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USN 708695: Grumman F9F Panther, August 1952

USN 708695: Grumman F9F Panther, August 1952. U.S. Navy develops Refueling System for Carrier Planes in Flight. Successful development of an in-flight refueling system for carrier aircraft. Modeled after the British “Drogue and Probe” Method, the U.S. Navy’s in-flight refueling technique is accomplished when the pilot flies his aircraft, equipped with a refueling lance, into the probe device fastened at the end of the hose on a tanker aircraft. Various U.S. Navy carrier fighters are being equipped with refueling equipment. Tactical advantages to be gained by mid-air refueling are longer range offensive missions, combat air patrols for longer periods, and increased armament loads by fighter aircraft, carrying only minimum fuel at takeoff, and refueling in the air, en-route to targets. This AJ “Savage” modified for use as a “tanker” refuels a Grumman F9F “Panther” in evaluation tests at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, August 25, 1952. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
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Caption: USN 708695: Grumman F9F Panther, August 1952. U.S. Navy develops Refueling System for Carrier Planes in Flight. Successful development of an in-flight refueling system for carrier aircraft. Modeled after the British “Drogue and Probe” Method, the U.S. Navy’s in-flight refueling technique is accomplished when the pilot flies his aircraft, equipped with a refueling lance, into the probe device fastened at the end of the hose on a tanker aircraft. Various U.S. Navy carrier fighters are being equipped with refueling equipment. Tactical advantages to be gained by mid-air refueling are longer range offensive missions, combat air patrols for longer periods, and increased armament loads by fighter aircraft, carrying only minimum fuel at takeoff, and refueling in the air, en-route to targets. This AJ “Savage” modified for use as a “tanker” refuels a Grumman F9F “Panther” in evaluation tests at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, August 25, 1952. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
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  • Aircraft--Fixed Wing
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  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
Navy Communities
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  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
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  • National Museum of the U.S. Navy
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