North American FJ Fury

North American FJ Fury
Name	FJ Fury
Caption	A United States Navy FJ-4B Fury in flight.
Type	Fighter/Attack aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
First flight	27 December 1946 (FJ-1)
Introduction	1947
Retired	1964 (USN)
Primary user	United States Navy
More users	United States Marine Corps
Number built	1,115
Developed from	North American P-51 Mustang
Developed into	North American F-86 Sabre

North American FJ Fury was the first jet-powered fighter aircraft operated by the United States Navy. Developed by North American Aviation, the series began as a carrier-based adaptation of the famed North American P-51 Mustang but evolved into a distinct family of aircraft closely related to the United States Air Force's North American F-86 Sabre. Serving from the late 1940s through the early 1960s, the Fury provided the United States Marine Corps and Navy with a capable fighter and ground-attack platform during the early Cold War era.

Development and design

The genesis of the Fury lay in a 1944 United States Navy requirement for a carrier-based jet fighter, leading North American Aviation to propose the NA-134. This initial design, designated the **XFJ-1**, retained the straight wing of its World War II piston-engined ancestor but was powered by a single Allison J35 turbojet engine. The first flight of the **XFJ-1** occurred on 27 December 1946. The subsequent **FJ-2** and **FJ-3** models marked a radical redesign, incorporating the swept-wing and general configuration of the highly successful North American F-86 Sabre, which was itself derived from German research captured after the Battle of Berlin. The final major variant, the **FJ-4**, featured a completely new, thinner wing, a lengthened fuselage, and increased fuel capacity, optimizing it for the low-level attack role while retaining fighter capabilities.

Operational history

The straight-wing **FJ-1** entered limited service with Navy squadron VF-5A in 1948 but was quickly supplanted by more advanced designs. The swept-wing **FJ-2** saw its primary service with the United States Marine Corps, with VMF-122 becoming the first Marine jet squadron in 1954. The **FJ-3**, powered by a more potent Wright J65 engine, became the most numerous Fury variant and served aboard numerous *Essex*-class and *Midway*-class carriers. The ultimate variant, the **FJ-4B**, was specialized for ground attack and saw significant combat during the Lebanon crisis of 1958 and the Cuban Missile Crisis, often operating from carriers like the USS *Forrestal*. Furies were gradually phased out of frontline service by 1962, with many converted into drones or used by the Naval Air Training Command.

Variants

* **FJ-1**: Initial straight-wing production model; 31 built. * **XFJ-2**: Prototypes converted from F-86E airframes. * **FJ-2**: First swept-wing production model for the United States Marine Corps; 200 built. * **FJ-3**: Major production model with a Wright J65 engine and improved avionics; 538 built. * **FJ-3M**: Version capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. * **FJ-4**: Redesigned model with a new wing and airframe for attack missions; 152 built. * **FJ-4B**: Dedicated attack variant with strengthened wings and LABS for nuclear delivery; 222 built.

Operators

The primary operator was the United States Navy, which deployed Furies aboard its carrier fleets throughout the 1950s. The United States Marine Corps was a major user, particularly of the **FJ-2** and **FJ-4B** models, operating them from both land bases and aircraft carriers. No Furies were exported to foreign governments, though some were used by stateside Naval Air Reserve units and training commands like Naval Air Station Memphis.

Specifications (FJ-4B)

* **Crew:** 1 * **Length:** 36 ft 4 in (11.07 m) * **Wingspan:** 39 ft 1 in (11.91 m) * **Height:** 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m) * **Powerplant:** 1 × Wright J65-W-16A turbojet, 7,700 lbf (34 kN) thrust * **Maximum speed:** 680 mph (1,090 km/h) * **Range:** 2,020 mi (3,250 km) * **Service ceiling:** 46,800 ft (14,300 m) * **Armament:** 4 × 20 mm M39 cannons; up to 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of ordnance on six underwing pylons, including Mk 81/82 bombs, AGM-12 Bullpup missiles, or a B28 nuclear store.

Surviving aircraft

Numerous Furies are preserved in museums across the United States. A notable **FJ-3** is displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. An **FJ-4B** resides at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, highlighting the design's shared heritage with the North American F-86 Sabre. Other examples can be found at the USS *Midway* Museum in San Diego, the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Category:Carrier-based aircraft Category:Jet fighters of the United States Category:Swept-wing aircraft