Is this the same Jack Sullivan who was the maintenance officer at Cubi Point who built the famous water ride in the Cubi O'Club and was my neighbor across the street at Pax in the early '70s?
Jack, when you were with 62 I was on the Kearsarge with the World Famous red Rippers, VF-11 (!951-52) Larry Flint was the CO
Now in Williamsburg...turned 93 last November...lost Fran in 2021.
Bill Ransdell, e-mail, 21.11.2020 21:26
Hi I saw this note while reading about the history of the Banchee. I was a radar tech in VF-152 on the same two cruises (Hornet and Bennington) in 1958. It was a long year away from home but I loved working on the Banchee radar. I'm afraid I do not recognise your name but it has been a long time. I hope all is well with you. Bill
Frank W FRENCH, e-mail, 03.11.2017 17:43
I Was Stationed In Sanford,Fl, With VF-31 In 1952. We were One Of The First Fighter Squadron To Get The Banchee Aircraft. Anyone Left From That Era?
jeff neal, e-mail, 09.04.2015 17:57
My father was CO of VF-23 flying F2H-3 for a couple of years ca. 1954-1957. They were at Moffett Field, CA. He made at least one cruise in Essex to SEA in the fifties.
CDR Bill Neal RIP 2008
Dwight Small, e-mail, 06.04.2015 04:39
Hi R Rodermund, there is now an F2H-2 Banshee at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson. I'm a docent there. I was in VF-52 and made a cruise on the Ticonderoga in '58-'59. VF-52 was part of ATG-1 and was Alameda based.
Bill Lawton, e-mail, 24.02.2015 04:23
I flew the F2H3 while flying with VF41. We were the airgroup which helped "shake down" the USS Forrestal in 1955 and were early in the conversion from the old reliable LSO to the brand new mirror landing system!
Edward Lee, e-mail, 19.01.2015 12:31
The F2H-3 was the first aircraft I worked on as an aviation electrician after completing "A" school in Jacksonville, FL in 1956. I was attached to VF23 and stationed at NAS Moffett Field, in California.
Harvey Marshall, e-mail, 28.09.2014 07:19
I was in VMF 214 in Hawaii in 1955 and 1957. worked on the radio and radar gear. Tubes galore! ARC 27 UHF radio weighed about 70 lbs. now a 3-5 lb. radio out performs them.
Hubert I. Flomenhoft, e-mail, 24.09.2014 04:46
I worked at the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics from 1949 to 1954. In August 1952, I was aboard the USS FDR, CVB-42, to witness carrier qualification landings of the F2H. Eighteen landings. Met Jim McDonnell. Maybe it was the USS Midway. I still have a couple of pictures.
Lee Meyners, e-mail, 29.03.2014 04:17
Flew the F2H-3, 1957-58 while attached to VF-152 based at Moffett Field Calif. Did two cruises during that time. One aboard the Hornet, CVA-12, and a second one, less than a month later due to a crisis on the USS Bennington, CVA-20. It was the last crises for both carriers as CVA's. Lost two pilots during the warm-up period. One just flew into the water during car-quals, unknown reason. The other lost at night during practice intercepts. This though to be an oxygen problem. It was a fairly stable platform to bring aboard the boat. Many of us in the squadron wished we had been able to fly the newer and faster fighters but I think we survived the two cruises because the Banshee was just a nice "Old Girl", tho a little bit slow, to bring aboard.
osemmes@bellsouth.net, 31.07.2013 06:20
Len Eisner is right. Big Banshee was good on one engine. On low level flivhts we "sinvled up", i.e. cut one engine and cruised at 290 kts. Closed duct doors...which were later removed...sometimes wld not open.
John Alexander, e-mail, 01.07.2013 20:26
Worked on both F2H-2 and F2H3 aircraft. As an ADJ in VX3, in Atlantic City, N.J., we were the first to install air-to-air refueling system on the F2H-3. Later while serving in Air Group 17, attached to VF171 aboard the USS Wasp, we made a world cruise with F2H-3 aircraft. Our sister squadron, VF172, flew the F2H-2 Banshee. Both planes seemed to be good carrier aircraft. Leaving Jacksonville, Fl, we headed north going on to Operation Mariner, a NATO operation. However, weather prevented us to reach the Artic circle, so then on to the Med, then thru the Suez canal and on to the western Pacific. Arriving back to the U.S. in San Diego. We were air lifted back to Jacksonville, Florida, our home base. This was in the year 1954.
