The Douglas F3D Skyknight

   DOUGLAS F3D-2:
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   spec                    metric              english
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   wingspan                15.24 meters        50 feet
   length                  13.87 meters        45 feet 6 inches
   height                  4.9 meters          16 feet 1 inch

   empty weight            8,240 kilograms     18,160 pounds
   max loaded weight       12,180 kilograms    28,850 pounds

   maximum speed           910 KPH             565 MPH / 490 KT
   service ceiling         11,650 meters       38,200 feet
   range                   1,930 kilometers    1,200 MI / 1,040 NMI
   _____________________   _________________   _______________________

* A total of 237 F3D-2s were built, with the last produced in March 1952. The Skyknight served with a number of US Navy and Marine squadrons, generally off of land bases. It was nicknamed "Willie the Whale" for its less than sleek appearance. Marine Squadron VMF(N)-513 was sent to Kunsan, Korea, with their Skyknights in the spring of 1952, where the type served with distinction.

The USAF had operated Boeing B-29 Superfortresses on daylight raids over enemy territory early in the war, but suffered excessive losses to North Korean MiG-15s, and so the bombers switched to night attacks. However, by late 1951, the enemy had refined their ability to direct MiG-15s against the Superfortresses using ground radar control, and losses began to rise again.

USAF F-94B Starfire night fighters were put into service to protect the bombers, but for various reasons they did not prove satisfactory in this role. Marine Skyknights were pressed into service as night escorts instead and performed the mission very well.

While the SkyKnight was not as aerodynamically advanced as the sleek MiG-15 and did not have an excess of engine thrust by any means, its radar system was extremely advanced for the day, its four cannon packed a hefty punch, and it could easily out-turn a MiG-15 whose pilot was foolish enough to get into a turning contest.

On the night of 2 November 1952, a Skyknight piloted by Marine Major William Stratton, accompanied by radar operator Master Sergeant Hans Hoagland, shot down what they reported from the exhaust pattern to be a Yak-15 fighter, though the type was not known to be operated by the North Koreans. The kill was confirmed as the Skyknight flew through the wreckage of the target, narrowly evading damage. This was the first night kill of a jet by another jet.

Five days later, on 7 November, another Skyknight under the command of Marine Captain O.R. Davis with radar operator Warrant Officer D.F. "Ding" Fessler shot down a MiG-15.

On 10 December 1952, a Skyknight piloted by Marine Lieutenant Joseph Corvi with radar operator Sergeant Dan George spotted a "bogey" on radar. They could not establish visual contact, but as no "friendlies" were supposed to be in the area, they fired on the target. A kill was confirmed when Sergeant George spotted a wing tumbling past them. This was one of the first times when an aircraft destroyed an enemy that the crew could not see. It turned out to be one of the little Po-2 biplanes used by the North Koreans to harass UN forces at night. The Po-2 was a difficult target, since it flew low and slow and its mostly wooden construction did not show up well on radar.

The Marine Skyknights claimed a total of at least six kills, most of them MiG-15s, and no B-29s under their escort were lost to enemy fighters. Two Skyknights were lost in combat for unknown reasons.

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[3] SKYKNIGHT MODIFICATIONS / VIETNAM

* An F3D-3 with swept wings and J46 engines was planned, with a contract placed for a large number of aircraft. Unfortunately, the delays in the J46 program meant that the J34 engine would have to be used, and studies demonstrated that with J34 engines the F3D-3 would show little performance improvement over the F3D-2. The order was cancelled in early 1952. There was no further new production of Skyknights.

The Skyknight was clearly a first-generation jet fighter, and as such was quickly pulled out of first-line service after the Korean War, to be replaced by more sophisticated aircraft such as the Douglas F4D Skyray. However, the type was updated and converted to special uses:

• In 1952, some F3D-2s were given a "special armament" fit whose details are unclear and given the new designation "F3D-2B".

• One of the three XF3D-1 prototypes was modified in late 1952 as a test aircraft for the new Sparrow I air to air missile (AAM), and at least twelve F3D-1s were also modified with four stores pylons under the wings to carry the Sparrow I for development testing. These F3D-1s were given the new designation "F3D-1M".

• 16 F3D-2s were similarly modified and redesignated "F3D-2M". Apparently the cannon were removed in Sparrow-armed Skyknights, and the aircraft were fitted with more powerful radar in a longer nose as well.

