This silent film shows the “Red Rippers” of VF-11 operating with Banshee and Skyraider aircraft from USS Oriskany, CV-34 and from USS Bon Homme Richard, CV-31. The film was likely released with a soundtrack or possibly shown as part of a presentation with someone speaking over it; regardless this version is silent. The film contains some interesting details including air to ground attack footage (10:00 and following), carrier flight operations, footage of arresting gear and barrier operations aboard the post-WWII carriers, refueling at sea (25:30), and replenshiment at sea (28:00).
The timeframe appears to be during the Korean War, and indeed Oriskany was involved in the defense of South Korea. The carrier departed San Diego on 15 September 1952, to aid United Nations forces, arrived Yokosuka on 17 October and joined Task Force 77 off the Korean Coast on 31 October. Her aircraft struck hard with bombing and strafing attacks against enemy supply lines and coordinated bombing missions with surface gunstrikes along the coast. Her pilots downed two Soviet-built MiG-15 jets and damaged a third on 18 November.
Strikes continued through 11 February, attacking enemy artillery positions, troop emplacements, and supply dumps along the main battlefront. Following a brief upkeep period in Japan, Oriskany returned to combat on 1 March 1953. She continued in action until 29 March, called at Hong Kong, then resumed air strikes on 8 April. She departed the Korean Coast on 22 April, touched at Yokosuka, and then departed for San Diego on 2 May, arriving there on 18 May.
The film was made by McDonnell Aircraft to showcase their F2H-2 Banshee, a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. It was one of the primary American fighters used during the Korean War and was the only jet-powered fighter ever deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy, serving the RCN from 1955 until 1962. The aircraft’s name is derived from the banshee of Irish mythology.
At :57, a pilot is shown getting a helmet 16mm camera. At 6:05 flights of Banshees are seen over Korea. At 8:50 and following strikes are made.
Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, United States. The squadron was established in 1950 and is nicknamed “Red Rippers” (call sign “Ripper”). VFA-11 is currently equipped with the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet and currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing One.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
