The Grumman F-9F Panther was developed in the late 1940s for a US Air Force which had only recently gained its independence from the Army. Although Grumman designs could not attain the same height or speed as other craft due to their heavier build, they could better withstand arduous carrier missions. The Panther is seen here in footage from the Korean war. In all, the F9F undertook 78,000 missions over Korea - and this was shortly after naval aviation had been given its premature last rites. Here you see recorded testimony to the excellence of Grumman's first jet fighter - the straight wing Panther that led to its successful development into the much faster swept-wing Cougar of the next generation.
