UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman

Navy

J Last update: 1 January 2016

J = Berliner Joyce (1929-1935)

FJ Berliner Joyce Specifications: span: 28'6", 8.69 m length: 20'7", 6.27 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C max. speed: 172 mph, 227 km/h

(Source: Dan Shumaker, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #9529)

A fighter aircraft based on the BuAer design 96, one aircraft was ordered on 16 May 1929 as XFJ-1 with serial A-8288. It flew for the first time in May 1930 and was, after a crash in November 1930 rebuilt as XFJ-2, with a R-1340-92 engine. It flew again on 22 May 1931. The FJ designation was later used again for the North American design.

F2J Berliner Joyce Specifications: span: 36', 10.97 m length: 28'10", 8.79 m engines: 1 Wright R-1510-92 max. speed: 196 mph, 315 km/h

(Source: Bill Pippin, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #10989)

Based on the USAAC’s P-16 design, a single aircraft was ordered as XF2J-1 and with serial A-8973, on 30 June 1931 but did not fly until 1933. Originally it was to have a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 engine. The design was evaluated in competition with the Grumman XFF-1.

F3J Berliner Joyce Specifications: span: 29', 8.84 m length: 22'11", 6.99 m engines: 1 Wright R-1510-26 max. speed: 209 mph, 336 km/h

(Source: David Gauthier, via 1000aircraft photos #10728)

Designed by the Bu Aer as Design 120, a single XF3J-1 with serial 9224 was ordered on 30 June 1932 to evaluate against the Grumman XF2F-1. The first flight took place on 23 January 1934.

OJ Berliner Joyce Specifications: span: 33'8", 10.26 m length: 25'8", 7.82 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-985-A max. speed: 151 mph, 243 km/h

(Source: William T. Larkins)

Based on Bu Aer design 86, this was a tandem two seat floatplane. A single XOJ-1 with serial A-8359 was followed by 39 production OJ-2s with an interchangeable float and wheel gear. The serials were A-9187/9204, A-9403/9411 and A-9572/9583. Aircraft A-9196 was converted as XOJ-3.

J = General Aviation (1935)

PJ General Aviation Specifications: span: 74'2", 22.61 m length: 55', 16.76 m engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1340 max. speed: 135 mph, 217 km/h

(Source: USCG)

The American Fokker AF-15 flying boat was built for the Coast Guard as the FLB (Flying Life Boat) and designated as PJ-1. Five were ordered in 1931 with serials 51/55, later 251/255 but 251 was completed as PJ-2 with tractor engines in 1933. The PJ-1s 252/255 were later reserialled as V112/115 and the PJ-2 became V116. Refer also to C-16

J = North American (1937-1962)

AJ North American Savage Specifications: span: 75', 22.86 m length: 65', 19.81 m engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-44W + 1 Allison J33-A-10 max. speed: 420 mph, 675 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

The Savage was an attack aircraft with a mixed propulsion system with a jet engine fitted in the tail. The prototype XAJ-1 was fitted with R-2800-4 and J33-A-19 engines and three were ordered on 24 June 1946 with serials 121460/121462. The first flight was on 3 July 1948. The first production version was the AJ-1 and 40 were ordered on 6 October 1947 with serials 122590/122601 and 124157/124184 whilst two aircraft with serials 124185/124186 were cancelled. The AJ-2 version had R-2800-48 and J33-A-10 engines and a length of 71'5", 21.77 m. 70 were ordered from 14 February 1951 with serials 124850/124864, 130405/130421 and 134035/134072. At the same time 30 examples of a photoreconnaissance version was ordered as AJ-2P and with serials 128043/128054, 129185/129195, 130422/130425 and 134073/134075. In addition AJ-2 124855 was converted to this standard. On 18 September 1962 those AJ-1s and AJ-2s remaining in service were redesignated as respectively A-2A and A-2B. Refer also to A-2

A2J North American Specifications: span: 71'6", 21.79 m length: 70'2", 21.39 m engines: 2 Allison T40-A-6 max. speed: 511 mph, 822 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

Two aircraft were ordered on 1 October 1948 as XA2J-1 and with serials 124439/124440. The first flight took place on 4 January 1952. The T40 engines consisted of two side-by-side T38 engines.

A3J North American Vigilante Specifications: span: 53', 16.15 m length: 73'3", 22.33 m engines: 2 General Electric J79-GE-2 max. speed: 1385 mph, 2228 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

Two prototypes of this heavy jet attack aircraft were ordered as XA3J-1 in August 1956 with serials 145157/145158. The first of these prototypes, which were fitted with YJ79-GE-2 engines, flew on 31 August 1958. They were later redesignated as YA3J-1. Following this 57 A3J-1s were ordered with serials 146694/146702, 147850/147863, 148924/148933 and 149276/149299 whilst a batch with serials 146703/146708 was cancelled. Some of the later aircraft were fitted with J79-GE-4 and -8 engines. Of the aircraft 43 were eventually converted to A3J-3P or RA-5C. The A3J-2 was a version with J79-GE-8 engines of which six were ordered with serials 149300/149317. The first flight was on 29 April 1962. The A3J-3P version had a length of 75'10", 23.11 m and J79-GE-10 engines. It was a dedicated long range reconnaissance version and several A3J-2s were completed as A3J-3P. These carried serials 149306/149317 and 150823/150842. The first flight took place on 30 June 1962 and on 18 September 1962 the designation was changed into RA-5C under which designation production continued. In addition 43 A3J-1s were converted to this standard before and after 18 September 1962. The A3J-3 was a version similar to the A3J-3P but which was not built. The Vigilante was also used as the basis for various proposals for a USAF fighter aircraft but no development took place. On 18 September 1962 those aircraft remaining in service were redesignated as follows: Navy Tri-service YA3J-1 YA-5A A3J-1 A-5A A3J-2 A-5B A3J-3P RA-5C Refer also to A-5

