, the Navy commissioned a carrier-based iteration of the F-86, known as the FJ-2. This version, equipped with an arresting hook, reinforced landing gear for carrier landings, folding wings for efficient storage, and four 20mm cannons, marked a significant leap in aircraft design. The FJ-2 was a pioneer in utilizing the steam catapult on a U.S. Navy carrier. However, its glory was soon overshadowed by the more specialized FJ-3.
The -3 version, a fighter/bomber variant, was a testament to the adaptability of the Fury series. It was equipped with a more powerful jet engine and other performance enhancements. By 1957, up to 21 carrier-based fighter squadrons, including one assigned to Intrepid, were equipped with the FJ-3. The FJ-3s, originally fitted with movable high lift devices on the wing leading edges called slots, were later replaced with a fixed leading edge extension on each wing.
Leading edge extensions enlarged the wing area and provided usable interior space to accommodate an additional 124 gallons of fuel. Many of the earlier production FJ-3s were retrofitted with this extended wing leading edge. Between 1957 and 1960, several FJ-3s were modified to serve as drone control aircraft.
The Furies played a crucial role in Vought's SSM-N-8 Regulus missile testing program. The Regulus was an early type of submarine and ship-launched cruise missile that carried a nuclear warhead. In the mid-1950s, the U.S. Navy introduced a mirror system to guide a pilot's approach to a carrier landing, replacing the traditional paddle-waving Landing Signal Officer. The first successful mirror landing was made by Cdr. Robert D. Dose on August 22nd, 1955, when he landed his FJ-3 aboard the carrier USS Bennington (CV-20), thus marking a new milestone in naval aviation history.
This FJ-3 Fury, BuNo 135868, was most likely built in 1954 as an FJ-3, though sources vary. In 1962, it was redesignated as an F-1C Fury, reflecting the changes and upgrades it underwent over the years. It is painted in the colors of fighter squadron VF-33 ("Tarsiers") which flew from Intrepid in 1957 during a NATO exercise codenamed Operation Strikeback.
North American FJ-3 Fury 135868
North American Aviation, the manufacturer of the famed P-51 Mustang, built the XFJ-1 Fury for the U.S. Navy. It conducted carrier trials on Intrepid's sister ship, USS Boxer (CV-21), in 1948. The Air Force later ordered a modified swept-wing version of the Fury that became the famous F-86 Sabre during the Korean War (1950-1953).
Following the triumph of the Sabres, the Navy commissioned a carrier-based iteration of the F-86, known as the FJ-2. This version, equipped with an arresting hook, reinforced landing gear for carrier landings, folding wings for efficient storage, and four 20mm cannons, marked a significant leap in aircraft design. The FJ-2 was a pioneer in utilizing the steam catapult on a U.S. Navy carrier. However, its glory was soon overshadowed by the more specialized FJ-3.
The -3 version, a fighter/bomber variant, was a testament to the adaptability of the Fury series. It was equipped with a more powerful jet engine and other performance enhancements. By 1957, up to 21 carrier-based fighter squadrons, including one assigned to Intrepid, were equipped with the FJ-3. The FJ-3s, originally fitted with movable high lift devices on the wing leading edges called slots, were later replaced with a fixed leading edge extension on each wing.
Leading edge extensions enlarged the wing area and provided usable interior space to accommodate an additional 124 gallons of fuel. Many of the earlier production FJ-3s were retrofitted with this extended wing leading edge. Between 1957 and 1960, several FJ-3s were modified to serve as drone control aircraft.
The Furies played a crucial role in Vought's SSM-N-8 Regulus missile testing program. The Regulus was an early type of submarine and ship-launched cruise missile that carried a nuclear warhead. In the mid-1950s, the U.S. Navy introduced a mirror system to guide a pilot's approach to a carrier landing, replacing the traditional paddle-waving Landing Signal Officer. The first successful mirror landing was made by Cdr. Robert D. Dose on August 22nd, 1955, when he landed his FJ-3 aboard the carrier USS Bennington (CV-20), thus marking a new milestone in naval aviation history.
This FJ-3 Fury, BuNo 135868, was most likely built in 1954 as an FJ-3, though sources vary. In 1962, it was redesignated as an F-1C Fury, reflecting the changes and upgrades it underwent over the years. It is painted in the colors of fighter squadron VF-33 ("Tarsiers") which flew from Intrepid in 1957 during a NATO exercise codenamed Operation Strikeback.