Panthers on the Prowl
It happened 75 years ago this month.
The Navy’s new F9F Panther jet fighter saw its first combat in July 1950, flying strikes from USS Valley Forge (CV-45) with the “Screaming Eagles” of VF-51 and “Sealancers” of VF-52.
Carrying four forward-firing Mk 3 20mm cannons, Panthers could also carry 3,000 pounds of bombs or eight 5-inch rockets. They chalked up some of the first Navy air-to-air kills in the Korean War (a Yak-9 by VF-51’s LTJG. Leonard H. Plog on 3 July and a MiG-15 by VF-52’s LCDR William E. Lamb) in the process.
A Grumman F9F-2 Panther of fighter squadron VF-52 aboard the Essex-class fleet carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45) on 4 July 1950. NARA 111-SC-343067
Grumman F9F-3 “Panther”, of Fighter Squadron 52 (VF-52). Taxies forward on USS Valley Forge (CV-45) to be catapulted for strikes on targets along the east coast of Korea, 19 July 1950. Note details of the ship’s island, including scoreboard at left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. 80-G-428152
USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Flight deck tractors tow Grumman F9F “Panther” fighters forward on the carrier’s flight deck, in preparation for catapulting them off to attack North Korean targets, July 1950. This photograph was released for publication on 21 July 1950. Valley Forge had launched air strikes on 3-4 July and 18-19 July. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the “All Hands” collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. NH 96978
VF-51 and VF-52 were assigned to Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 1 May to 1 December 1950. The hybrid group included two other squadrons, VF-53 and VF-54, with F4U-4B Corsairs, augmented by a couple of F4U-5N night fighters of VC-3 and F4U-4Ps photo birds of H&MS-11, and a squadron of AD Skyraiders, VA-55.
USS Valley Forge (CV-45) Flight deck crewmen wheel carts of rockets past a Vought F4U-4B fighter, while arming planes for strikes against North Korean targets in July 1950. This plane is Bureau # 97503. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the “All Hands” collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. NH 96976
USS Valley Forge (CV-45). A Vought F4U-4B fighter is fueled and armed with 5-inch rockets, before strikes against targets on the Korean east coast, 19 July 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. NH 96979
Douglas AD Skyraider attack planes of VA-55 from USS Valley Forge (CV-45), fire 5-inch rockets at a North Korean field position. 80-G-422387
In the hectic two weeks between 16 July and 31 July, the wing dropped 141 tons of GP bombs, 106 tons of napalm, fired 1,865 rockets, and 160,662 rounds of 20mm cannon shells. CVG-5’s two dozen jets (of VF-51/52) flew 260 hours while its three dozen piston planes covered another 1,344, showing which had a higher availability and longer endurance.
A fuel or ammunition train burns near Kumchon, North Korea, after being hit by planes from USS Valley Forge (CV-45). Photographed on the morning of 22 July 1950. NH 96977
Burning after being struck by USS Valley Forge (CV-45) aircraft on 18 July 1950. The photograph may have been taken on 19 July, when smoke from these fires was visible from the carrier, operating at sea off the Korean east coast. 80-G-418592
Under attack by aircraft from Valley Forge (CV-45) on 18 July 1950. Smoke from this attack, which reportedly destroyed some 12,000 tons of refined petroleum products and much of the plant, could be seen sixty miles out at sea. 80-G-707876
CAG-5’s scorecard for those two weeks in July:
For the record, the F9F Panther was retired from Navy service just a half-decade after Korea, while the Sealancers of VF-52 hung up their helmets for the last time in 1959. Valley Forge, at the time re-rated as an LPH, was laid up in 1970. Meanwhile, the Screaming Eagles of VF-51 transitioned through F-8 Crusaders, F-4 Phantoms, and F-14 Tomcats before they closed shop in 1995.