Forces With History #259—Canada’s Naval Aviators (Part 7)

Back in those busy days of the late 1950s, the F2H-3 Banshee jet fighters were the stars of the show in RCN Naval Aviation. Featuring a single pilot, twin engines, and folding wings, the Banshees had an established history with the United States Navy.

They weren’t a large aircraft, measuring only a little over 48 ft long and 42 ft wide. But they were considered reliable, and that was one of the main reasons why Royal Canadian Navy jet pilots ended up flying them off HMCS BONAVENTURE.

BONNIE, as she was fondly known, measured 704 ft overall in length and 110 or 128 ft across the flight deck, depending on where the measurements were taken.

By way of comparison, the American carrier USS CORAL SEA, a Midway-class carrier, had an overall length of 978 ft and a flight deck width of 236 to 238 ft.

I mention those characteristics because I am now going to do what many newsletter writers say is not a good idea, and that is to suggest that you go to another site. When you check it out, note that the USS CORAL SEA was considerably larger than BONNIE, and even on the CORAL SEA, a large part of the landing deck’s width was taken up by the 40+ foot Banshee. I can only guess at the trepidation in the hearts of qualifying fighter pilots on their first landing on Bonaventure.

It’s very interesting that in the first part of the video you’ll see Banshees making smooth landings or harder bounces, but in every case they come to a very quick stop. Other attempted landings are waved off.

At approximately 3:30 of the video, you’ll see the scene switch abruptly and the carrier alters course. A plane has obviously ditched or has had a misadventure on deck or when launching, but in any case is in the sea astern. The ship’s faithful “Pedro” comes to the rescue. Also of note, astern is what looks like a destroyer in a plane guard position, where they too are ready to come to the rescue of downed pilots.

Many thanks to friend and faithful Newfoundland reader Jim Stanton who drew my attention to the You Tube footage.

Here is the site: (Please feel free to skip the ad!)

For earlier posts about the Bonnie and the RCN’s aviation history, please go to Archives in my Newsletter page on my website www.robertwmackay.ca.

In the meantime, I hope you’re enjoying an early summer!