MARINE CORPS JET FIGHTERS.pdf

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LOCKHEED SR-71
BLACKBIRD
- Origins and Evolution
One of the world’s most extreme
and enigmatic aircraft, the Lockheed
SR-71 Blackbird, is the ultimate
evolution of a long line of top secret
projects which first coalesced in the
form of the CIA’s A-12 reconnaissance
platform. American aircraft develop-
ment specialist Scott Lowther looks
in detail at the vast range of different
variants and configurations proposed
for this remarkable family of high-
speed high-altitude jets.
Author: Scott Lowther
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Introduction
nlike the USAF or the US Navy, the US Marine Corps
is a combined arms service with its own infantry,
armour, artillery, special operations forces and aviation
assets. All these elements train and fight together in
order to conduct expeditionary and amphibious operations.
The light and manoeuvrable Marine Corps infantry specialise
in assaulting from the sea and Marine Corps Aviation exists to
support those troops on the ground in six ways: anti-air warfare
(preventing enemy aircraft from interfering with Marine Corps
operations), close air support (aka CAS – directly attacking
enemy positions on the ground), aerial reconnaissance,
electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles (battlefield
command and control), and assault support (transporting troops
and vehicles to the battlefield).
This book looks at the tactical jet fighter aircraft operated by
the Marines since November 1947 and their increasing ability to
provide support in at least two, sometimes three and now up to
five of those roles.
The earliest Marine jet fighter was the FH-1 Phantom – an
aircraft built in only small numbers which served mainly to pave
the way for much more powerful and capable types. Its direct
successor, the F2H Banshee, proved incapable of tackling
enemy MiGs during the Korean War but did provide the USMC
with its first fast jet reconnaissance platform.
The Banshee’s contemporary, the F9F Panther, was
similarly lacking in anti-air prowess but it was very successful
in performing another role vital to the Marines – CAS.
The Panther would become the ubiquitous ground-attack
fighter of the Korean War. And radar-equipped Marines F3D
Skyknights would provide new capability during the conflict
as successful night fighters, despite their otherwise lacklustre
performance characteristics.
After the war, the USMC would finally get full day fighter
anti-air capability thanks to the later models of North American
Fury, the F9F Cougar and the F4D Skyray. The latter was so
U
specialised as a pure interceptor, however, that it was unable
to provide the CAS capability that was becoming increasingly
important for every fighter operated by the Marines.
By the early 1960s, in the face of Soviet technological
advances, it was necessary to field aircraft that were just
as able to hit enemy positions with bombs and rockets as
they were to hit enemy aircraft with cannon or Sidewinders.
The supersonic F-8 Crusader was the first Marines fighter
able to truly offer this capability while also being suitable for
conversion into a recon machine.
The F-4 Phantom II would take these capabilities to the
next level, being better than anything in the USAF’s inventory
and probably the best multirole fighter in the world in its day,
while the specialised AV-8A Harrier gave USMC Aviation the
ability to provide CAS without runways or even a carrier deck
to operate from.
Today the Marine Corps’ main tactical fighter types are the
AV-8B Harrier II and F/A-18 Hornet and the aircraft gradually
replacing them both – the F-35 in B and C forms respectively.
The Hornet is fast, reliable and carries a heavy payload of air-to-
air and air-to-ground munitions. The Harrier II is subsonic and
cannot match the Hornet for payload but neither does it require
the Hornet’s 6000m runway to carry out its missions.
But both types’ days are numbered and it will be down to
the futuristic F-35B and F-35C to take Marine Corps Aviation
well into the 21st century. Through their advanced systems,
these aircraft are capable not only of anti-air and CAS, but also
reconnaissance, electronic warfare and command and control –
making them a great fit for the Marine Corps of the future.
This publication chronicles the USMC’s changing jet fighter
inventory through the beautiful artworks of renowned aviation
illustrator JP Vieira. I hope you enjoy marvelling at the incredible
variety of his designs as much as I have.
Dan Sharp
JP Vieira is an illustrator producing military history and
aviation-themed artwork.
He is entirely self-taught and aims to constantly
improve both the technical and artistic aspects of
his work. His works combine traditional and digital
methods. His attention to detail and constant pursuit
of improvement makes his artworks both accurate and
artistically pleasing.
JP is a published artist, collaborating with several
authors, editors and publishers.
ABOUT THE
ARTIST
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35B LIGHTNING II
A Marine pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211
conducts pre-flight checks on an F-35B Lightning II
aboard HMS
Queen Elizabeth
in the
North Sea on October 10, 2020.
US Marine Corps photo by 1
st
Lt. Zachary Bodner
MARINE CORPS JET FIGHTERS
USAF
003
MARINE CORPS JET FIGHTERS
CONTENTS
014
NORTH AMERICAN
FJ-2/-3 FURY
004
MARINE CORPS JET FIGHTERS
042
DOUGLAS F3D
SKYKNIGHT
026
GRUMMAN F9F
PANTHER
006
MCDONNELL
FH-1 PHANTOM
008
MCDONNELL
F2H BANSHEE
020
NORTH AMERICAN
FJ-4 FURY
034
GRUMMAN F9F
COUGAR
All illustrations:
JP VIEIRA
Design:
BURDA
Publisher:
STEVE O’HARA
Editor:
DAN SHARP
Published by:
MORTONS MEDIA
GROUP LTD,
MEDIA CENTRE,
MORTON WAY,
HORNCASTLE,
LINCOLNSHIRE
LN9 6JR.
Tel.
01507 529529
Printed by:
WILLIAM GIBBONS
AND SONS,
WOLVERHAMPTON
ISBN: 978-1-911639-75-6
© 2021 MORTONS MEDIA GROUP LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS
PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY
MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING,
OR ANY INFORMATION STORAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION
IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER.
118
LOCKHEED MARTIN
F-35 LIGHTNING II
090
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
F/A-18 HORNET
068
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
F-4 PHANTOM
048
DOUGLAS
F4D SKYRAY
054
VOUGHT F-8
CRUSADER
082
HAWKER SIDDELEY
AV-8A HARRIER
104
HAWKER SIDDELEY/MC-
DONNELL DOUGLAS AV-8B
HARRIER II
MARINE CORPS JET FIGHTERS
005

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