McDonnell F2H Banshee

Hi.
This was one of the gate guards at MCAS El Toro, taken in 1988.
Regards Phil.

Banshee at Ottawa

Here’s a picture of the one on display in the National museum at Rockcliffe, taken earlier this year.
Very nice aircraft in a very nice Museum !

Here is a picture of the Banshee in the National Warplane Museum, Elmira NY. They have a Phantom too.

Banshee

I have the book by Steve Ginter in electronic format if that is any help for you

125052 displayed on board USS Lexington. Picture taken in 1993, before restoration. I still have some editing to do on those old slides….

Tillerman.

hello

some pics of the example in Calgary in my webshots album:

cheers

greg v.

Wow I stirred up a hornet’s nest of recommendations. I’ll have to look into them for sure.

Regarding the comment about the numbers the RCN used, I thought they bought around 40 (39 to be exact I think)…..or you just referring to the original batch?

Also, I’d have to agree with the comment made that the F2H is a
“classy” machine……I don’t really know what it is I like about it, but I just like the way it looks……especially in RCN colors and later USN/USMC schemes….

Oh, and the mistake on the FH-1 Phantom is understandable because indeed the Banshee was essentially a scaled-up more powerful version of the FH-1. It’s bigger, more powerful, and instead of four .50 cal. machine guns, it has four 20-mm cannons. It’s just the next-step up from the FH-1.

…the Dempsey one … is a great look at the whole history of Canadian military demo flying…

Thanks Steve, Dan put a load of work into that baby and I’m proud to say I put her together for him.

… Three RCN Banshees survive, one each at Shearwater, Nova Scotia; Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario; and Calgary, Alberta. All are in good condition (the CAvM one being especially nice) and on indoor static display. …

Pretty good preservation numbers for an original purchase of only 10, eh?

James

Hi–

Seconding the recommendations for the two Canadian books mentioned; the Dempsey one only touches on the Banshee via the RCN’s Grey Ghosts but is a great look at the whole history of Canadian military demo flying, while the Mills one has as much RCN Banshee lore as one could hope for…and even boasts a few Sea Fury pix into the bargain. A couple of Leo Pettipas’ books on RCN aviation have Banshee sections too (some of those are still available via the Shearwater museum).

The Banshee-esque airframe seen in the NASM photo is the F2H’s predecessor, the FH-1 Phantom. NASM also hold an early Banshee, which last I checked was on loan to the National Warplane Museum at Big Flats, New York, near Elmira.

Three RCN Banshees survive, one each at Shearwater, Nova Scotia; Rockcliffe (Ottawa), Ontario; and Calgary, Alberta. All are in good condition (the CAvM one being especially nice) and on indoor static display. The Calgary one was the RCN’s last fighter, retired circa 1962 with the name “The Last Punch”; she survived as an instructional airframe at a tech school in Calgary, long enough to join the collection at RCNVR station Tecumseh.

Not sure how many USN/USMC Banshees are left, but 20-odd years ago the Marine Corps museum at Quantico had two in outdoor storage, an F2H-2 and an F2H-3. Classy machine. Be nice to see one fly again someday…

S.

PhII. I dont know if its still available but No2 in the excellent Steve Ginters Naval Fighters series covers all marks of Banshee including Canadian.78 pages, 95 photos and 150 profiles.

Take a look for ‘A Tradition of Excellence – Canada’s Aerobatic Team Heritage’ by Dan Dempsey. I’m not sure whether he has any more copies in stock but you may be able to find one elsewhere online.

http://www.canadasairshowheritage.com/intro.asp

It contains some great first hand annecdotal acounts and photos of the Banshee in use by RCN VF870 when the operated a four-ship aerobatic team (1956-60).

McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee serial number 126402

There’s one just up the road from me at the Shearwater Aviation Museum in Darmouth, Nova Scotia. See attached link below.

Cheers,
Troy

http://www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/exhibits/banshee.htm

I’m pretty sure I took a piccy or two of a Banshee (or something very much like it anyway) during my visit to the Smithsonian museum on The Mall during 2002.

I’m at work at the moment so I can’t check, but I will have a look tonight and if so I will post them.

————————————————–
EDIT

I have looked at my piccies and I am mistaken, the airframe I saw at NASM was in fact a McDonnell FH-1 Phantom.

In my defence they do look similar…… :rolleyes:

Now that’s what I’m talking about….I’ll have to look into these books…..especially that last one.

Anyone else have great F2H pics to share?

Best Banshee book

The best Banshee book is ‘ Banshees in the Royal Canadian Navy by Carl Mills.
Book Description: Banshee Publication, Willowdale, Ontario, 1991, first edition., 1991. 306 pp + indices and technical drawings, 4to (12. 1/4″ H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 096952000X Profusely illustrated in b&w and color with photographs and drawings. Contents: Preface; The History of VF870 Squadron during the Banshee Era; T he History of VF871 Squadron during the Banshee Era; HMCS Bonaventure – The Banshee Era; The Arming of the RCN Banshee with the Sidewinder; The Banshee from the VX10 Perspective; Banshee Development and US Operations; Canadian Banshee Short Stories; In Memoriam; Chronology; Banshee Gallery; Pot Pourri; Acknowledgement.

This book is full of great stories on the use of the Banshee by the Royal Canadian Navy. The book was a labour of love by the author Carl Mills, who also helped restore the Canada Aviaton Museum Banshee in the 80s. It is full of great pictures and stories, well worth the price, you will not be disapointed. I do see that there are a number for sale on Abebooks.

Hope this helps

Mark

I’m an early jet (particularly ‘straight’ wing types) fan too.

Am afraid I don’t have any books specifically on the Banshee. However the Putnam “McDonnell Douglas Vol. 1” by Rene Francillon has a 15 page section on the F2H.

Roger Smith.

Don’t know why but this aircraft has always intrigued me.

Anyone know of any good books, magazine articles, and/or websites on it?

I’ve read Joe Baugher’s write-ups, but that’s about as detailed information as I’ve been able to find.

Would love to find lots of great pictures of Banshees too…..especially in RCAF colors and with AIM-9 AAM’s.

Squadron have published one of their “In Action” series on it. These are still available.

Can’t offer much by way of comment, except to say that I have a soft spot for these early jets too. Anyway, here is a photo of one for those who aren’t familiar with the type.

Wow guys…….I’ve refrained from posting on the Historic forum for a very long time because I know you all seem to hate jets of any type (unless they are English)……but of all the people and experience and knowledge on this forum I can’t even get 1 reply to a thread about the Banshee?

I’m still a bit surprised, and rather saddened cause I’d always thought this forum was a good place to go for information on just about anything that flies…….