Aircraft by type

Grumman F9F Panther
F9F-2 to F9F-5 = Panther - straight-wing jet fighter
&
Cougar
in the Trainer version - student in front, instructor in rear

Major update in process

The majority of Panther pilots preferred to ditch their aircraft rather than resort to the then new ejection seat. Bail-out was a term used to denote a parachute descent. In the majority of cases when pilots in ejection seat fitted aircraft referred to bail-out they in fact meant an ejection. Unless specifically stated in the reports that the pilot "ejected" the term "bail-out" is accepted to mean using the ejection seat.

Preliminary Listing
Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
28 October 1948   XF9F-2 2nd Prototype   crashed during carrier trials      
                 

1950
February 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 122584 VF-51
NAS San Diego, CA		 Ditched on Take off     Ditched
8th February 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123449 VR-31
NAS Floyd Field		 Stalled during landing turn, Jamaica Bay Pilot killed    
24th February 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123060 VMF-115
NAS Roosevelt Roads, PR, USA		 Stalled on take off      
31st March 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123481 VF-21
NAS Oceana, VA		 Crashed into woods after wave-off Pilot killed    
1st April 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123462 NAS San Diego, CA        
12th April 1950
US		 F9F-3 Panther 122566 NAS Paxutent River, MD Overshot runway      
11th May 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123406 VF-71
NAS Quonset Point, RI		 Tailhook failed on landing on USS Saipan (CVL-48), went over the side into the Atlantic      
11th May 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123531 VR-31 Crashed into hill in overcast near Scott AFB      
21st May 1950
USN		 F9F-2 Panther 122580 VF-51
USS Valley Forge		 Ditched on take-off, Korea     Ditched
21st May 1950
USMC		 F9F-2 Panther 123063 VMF-115
MCAS Cherry Point		 Crashed into the Atlantic Pilot killed    
25th May 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123478 VX-3
NAS Atlantic City, NJ		 Crashed during landing Pilot killed    
29th May 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123424 VF-71 Engine failure. Crashed near Alligator Lake LT A Pierpoint
ejected		   Ejection
Grumman
6th June 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123414 VF-71
USS Wright (CVL-49)		 Hard landing on carrier off Jacksonville      
25th June 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123028 VF-52
USS Valley Forge		 Crashed during take off      
3rd July 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123415 VF-71
NAS Quonset Point, RI		 Spun in on wave off      
10th July 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123437 VF-111
USS Philippine Sea		 Cold cat shot, Korea      
16th July 1950
also seen as
18th July 1950
USN		 F9F-3 Panther 122575 VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Lost power on takeoff due to faulty catapult shot LT M. P. SOUTH
Rescued, uninjured		   Ditched
18th July 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123397 VF-71
USS Midway		 Ramp strike on landing Pilot killed    
22nd July 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 122577 VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Ditched on take off     Ditched
7th August 1950
USN		 F9F-2B Panther 123443 VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Ditched on take-off in the Mokpo-Kwang-Ju area CDR R WEYMOUTH
CO of VF-112
Rescued		   Ditched
12th August 1950
US		 F9F-3 Panther 123068 VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 AAA fire - near Kumchon strafing attack on NK train ENS John H. NYHUIS
MIA		    
20th August 1950
US		 F9F Panther 123447 VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Crashed and burned during combat mission near Sariwon, Korea ENS Curtis L. SMITH
KIA		    
20th August 1950
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther buno  VMF-312 Korea Pilot killed    
22nd August 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123403 FASRON-11
Kisarazu Air Base, Japan		 Flew into sea wall on take off Pilot killed    
29th August 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123444 VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Bad catapult shot, ditched ENS R. M. KILLINGSWORTH, uninjured, rescued by helo   Ditched
11th September 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123501 VX-3
NAS Atlantic City, NJ		 Missing      
18th September 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123441
"V"		 VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Ditched due to fuel exhaustion ENS Earl R REIMERS
Rescued		   Ditched
19th September 1950
US		 F9F-3 Panther 122574
also seen as
BuNo
122581		 VF-52
Sea Lancers
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Lost power, possibly due to AAA, ditched ENS David F. TATUM
Rescued by a cruiser
[see also 28th December 1951
and KIA on 19th February 1952)		   Ditched
Note: Hit by ground fire over Pyongtaek , causing a main fuelsystem failure. He coasted all the way back to the Yellow Sea, ditching alongside HMS Jamaica
23rd September 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123599 VF-191
NAS El Centro		 Pulled up too late from strafing run Pilot killed    
24th September 1950
USN		 F9F-2B Panther 123445
"V"		 VF-111
Sundowners
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Hit by AAA Lt. C. C. Dace ejected out successfully over the Yellow Sea near Chorwon, Korea. Rescued by the USS Chevalier (DDR-805)   Ejection
Grumman
25th September 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123485 VF-21
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt		 Went over the side during wave off      
29th September 1950
USN		 F9F-2 Panther 123432 VF-111
Sundowners
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 crashed through all of the barriers and hit 11 parked aircraft On landing     Crash Landed
18th October 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123598 VF-191
USS Princeton		 Crashed on take off Pilot killed    
18th October 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123620 VF-191
USS Princeton		 Hit by landing aircraft      
19th October 1950
US		 F9F-2B Panther 123514 VF-31
USS Leyte (CV-32)		 Ditched after bad take-off LT Donald C. DAVIS
Rescued		   Ditched
9th November 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123076 VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Hit barrier during landing, Korea      
27th November 1950
US		 F9F-2
Panther		 123446
"V" 		VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Lost power, ditched LT Douglas R. HAGOOD, Injured, helo rescue   Ditched
28th November 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123427 VMF-115
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt		 Hard landing, jumped barrier hit other aircraft, and damaged 4 others      
28th November 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123429 VMF-115
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt		 Hit by 124427
see previous entry		      
30th November 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123506 VF-31
USS Leyte (CV-32)		 Flew into water after wave off Pilot recovered    
9th December 1950
US		 F9F-2B Panther 123499 VF-31
USS Leyte (CV-32)		 Bad landing ENS Lawrence I. SEIM, Uninjured   Bad landing
11th December 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 22581 VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Ramp strike, Korea      
17th December 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123446 VF-111 or VF-112 ??
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Crashed into the sea on take off      
19th December 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123433 VF-112
USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)		 Flame out 4 mi from formation ENS John E. NICKLIN
Rescued by helo		   Ditched
20th December 1950
US		 F9F-2B Panther 123528 VF-31
USS Leyte (CV-32)		 Bad takeoff ENS Richard J. OWENS
uninjured		   Ditched
26th December 1950
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther 123533
"WL"		 VMF-311
MAG-12		 crashed into small hill after attacking a highway bridge near Kangjon.