John Alexander, e-mail, 01.07.2013 20:26
Worked on both F2H-2 and F2H3 aircraft. As an ADJ in VX3, in Atlantic City, N.J., we were the first to install air-to-air refueling system on the F2H-3. Later while serving in Air Group 17, attached to VF171 aboard the USS Wasp, we made a world cruise with F2H-3 aircraft. Our sister squadron, VF172, flew the F2H-2 Banshee. Both planes seemed to be good carrier aircraft. Leaving Jacksonville, Fl, we headed north going on to Operation Mariner, a NATO operation. However, weather prevented us to reach the Artic circle, so then on to the Med, then thru the Suez canal and on to the western Pacific. Arriving back to the U.S. in San Diego. We were air lifted back to Jacksonville, Florida, our home base. This was in the year 1954.
Jack Perkins, e-mail, 26.05.2013 06:39
1951 Went from VR-3 R5Ds to Banshee 2s at NASWF on Kirtland AFB. That was a change. I'm 91 now. Anyone else left? Love a reply.
Jack Sullivan, e-mail, 18.02.2013 19:42
As a recalled NYC Detective I led t he last CAP (carier air patrol) of the Korean warand made the last carrier landing My Squadron was VF62 (Gladiators)and My Carrier " Lake Champlain" The fighting was declared over during my flight and I was sent to Tokyo with the headline for newspapers " NYC Cop blows whistle on Korean police Action"The Banshee F2H2 could outclimb any of our jets, including the F86 and we always hoped we would tangle with a Mig. Hope the name Banshee is picked for a future fighter
Jim Osborne, e-mail, 06.06.2012 00:59
I was a pilot in vf172 "52-54". My first look at New York city was from 52,000' on my way to Bangor, Maine. Had 99 landings on the FDR,Wasp, Bennington,Coral Sea and Midway. No one ever got used to the aircompressor kicking "on" at night.
Elson Gautreaux, e-mail, 22.05.2012 00:26
I was in VF-194 fighter squadon with the F2H3's in 1956-57 I was a plane captain.Made two cruise's to the Far East,First was in 1956 on the USS Orisknay CVA 34 and next one was 1957 on the USS York Town CV-10.The Banshee was a great plane.Just with I could bring that time back.
Dick Renner, e-mail, 19.05.2012 16:11
On two occasions One aboard ship I lost an engine on being catapulted secured the engine burned off thefuel to get lighter and made my landing safely,second time going thru night intercept at Boca ChicaNaval air station, lost engineon on take off. Intake door inadvertly closed( electric malfunction) again had to burn off fuel to land with the stick completely over to the side of neutral.
Jeff Joseph Sr, e-mail, 28.03.2012 05:20
Too bad they didnt name the F-18 Banshee II
R Rodermund, e-mail, 21.03.2012 03:08
I worked at McDonnell at Lamberts Field in St louis as a sheet metal worker and drill press operato before joining the Navy. I was disappointed when visiting the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon, that there were No Banshee"s on display. I recieved infor today that the museum in San Diego has one so I will be making the 6 hour trip from Phoenix to SanDiego soon. Thanks for all the above info
Matthew B.Peck, e-mail, 13.09.2011 00:18
I was in VNCJ-1 at Ping Tung Korea in 1953.LtCol Marion Carl was the CO.We were moved to Japan in early 1954 and later that year were dployed down to Ping Tung,Formosa. Several classified missions were flown there.The long nosed F2H2-P was a great bird!
bombardier, e-mail, 22.05.2011 19:43
Doug Mount the F2H was retired from service in September 1959 and the last aircraft were taken out of the reserves in 1961
Robert Quick, e-mail, 07.05.2011 22:48
I notice there is no mention of the F2H2. It was a great aircraft. I was an Aircraft Mechanic in VF-11 in 1952 and 1953 aboard the USS Kearsarge CVG 33, Air Group 101 in Task Force 77. The Banshee was a great aircraft to work on and we had a full compliment in our squadron, all F2H2's. For such a great aircraft for that time period, I am dismayed that even MacDonalds does (or did not)display this model in their Museum in St. Louis when I visited it. They only had on display a F2H3 to represent the F2H2.
Bill Bevington, e-mail, 20.04.2011 05:19
I was employed at McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1946-47. One day all the employees were summoned to asemble outside the plant (Lambert Field, St. Louis). They rolled a Banshee out of the hanger in a "genuflect" position (nose down - tail up), changed to take off mode and took off with a roar. It seemed to go straight up. We had not seen anything like before.
Jim Jarrett, e-mail, 31.03.2011 06:47
I was on the Randolf (CVA15) in the Med from Nov. 1957 to April 1958 and I was a aviation electrician for fighter squadron VF22 and when we returned to JAX Naval Air stattion our squadron was decommissioned. One our planes ended up at the Kennedy Space Center for show.
Earl Steinbrink, e-mail, 06.03.2011 22:31
I believe I made the last carrier landing the Banshee made. It was on the USS Randolf CVA15 with VF71 on March 13, 1959 on our way back to Norfolk on a Med cruise. VF 71 was decommissioned upon arrival in Oceana in March 1959.
