Book Description
The Grumman F9F Panther was not only the first jet fighter from Grumman but also the first US Navy jet to shoot down an enemy aircraft in action when an F9F-3 shot down a North Korean prop fighter during the Korean War. Later, on November 9, 1950, the commanding officer of the VF-111 'Sundowners' squadron, Lt. Cdr. William T. Amen, shot down a North Korean MiG-15 jet fighter. It was the first jet to jet kill in the Korean War. Throughout that war, the Marine Corps and the US Navy depended heavily on the Grumman F9F Panther. Then came the swept wing Wizz jet - the F9F-8 Cougar. The Cougar was a bit late for the Korean War; however, it was the definitive F9F model. It was substantially quicker than the Panther, reaching Mach 1.2 in a dive while maneuvering at 7.5Gs. Moreover, the Blue Angels Naval aerobatic team flew the F9F-2 Panther from 1949 to 1950 and the F9F-5 Panther from 1951 to 1955. Then the team received the F9F-8 Cougar, which flew with the Blue Angels from 1955 to 1957. The Panther and Cougar were produced by the famed Grumman firm of Bethpage, New York. The company was noted for its high engineering capabilities and sturdy, durable, and rugged aircraft. The Panther and the Cougar were definitely that.