The Royal Canadian Navy’s only jet fighter
Taken on strength on November 26, 1955, the Royal Canadian Navy’s use of the McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee is a short chapter in Canadian aviation history, shaped by budget constraints, limited fleet size, and a rapidly changing postwar environment.
In 1951, the RCN identified the need to replace its obsolete Hawker Sea Fury piston-engined fighters with a modern jet fighter. The Navy drafted a plan to purchase 60 new Banshees for $40 million. Cabinet delays stalled the decision long enough that McDonnell shut down the Banshee production line in 1953. With new aircraft no longer available, Canada acquired 39 second-hand F2H-3s from the U.S. Navy for $25 million. Deliveries occurred between 1955 and 1958. These aircraft became Canada’s only jet-powered carrier fighters and also supported NORAD missions from shore bases.
The Banshee, already in service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps since 1948, was a single-seat, all-weather, carrier-based fighter. Canadian crews informally called it the “Banjo.” From 1955 to 1962, it served as the RCN’s sole jet for air defence. Until the introduction of the CF-18, it was the only Canadian military aircraft equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The RCN conducted sea trials of the Sidewinder in 1959, shooting down remotely piloted drone targets.
All 39 Banshees were based at Shearwater, Nova Scotia. They flew primarily with VF-870 and VF-871, the latter being absorbed into VF-870 in 1959. VX-10 Experimental Squadron also operated the aircraft for acceptance evaluations. At sea, the fighter squadrons deployed aboard Canada’s only carrier of the period, HMCS Bonaventure. Pilots regarded the aircraft as reliable, with predictable handling on the deck and in flight. The jet offered an 800-mile (1,287-kilometre) tactical radius and speeds approaching Mach 0.8.
Although capable and generally well-liked, the fleet faced increasing challenges as it aged. Several accidents highlighted the demands of carrier operations and the challenges of North Atlantic weather. Structural failures, brake issues, mid-air collisions, and deck incidents contributed to the loss of 12 aircraft, more than 30 percent of the fleet. One Banshee was lost to an in-flight wing separation; another rolled off Bonaventure after landing due to an apparent brake malfunction. Others crashed during training, were lost at sea, or suffered landing and takeoff accidents at Shearwater and U.S. naval air stations.
Shifting strategic priorities also reduced the Banshee’s role. By the late 1950s, the RCN was focused primarily on anti-submarine warfare. Bonaventure needed to carry more Grumman CS2F Trackers and helicopters to sustain round-the-clock ASW patrols, leaving little space for a fighter detachment. As a result, many deployments had no Banshees on board. At the same time, the aging ex-USN airframes required increasing maintenance, and budget pressure made continued support difficult. With no replacement fighter planned, the RCN retired the Banshee fleet in September 1962.
The Banshee also formed the basis of the RCN’s aerobatic team, the Grey Ghosts. VF-870 created the first demonstration group in 1956 to showcase naval aviation capability. The team adopted the name “Grey Ghosts” in 1958 and occasionally expanded to five or six aircraft for major events, including Canada’s Golden Anniversary of Flight in 1959. The team flew operational aircraft rather than a dedicated show fleet, using whichever Banshees were available.
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