Paul Harwood, e-mail, 05.12.2010 10:52
1958 I did a Med cruise on the Essex in VF-11 The red Rippers. They flew the F2H-4. Ended up in the far east (Kemoy,Matsue). Went back to Mayport via Singapore, Ceylon, South Africa, Brazil... long boat ride.
MAC MCCAFFREY, e-mail, 08.10.2010 20:37
IN 1954 I WAS A MECH. AT N.A.S. COLUMBUS, OHIO,SERVICING TRANSIENT A.C. ONE DAY AN F2H-3,OR4, TOOK OFF AND RETURNED IN A VERY SHORT TIME WITH THE LEFT ENGINE MINUS IT'S TURBINE WHEEL--JUST DISINTEGRATED AND THREW PIECES MOSTLY THRU THE FUSALAGE MISSING CONTROL CABLES BY, AS I REMEMBER,JUST INCHES. THE PILOT WASN'T FAZED AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE TO THE FUEL TANK THE FRAGMENTS WENT--MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY HAD THEY PENETRATED.
Jim Scanlan, e-mail, 14.09.2010 03:25
I was in VMF 214 at El Toro from June of 53 to Dec. 53. I was a parachute rigger, and filled the F2H4's with oxygen. I had another rigger who was suppoed to disconnect the oxygen bottles, and battery. He aid he had finished doing that, but hadn't When the oxygen regulater was about off, it was blown out of the cockpit, and came back in, and landed on the circut wires, and burned every wire in the plane.
Jim Scanlan, e-mail, 14.09.2010 03:25
I was in VMF 214 at El Toro from June of 53 to Dec. 53. I was a parachute rigger, and filled the F2H4's with oxygen. I had another rigger who was suppoed to disconnect the oxygen bottles, and battery. He aid he had finished doing that, but hadn't When the oxygen regulater was about off, it was blown out of the cockpit, and came back in, and landed on the circut wires, and burned every wire in the plane.
BOBBY OGDEN, e-mail, 11.09.2010 12:59
I WAS IN VMF-214 ( BLACK SHEEP ) AS A MECHANIC 1953-1955 IN EL TORO AND KANOHE MARINE AIR STATIONS. THE F2H-4 REPLACED THE CORSAIR. WE LOST ONE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING DURING CARRIER QUALIFICATIONS ABOARD THE CARRIER WASP OFF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
bill kelly, e-mail, 13.04.2010 23:53
Just like O J (Ollie) Semmes I too was with VF71 during 1956 to 1958.Quonset Pt, Key West, Leeward Pt, FDR, Intepid, Forrestal and Oceana where we operated. The "Banjo"s nose wheel extended for the cat shot and one snowy day the base CO (Quonset) had us taxing noseup to melt the taxiways. You had to have been there - the US Navy in action. On one of my fam hops when I got to the squadron I was to engage the auto-pilot; it was a two lever operation - pitch and roll. I don't remember which lever I moved but the violent maneuver that occurred was all I needed to never try to use it again. The plane was great otherwise.
O.J. Semmes, e-mail, 23.01.2010 18:48
Flew F@H-3's amd 4's in VF-71. When I reported right out of the training command, the weather was below minimums and two flights were up practicing GCA approaches. VF 71 was always up when the WX was down. Aboard Hornet had night deck crash that I walked away from...slightly fast and high at cut...the SPN-12 gear was out...lousy night...no wind. During same cruise John Mitchell landed a Banshee one night between the two stanchions on the fantail of Bon Homme Richard or maybe Oriskany..and walked down to sick bay afterward. Also flew it during Operation Strikeback in North Atlantic. It was great platform but electronics packages did not have the reliability we now have.
Edward Parnell, e-mail, 31.12.2009 21:27
In 1951, VMF-224, I put a Banshee into the round-down of the Coral Sea, Blew up; burned. exited the bird over the side, under water; wish I had a copy of the "crash camera" films of that episode. Great aircraft!!
Doug Mount, e-mail, 30.12.2009 02:31
I was in Navy CAG-21, VF213, in 1956, and it was an active day night fighter, but do not know how long it had been in service prior to 1956. I believe it was retired in late 56 or in 1957. We were stationed at NAS Moffet Field at that time.
Len Eisner, e-mail, 04.12.2009 23:34
The Banshee was a fun airplane to fly. It did well on one engine and had remarkable range at altitude or at treetop level using one engine and switching them each half hour or so. It was a high flyer, I had a photo version up to 54,000', which stretched it's abilities a bit. It was a good carrier airplane; had good visibility and low speed responsiveness coming aboard a straight deck. It was a blast to watch the wings wave on cat shots.