Possible AAA hit

 CAPT Jerry E. A. MILLER
KIA		    
29th December 1950
US		 F9F-2 Panther 123526 VF-31
USS Leyte (CV-32)		 Crashed following launch      

1951
2nd January 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B 123543 VMF-311
MAG-12		 Failed to pull out of strafing run, crashed into hill near Kaesong 1LT Marshal E. SIMONSON
KIA		    
8th January 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123463 VMF-311
MAG-12		 Crashed into ditch on takeoff, mechanical problems at Pusan Airfield (K-9), total loss CAPT Richard A. FLANAGAN
Remains recovered		    
27th January 1951
US		 F9F 123581          
22nd February 1951
US		 F9F 123549          
26th February 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B 123525 VMF-311
MAG-33		 Partial loss of power on landing at K-3, crashed, total loss 1LT Merle E. DAVIS
Uninjured		    
8th March 1951

Combat Loss

USN		 F9F-2B [Blue Angel]

123621
VF 191
USS Princeton (CV-37)		 AAA during strafing run, Korea Crashed off Korean east coast near Tanchon Lt. Cdr. John "Johnny" F. Magda
CO of VF-191
KIA
Remains recovered		  
12th March 1951
US		 F9F 123648          
18th March 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B 123537 VMF-311
MAG-33		 Disappeared after climbing through overcast, large fire seen 5 miles W of Ungye-Ri CAPT Robert D. HAYES
Remains recovered		    
19th March 1951
US		 F9F 123039          
5th April 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123657 VF-721
USS Boxer (CV-21)		 Failed to pull out of practice strafing run and hit tree W. of Wonsan LCDR Chester W. GATES
uninjured		    
6th April 1951
US		 F9F-5       Civilian P. Berk ejected   Grumman
11th April 1951
USN		 F9F-2       ENS D. Musetti
ejected		    
11th April 1951
US		 F9F 125086          
11th April 1951
US		 F9F 125111          
16th April 1951
US		 F9F 123654          
Ramp Strike - USS Midway
                                                                               all photos USN
Miraculously Lt Duncan walked away from this Ramp Strike about the USS Midway in 1951
[exact date appreciated - also photo of Lt. Duncan]
18th April 1951
US		 F9F 125140          
18th April 1951
US		 F9F 127086          
26th April 1951
US		 F9F 123684          
1st May 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther 123590 VMF-311
Tomcats
MAG-33		 Hit by AAA, caught fire & crashed after pilot bailed out, SAR effort negative Captain Mercer R. Smith
RMC Big Switch		   Grumman
4th May 1951
also seen as 6th May 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123601   Hit by AAA at Koto-ri, exploded in mid-air near Hongmun, Ni, Korea ENS Gerald J. SULLIVAN
ejected
 MIA		    
7th May 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123633 VF-191
USS Princeton (CV-37)		 Hit by enemy fire while conducting strafing run in the vicinity of Ichon ENS Lowell R. BREWER
KIA		    
23rd May 1951
US		 F9F 123582          
30th May 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123640 VF-721
USS Boxer (CV-21)		 Partial power failure during catapult launch, settled into water LTJG Warren O. NELSON
Helo rescue		    
31st May 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123670 VF-781
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)		 Failed to remain airborne after catapult shot LT T. S. CHUHAK, Injured, helo rescue    
5th June 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123618 VF-23
USS Princeton (CV-37)		 Crashed into flight deck, caught fire, exploded, SAR effort negative ENS Philip S. RANDOLPH, JR
KIA		    
6th June 1951
US		 F9F 127131          
10th June 1951
US		 F9F 123550          
