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Douglas EF-10B 'SkyKnight'

Description
  Manufacturer:Douglas


  Base model:F-10
  Designation:EF-10
  Version:B
  Nickname:SkyKnight
  Equivalent to: F3D-2Q F3D2QF3D-2Q
  Designation System:U.S. Tri-Service
  Designation Period:1962-Present
  Basic role:Fighter
  Modified Mission:Special electronic installation
  Crew:Pilot & Radar Observer
  See Also:

Specifications
  Length: 46' 6" 14.1 m
  Height:16' 4.8 m
  Wingspan: 50' 0" 15.2 m
  Wingarea: 400.0 sq ft 37.1 sq m
  Empty Weight: 18,160 lb 8,235 kg
  Gross Weight: 26,850 lb 12,176 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 2
  Powerplant: Westinghouse J34-WE-36
  Thrust (each): 3,400 lb 1,541 kg

Performance
  Range: 1,200 miles 1,932 km
  Cruise Speed: 350 mph 563 km/h 304 kt
  Max Speed: 600 mph 966 km/h 522 kt
  Climb: 4,500 ft/min 1,371 m/min

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
United States Marine Corps Air/Ground MuseumQuanticoVirginia

EF-10B on display

United States Marine Corps Air/Ground Museum
    


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Doc Savage
 San Antonio, TX
I was in VF-14 at NAS Cecil in 1953. We flew F4U-5 Corsairs, made a Med cruise on the FDR (CVA-42) and returned to Cecil. In early 1954, we swapped the Corsairs for F3D-2s. As a plane captain mech (AD3), it was a new world. Once finishing our local syllabus, I flew frequently as observer/RO. Made many flights day and night, lots of cross-countries, and we even took them aboard the boat, USS Ticonderoga CVA-14. Did night air intercept work out of Key West at Boca Chica, low-level nav hops through Georgia and the Carolinas, and a few booze runs to Gitmo and Roosy Roads. It was a fun airplane for a young kid who loved flying. About September-October '54, we took them to sea but had catapult-induced flame-out problems with newly installed steam cats, eventually aborting the carquals. We flew to Mayport and hoisted the birds aboard, trucked gear and troops out and departed for ops off the coast. The first aircraft off the starboard cat had a flame-out in one engine by ingesting a blast of steam at the end of the cat shot; the second did the same on the port cat; both continued flying and restarted their dead engines. Then aircraft number three had a double flame-out off cat #1 and settled into the sea. We were using half-fuel loads and empty external tanks, so the aircraft floated for few minutes. The pilot crawled out the top, quite dry, and stood on the cockpit to be quickly picked up by the ship's plane guard helo and returned aboard. That terminated the CQ period and we went back into Mayport and offloaded the birds by crane. That was the end of carrier ops...and we flew home from Mayport, while trucking our gear back out highway 228 to Cecil Field. The engineers from NAEC Lakehurst welded a deflector plate at the end of the catapult to deflect the steam and that solved the issue.

I left the squadron in November '54.

"Doc" Savage, CDR, USN, Ret.
08/25/2010 @ 07:46 [ref: 29358]
 Gunner ?Steve
 , VA
We trained F4 RIOS in these F3D DRUTS in NAS Oceana 1960 VF-101 Det A.

Saw my last one in Atsugi Japan in 1968.
05/16/2010 @ 18:31 [ref: 26178]
 Gunner ?Steve
 , VA
We trained F4 RIOS in these F3D DRUTS in NAS Oceana 1960 VF-101 Det A.

