The Douglas F3D Skyknight is a military aviation legend for its exploits in the Korean War and its prominent role in the first aircraft-versus-aircraft night action.
The F3D Skyknight: a pioneer in night warfare
First flown in 1948, this iconic fighter was the world’s first jet fighter designed for use as a carrier night fighter. Its wide fuselage housed advanced radar equipment, earning it the nickname “Willie the Whale.”
The F3D Skyknight featured impressive armament, including four 20mm Hispano-Suiza M2 cannons and two 11.75-inch Tiny Tim rockets. Later versions could also carry AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles.
Following their action in Korea, the Skyknights served as electronic reconnaissance and countermeasures aircraft during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War, being the only USN/USMC fighter to fly combat missions in both conflicts. The last Skyknight retired in 1978.
First night action of planes against planes
F3D-2s entered the Korean War in the spring of 1952, escorting B-29 bombers on nighttime bombing raids over North Korea. On November 2, 1952, a Skyknight of Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF(N)-513 scored the first kill in an aircraft-versus-aircraft night action by shooting down a Yak-15 fighter.
The Skyknight crew in question consisted of USMC Major William Stratton and Radio Operator Sergeant Major Hans C. Hoagland.
The Soviet rival: the Yakovlev Yak-15
Although not as well known as the MiG-15, the Yakovlev Yak-15 “Feather” made history as the first Soviet jet fighter, debuting in April 1946. It had a top speed of 489 mph and was armed with two Nudel-Suranov cannons 23mm NS-23.
The Yakovlev Yak-15 was a significant aircraft in the early era of jet aviation. Developed in the Soviet Union towards the end of World War II, it became the first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft in the Soviet Air Force. Although the Yak-15 played a crucial role in aviation history, it had certain limitations.
Originally derived from the successful piston-engined Yak-3 fighter, the Yak-15 underwent modifications to accommodate a turbojet engine. The Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine, known as the Klimov VK-1 in its licensed Soviet version, replaced the Yak-3’s powerplant. With the VK-1, the Yak-15 achieved a top speed of approximately 500 mph (800 km/h), which was impressive for that period.
Converting a propeller-driven aircraft into a jet-powered one presented challenges, particularly in terms of airframe design. The Yak-15 retained the basic structure of the Yak-3, including its wings and tail, which were not ideally suited for jet flight. Consequently, the aircraft had a relatively high landing speed and tended to float during landings due to its low wing loading. However, its agility and maneuverability in the air were commendable, making it a capable dogfighter.
During the closing stages of World War II, the Yak-15 saw limited combat action, with a few examples participating in the Soviet offensive against Japan in August 1945. Its primary purpose, however, was as a training aircraft, playing a crucial role in familiarizing pilots with jet technology. The experience gained from flying the Yak-15 contributed to the subsequent development of advanced Soviet jet fighters.
Skyknight: Successful in the Korean War
The Skyknights were the most shot-down US Navy and Marine Corps fighters in the Korean War. Two F3Ds were lost in the conflict, but it is unclear if the enemy shot them down. In any case, the ratio of kills to kills for the Skyknights was very favorable.
Survivors of the Douglas F3D Skyknight
Nine of the 268 Skyknights originally built have survived and are in various museums. One of these is the Combat Air Museum at the Topeka Regional Airport, Kansas. Other museums that house this iconic fighter include the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, and the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
The Douglas F3D Skyknight remains a symbol of America’s aerial prowess in military aviation history, demonstrating how innovation and daring can change the course of warfare and leave an indelible mark on the collective memory.