12th June 1951
US		 F9F-2 127138     2/LT R. K. Childress
ejected		   Grumman
18th June 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther 123602 VMF-311
Tomcats
MAG-33		 Hit by gnd fire near Hyon-ni, Captain Jack E. Perry bailed out over enemy territory, alive on the ground
RMC Big Switch		   Grumman
23rd June 1951
US		 F9F 123503          
3rd July 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123677 VF-781
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)		 Fuel exhaustion, ditched LTJG Willard R. WAMPLER
injured, helo rescue		   Ditched
20th July 1951
US		 F9F 125418          
21st July 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther 123464 VMF-311
Tomcats
MAG-33		 Flight jumped by MIGs, last seen heading for cloud cover 1st Lt. Richard W. Bell
RMC Big Switch		   Grumman
22nd July 1951
US		 F9F-3   VF-51
USS Valley Forge (CV-45)		 Equipment failure during catapult shot, ditched LTJG R. HEIDERER
Helo rescue		   Ditched
23rd July 1951
US		 F9F 125228          
24th July 1951
US		 F9F 123428          
27th July 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123700 VF-781
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)		 Failed to remain airborne after catapult shot, ditched LTJG Donald J. BRODHAG
Rescued		   Ditched
28th July 1951
US		 F9F buno          
28th July 1951
US		 F9F-2B buno VF-23
USS Princeton (CV-37)		 Hit by AAA, crashed and burned 1 mi S of KORIAT, SAR effort negative LTJG Bruce B. LLOYD
MIA		    
30th July 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123520 VMF-212
MAG-33		 Destroyed by fire from other aircraft at K-3      
31st July 1951
US		 F9F 125133          
31st July 1951
US		 F9F 127108          
6th August 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B Panther 123466 VMF-311
Tomcats
MAG-33		 Hit by AAA, forced to bail out, SA-16 rescue 2nd Lt. C. M. Maloy bailed out, injured, SA-16 rescue   Grumman
8th August 1951
US		 F9F 127120          
10th August 1951
US		 F9F buno          

 

 

 

F9F Belonging to VMF-311

  
12th August 1951
USMC		 F9F-2B 125107 VMF-311
Tomcats
MAG-33		 Hit by AAA while on napalm run, crashed & burned, no egress noted MAJ Frank S. HOFFECKER, JR
KIA		    
14th August 1951
US		 F9F-2 123660 VF-721
USS Boxer (CV-21)		 Unsuccessful catapult launch, ditched LT Robert W. DUNCAN
Injured, helo rescue		   Ditched
21st August 1951
US		 F9F 127164          
22th August 1951
US		 F9F 123041          
24th August 1951
US		 F9F-2B 123667 VF-781
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)		 Hit by gnd fire, fuel exhaustion, forced to ditch LT Robert G. HUGHES
Rescued by the USS Hopewell (DD-681)		   Ditched
3rd September 1951
USN		 F9F-2 Panther 125122 VF-51
Screaming Eagles
USS Essex (CV-9)		 Damaged by AAA, on mission against freight yards at Wonsan lost elevator control  Ensign Neil A. Armstrong ejected near K-3 uninjured Grumman
4th September 1951
US		 F9F-2 125102 VF-51
USS Essex (CV-9)		 Caught fire, probably due to AAA, crashed/exploded near Haengsan LTJG Ross K. BRAMWELL
KIA		    
4th September 1951
US		 F9F-2 127136 VF-51
USS Essex (CV-9)		 Hit by AAA during rocket run against a truck, crashed near Haengsan LTJG James J. ASHFORD
Remains recovered Operation Glory		    
5th September 1951
US		 F9F 125146          
5th September 1951
US		 F9F 127122          
14th September 1951
US		 F9F 127145          
16th September 1951
US		 F9F 125128 USS Essex (CV-9) destroyed by fire after F2H crashed into it Unmanned    
16th September 1951
US		 F9F 125131 USS Essex (CV-9) destroyed by fire after F2H crashed into it Unmanned    
18th September 1951
US		 F9F 127183    <