Saw my last one in Atsugi Japan in 1968.
05/16/2010 @ 18:31 [ref: 26177]
 John Prass
 Saint Louis, MO
I was sent to El Toro out of Memphis school in 1962.
We had the F8 Crusaider photo recon birds and the F3D ECM aircraft at VMCJ3.
Towards the end of 1965 I was extended for 6 more months and transfered to another squadron either 323 or 314, anyway we rode the Vally Forge to Iwakuni Japan.
While in Iwakuni it started to snow, I thought this is OK then I was transfered to the Death Rattlers in Danang.
Remained there until Jan. of 1966.
Returned to the states and was discharged on Feb. 14th 1966.
Returned home to Saint Louis.
While at El Toro I had pulled the wheels watch duty at the end of the runway.
Got to save a A4 Sky Hawk from making a wheels up landing.
It felt great.
06/25/2009 @ 19:45 [ref: 24267]
 Jim Long
 W. Bridgewater, MA
An AT(R) principally working on RF-4B, I also worked occasionally on EF-10B, affectionatly called "Willie the Whale" in DaNang 4/69-3/70 Tail designaion for VMCJ-1 was RM shown in some photos here.
03/04/2009 @ 17:45 [ref: 23872]
 DUKE STEINKEN
 SANTA ANA, CA
ALL YOU AERIAL RECON TYPES. IF YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER WITH YOUR SHIPMATES THAT YOU SERVED WITH, WEATHER IT BE VMD IN WW11,VMJ IN KOREA, OR VMCJ FROM 1955 THRU 1969, THE LIFESPAN OF THE EF10B IN THE CORPS,OR THE RECON UNITS THAT FOLLOWED,THE RF4B, THE EA6A, EA6B.CONTACT MCARA, MARINE CORPS AVIATION RECON ASSN.WE HAVE A WEBSITE ...MCARA US ON THE INTERNET.JOIN OUR GROUP. WE HAVE A REUNION EVERY TWO YEARS, AND GET TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE CANT FORGET OR WANT TO.AND RELIVE THE MAGIC THAT IS THE CORPS.
SEMPER FI
DUKE
03/17/2007 @ 16:59 [ref: 15923]
 Duke Steinken
 Santa Ana Ca., CA
The F3D2s after the Korean war continued front line duty with the Marine Corps well into the 60s. Thirty Five were modified for electronic countermeasures duty with their designation changed to F3D2Q. They replaced the ADs in VMC squadrons.Joining the photo squadrons VMJ. three VMCJ squadrons were commissioned. VMCJ-2 and VMCJ-3 were commisssioned on 1 December 1955. VMCJ-1 was commissioned on 1 August 1958.VMCJ squadron began flying Electronic Intelligence missions off the coasts of North Korea, Russia and China in 1958. In 1960 VMCJ-2 initiated Elint missions off the coast of Cuba. They intercepted the first Firecan radar, a first line soviet antiaircraft radar early in 1961.In September 1962 Skyknights designation was changed from F3D2Q to EF10B.In 1965 VMCJ-1 was one of the first tactical Marine squadrons deployed to Danang south Vietnam.for four and a half years they were the primary squadron providing active ECM support to the Air Force and the Navy. They provided support for the first Surface to Air Missle strike in history on July 27 1965 as the Air Force attacked two SAM sights 40 miles SE of Hanoi with 45 Air Force 105s.six EF10Bs were on station 22 minutes Jamming 4 SAM sites,Fire control radars, GCI radars, communications both air and ground, and dispensing chaff. All 12 crewmen from VMCJ were awarded the Distinquised Flying Cross for heroism.The EF10B flew over 9000 sorties and provided Electronic Jamming in support of thousands of strikes, both day and night. Five (5) EF10Bs were lost, all ten crewmen were KIAs.The EF10Bs were withdrawn from Danang in October 1969.They were replaced by the EA6A.They were officially retired on 31 May 1970 at MCAS El Toro.
02/09/2007 @ 21:33 [ref: 15470]
 Duke Steinken
 Santa Ana Ca., CA
The F3D2s after the Korean war continued front line duty with the Marine Corps well into the 60s. Thirty Five were modified for electronic countermeasures duty with their designation changed to F3D2Q. They replaced the ADs in VMC squadrons.Joining the photo squadrons VMJ. three VMCJ squadrons were commissioned. VMCJ-2 and VMCJ-3 were commisssioned on 1 December 1955. VMCJ-1 was commissioned on 1 August 1958.VMCJ squadron began flying Electronic Intelligence missions off the coasts of North Korea, Russia and China in 1958. In 1960 VMCJ-2 initiated Elint missions off the coast of Cuba. They intercepted the first Firecan radar, a first line soviet antiaircraft radar early in 1961.In September 1962 Skyknights designation was changed from F3D2Q to EF10B.In 1965 VMCJ-1 was one of the first tactical Marine squadrons deployed to Danang south Vietnam.for four and a half years they were the primary squadron providing active ECM support to the Air Force and the Navy. They provided support for the first Surface to Air Missle strike in history on July 27 1965 as the Air Force attacked two SAM sights 40 miles SE of Hanoi with 45 Air Force 105s.six EF10Bs were on station 22 minutes Jamming 4 SAM sites,Fire control radars, GCI radars, communications both air and ground, and dispensing chaff. All 12 crewmen from VMCJ were awarded the Distinquised Flying Cross for heroism.The EF10B flew over 9000 sorties and provided Electronic Jamming in support of thousands of strikes, both day and night. Five (5) EF10Bs were lost, all ten crewmen were KIAs.The EF10Bs were withdrawn from Danang in October 1969.They were replaced by the EA6A.They were officially retired on 31 May 1970 at MCAS El Toro.
02/09/2007 @ 21:32 [ref: 15469]
 Richard Green
 Abilene, KS
I started with VMCJ-3 in Hydraulics right out of the school in Memphis in 1966. I was not there long enough to "rotate" with most of the squadron members who went to Vietnam that year.

I did make it to DaNang in July 67 - just in time for the phenomenol Bomp Dump Spectacular.

I rememeber we used to have a frequent leak between the engines. And the only way to find out where was to put on some of those great Mickey Mouse ears while someone started up the engine and you basically stood there whiel the engines idled to see where the leak really was coming from. I got to tell you - it really freaked me out the first few times. Eh - what's that you say?
Anyway the EF-10B ws a great plane that flew well past it's day.
My most remarkable memory of the EF-10B is one night in DaNang - probably sometime in 68 (I did 2 tours). If you were in Hydraulics you'll remeber we rolled the Generator truck out while the plane captain had the pilot start the engine. I was sitting on the truck reving the Genorator jsut like most nights (we had 2 in the air every night always)when a huge orange light and a great big boooom!. The plane captain and I wer in the sandbag hone in the revetment nearly before you could blink your eye.
No - no rockets that night. Our pilot had left the fuel collect too long before he heit the ignitors. He damn near blew the back end of it off. Anyway - really memorable.
Semper Fi
10/23/2006 @ 12:12 [ref: 14539]
 Wayne (Flash) Whitten
 Lutz, FL
OK old F3D-2Q and EF-10B hands please go to MCARA.US our Marine Avn Recon Association website and sign up. We are a growing organization centered around the old VMCJ squadrons.
You will find some interesting info re the Old Whale on our site and I'm always interested in more stories!!
Col H. Wayne (Flash) Whitten USMC (Ret)
10/21/2006 @ 15:12 [ref: 14528]

 

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