• The Skyknight was also updated to trainer configurations, including five "F3D-2T" night fighter trainers and 55 "F3D-2T2" radar trainers.

• The US Marines converted a number of Skyknights to an electronic countermeasures (ECM) and electronic intelligence (ELINT) configuration, with this variant redesignated "F3D-2Q". The radar was removed from the nose and replaced with the appropriate "black boxes", and it appears that chaff dispensers were carried as well. It is likely that the cannon armament was removed.

* In 1962, the US military consolidated their aircraft designation schemes, and Skyknight variants still in operation were redesignated as follows:

   F3D-1:    F-10A
   F3D-1M:   MF-10A
   F3D-2:    F-10B
   F3D-2Q:   EF-10B
   F3D-2T2:  TF-10B

There were never more than about ten EF-10Bs available, and they were sent on numerous "Fogbound" missions, pinning down the locations of enemy radar stations and passing off their coordinates for attack by defense-suppression aircraft, or blinding the radars with chaff and electronic jammers. Despite their age, the EF-10Bs were very effective, and they were heavily tasked well into 1966. By late 1966, "RB-66 Destroyers" were taking over the countermeasures role for the Air Force, and the "EKA-3B Skywarrior" and later the "EA-6A Prowler" took over countermeasures for the Navy.

The Marine EF-10Bs nonetheless flew in Vietnam until 1969. The type was finally removed from operational service in 1970.

A number of TF-10Bs were used as test and trials platforms into the early 1980s. These aircraft were the victims of bizarre Frankenstein modifications, with noses of other aircraft such as the Skyhawk grafted on to perform tests of radar systems. No Skyknights are now in flying condition, though a number are in static display in museums and US military bases.

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[4] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY

* Despite the fact that most sources speak highly of the Skyknight, one US Marine familiar with the aircraft from his Vietnam days said on an Internet bulletin board that it was known as the "Drut", a term whose meaning can be deciphered by reading it backwards.

Although the lack of ejection seats probably did not make flight crews happy and the low-slung engines were an invitation to foreign object damage, it seems plausible that this unaffectionate nickname was awarded less for any inherent defect in the aircraft than for the fact that by the mid-1960s the type was antiquated, underpowered, and likely decrepit. The Marines are the last priority for defense procurement, and as a result they make a habit of hanging on to weapons that the other services would have thrown away long before.

* All my aviation documents are written from secondary sources, and while this is adequate to give a fairly clear description of an aircraft, there's generally a few contradictions and fuzzy points.

In the case of the Skyknight, descriptions of the AN/APQ-35 radar system are confusing and contrary, particularly since it actually consisted of two separate radars, the AN/APS-21 and AN/APS-26, working in conjunction, and only one document actually made a specific connection between them all. Range figures are particularly baffling, since most sources say that the AN/APQ-35 had a range of 125 miles, while more detailed sources say that the AN/APS-21 search radar component had a range of 20 miles.

Admittedly, the operation of RF systems like radar is strongly dependent on everything from the phase of the Moon to the operator's digestion, but it still seems that somebody slipped a digit someplace. 125 miles seems like a long range for a fighter radar of that period, particularly since the F-94 Starfire's radar had a range of 20 miles, and 125 miles and is well in excess of the range of the latest radars being developed for the F-16. I decided to be conservative and have used the 20 mile figure here.

By the way, the name "SkyKnight" is very commonly misspelled as "SkyNight", and in fact I think I found more references to "SkyNight" than "SkyKnight" when I did a search for the type on the Web. I was surprised to see that Dr. Rene Francillon, one of the finest aviation writers around, made this booboo. Even the best of us screw up sometimes.

* Sources include:

• THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 20TH CENTURY WEAPONS AND WARFARE, edited by Bernard Fitzsimons, 1978 edition.

• THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF FIGHTERS, edited by Bill Gunston, Exeter Books, 1981.

• VIETNAM: THE WAR IN THE AIR by Rene J. Francillon, Arch Cape Press, 1987.

• "Fighter Combat Over Korea", WINGS OF FAME, Volume 3/4, 1996, 112.

• "F3D Skyknight: A Match For The MiG" by Warren E. Thompson, COMBAT AIRCRAFT, December 2000, 72:75.

A very thorough website document on the Skyknight by aviation enthusiast Joe Baugher was also consulted for additional details.

* Revision history:

   v1.0   / gvg / 01 feb 01
   v1.0.1 / gvg / 01 sep 02 / Minor cosmetic update.