In the 1940s the US Navy acquired some jet-powered aircraft for evaluation. One especially equipped was used for landing trials aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier. Subsequently, the Navy ordered a substantial block of these aircraft and used some 16 of them to equip a front line Marine Fighter Squadron, VMF-...

I. Name this aircraft by manufacturer and its USN designator. Note: US Marine Corps aviators are considered Naval Aviators as the USMC is a branch of the US Navy. Also, they take ab initio flight training at Pensacola NAS.

2. What TWO things were highly unusual about these Marine Corps jet fighter aircraft?

3. Bonus for the VMF-? squadron that flew these jet fighter aircraft. And another bonus for the US Navy Aircraft Carrier that sea-trialed the especially-equipped single prototype.

Doug:

My submission:

1: McDonnell FH-1 Phantom

2: Engine placement in the wing roots and lack of ejection seat.

3: VMF-122 and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt

Peter

Peter,

Thank you for your timely response, however answer #1 is wrong.

Answer #2 is half-right.

Answer #3 is half right.

I am not revealing which of the #2 and #3 halves are correct, as that might be additional clues to all absolutely correct answers. Please keep trying.

a month later

With over 300 views and no fully correct submissions, here are the answers.

1. Lockheed TV-1 advanced jet trainer.

2. They had NO arresting gear and, like most early jet aircraft had NO ejection seat.

3. Bonus answers-VMF-311. USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVB-42 for P-80/TV-1 initial sea trials.

In 1948 the U.S. Navy acquired three Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star jet fighters from the USAF for evaluation. One, modified with an arresting hook, was used for deck landing trials aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVB-42 Midway Class straight deck aircraft carrier. Later the same year the Navy decided to acquire 50 of the P-80s for use as advanced jet trainers, re-designating them as TV-1s. They had no arresting gear nor were they ejection seat-equipped. Despite their training role, 16 of the TV-1s were used to equip a front-line Marine fighter squadron, VMF-311 late in 1948.

There may have been some reader confusion in this quiz because the aircraft in U.S. Navy usage had multiple designators, Lockheed TO, TV and T2V Seastar with sub-variants such as TV-2D and TV-2KD. Also, the Navy changed Lockheed's symbol designator from O to V. Additional confusion came in 1962 when new designations of the Lockheed family were T-33B (TV-2), DT-33B (TV-2D) and DT-33C (TV-2KD). Also, readers may have been thinking a jet fighter rather than trainer aircraft for aircraft carrier use.

Lockheed TV-1 Specifications

Power plant-One 6,000 lb. s.t. Allison J-33-A-24 or 24A turbojet

Wingspan-42' 10"

Length-38' 6.5"

Height-13' 4"

Gross weight-15,800 lbs.

Performance

Max speed-580 mph

Range-970 miles

Service ceiling 40,000'

Info and Data reference

The Aircraft Collection of the National Museum of Naval Aviation, undated and other sources.