F2H-3 Banshee

[Barrie MacLeod]

This is retired F2H-3 Banshee 126334 at H.M.C.S. Tecumseh, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Before it served with the Royal Canadian Navy it was a U.S.N. aircraft and served with
VC-4 Atlantic city and onboard USS Coral Sea ( Jan. 53), VF-41 Oceana and VF-71
Miramar and onboard USS Hornet (Aug. > Dec. 55).
Actual R.C.N. markings except for the red lightning bolt and the words THE LAST PUNCH.
It was the last in-service R.C.N. fighter to fly on 10 January 1963, thus THE LAST PUNCH.
An ex-R.C.N. Seafire and several ex-R.C.N. Sea Furys are still flying in the U.S.A.
The Banshee is now indoors at "The Military Museums" in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Seafire and Sea Fury in background.

[Barrie MacLeod]

As you can see, the wings on the -3 and - 4 Banshee folded to the vertical.
This is Bu. # 126381 during flight trials on H.M.C.S. Bonaventure in European waters during the spring of 1957.
I purchased this official Royal Canadian Navy photo BN-464 in 1969.

For some reason Canada's national aviation museum displays their F2H-3 with the wings folded past the vertical!
The photo of said Banshee, 126464, on the WIX register illustrates this mistake.
I have a fine photo of 126464 taken by Carl Mills, who restored the aircraft, with the wings in the flight position.
When I get Carl's permission to use his 126464 photo, maybe Scott will replace the shot on the WIX Register.

[Zonia12]

Thanks for the hair strip image, was trying to figure that out.its my pleasure to post here