FJ North American Specifications: span: 37', 11.28 m length: 37'7", 11.46 m engines: 1 General Electric J47-GE-2 max. speed: 676 mph, 1088 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

After having been used for the Berliner Joyce FJ in the early thirties, the FJ designation was initially applied to an unswept fighter design and then to a navalised version of the F-86 Sabre. The XFJ-1 was an unswept wing design with a span of 38'5, 11.71 m, length of 34'5", 10.49 m, 1 General Electric J35-GE-3 and a max. speed of 547 mph, 880 km/h. Three aircraft were ordered on 1 January 1945 with serials 39053/39055 and the first flight took place on 27 November 1946. The serials 120339/120341 had also been allocated but not used. The production version was the FJ-1 which had a span of 38'2", 10.63 m and was fitted with an Allison J35-A-2 engine. 30 aircraft were ordered on 28 May 1945 with serials 120342/120371 whilst 120372/120441 were cancelled.

(Source: US Navy)

The XFJ-2 was essentially a F-86E Sabre with an arrester hook. Similar to the FJ-2, to which the specifications apply, but with a J47-GE-13 engine, two were ordered on 15 January 1951 with serials 133754/133755. The first flight was on 19 February 1952. The FJ-2 was based on the F-86F and 200 were ordered on 30 January 1951 with serials 131927/132126. The first flight was on 22 November 1952. Production of aircraft with serials 129418/129544 and 132127/132226 was cancelled. A single prototype for a close support version, designated XFJ-2B was ordered with serial 133756 on 19 March 1951 and flew for the first time on 27 December 1951. The XFJ-3 was a FJ-2 modified with a Wright J65-W-2 engine and flew for the first time on 3 July 1953. The serial was 131931. This was followed by 458 production FJ-3s with J65-W-4 engines. The first order was placed on 3 March 1952 and serials were 135774/136162 and 139210/139278 whilst 139324/139423 were cancelled. The FJ-3D designation was assigned to a number of FJ-3s converted as drone directors for the Vought Regulus, whilst the FJ-3D2 was a drone director for the KDA drone and

F9F-6K drones and included aircraft with serials 135809, 135874, and 135996. The FJ-3M was a version of the FJ-3 fitted with two Sidewinder missiles and 80 were built with serials 141364/141443. In addition several FJ-3s were converted to this configuration, including 136118. The XFJ-4 was an extensively redesigned aircraft with a span of 39'1", 11.91 m, length of 36'4", 11.07 m, a Wright J65-W-4 engine and a max. speed of 680 mph, 1094 km/h. Two aircraft were ordered with serials 139279/139280 and the first flight was on 28 October 1954. The FJ-4 was the production version fitted with a J65-W-16A engine. 150 were ordered from 4 June 1953 with serials 139281/139323 and 139424/139530. One of these aircraft was used for development testing and was redesignated as YFJ-4. The FJ-4B was a close support version with a length of 36'6", 11.13 m and from 4 June 1953 222 were ordered with serials 139531/139555, 141444/141489 and 143493/143643 whilst aircraft with serials 143644/143676 were cancelled. The first flight was on 3 December 1956. A number of these aircraft were used for development testing as YFJ-4B. Following an order placed on 12 August 1955 FJ-4s 139282 and 139284 were converted with an additional Rocketdyne AR-1 engine and were known as FJ-4F.

FJ-5 (Source: North American?)

FJ-5 was the unofficial designation of a proposed design in competition with the F11F design. It had an air intake above and behind the cockpit as the F-107 design. On 18 September 1962 those aircraft remaining in service were redesignated as follows: Navy Tri-service FJ-3 F-1C FJ-3D DF-1C FJ-3D2 DF-1D FJ-3M MF-1C YFJ-4 YF-1E FJ-4 F-1E FJ-4B AF-1E YFJ-4B YAF-1E Refer also to F-86, F-1

NJ North American Specifications: span: 42', 12.80 m length: 27'2", 8.28 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6 max. speed: 167 mph, 269 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

Based on the USAAC’s BT-9 basic trainer, the US Navy ordered 40 NJ-1s on 14 December 1936 with serials 0910/0949. Of these aircraft 0949 was temporarily converted with a Ranger XV-770-4 and was redesignated as NJ-2. Refer also to A-27, AT-6, AT-16, BC-1, BC-2, BT-9, BT-10, BT-14, F-64, SNJ, TJ

PBJ North American Mitchell Specifications: span: 67'7", 20.60 m length: 52', 15.85 m engines: 2 Wright R-2600-13 max. speed: 322 mph, 518 km/h

(Source: William T. Larkins)

A total of 706 B-25s of various versions were transferred from the USAAF to the US Navy and USMC in 1943/44. In the designations the suffix letter is identical to the B-25 suffix and has no meaning as to the use of the aircraft. The designation PBJ-1C referred to 50 B-25Cs transferred with serials 34998/35047. 152 B-25Ds were transferred as PBJ-1D with serials 35048/35096, 35098/35193 and 35196/35202. A single B-25G was transferred as PBJ-1G with serial 35097. It had a length of 51', 15.54 m. Similar to the PBJ-1G, 248 B-25Hs became PBJ-1H. The serials were 35250/35297 and 88872/89071. With a length of 52'11", 16.13m and R-2600-29 engines, 255 B-25Js were transferred as PBJ-1J with serials 35194/35195, 35203/35249, 35798/35920, 38980/39012 and 64943/64992. Refer also to AT-24, B-25, F-10

SNJ North American Specifications: span: 42'7", 12.98 m length: 28', 8.53 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47 max. speed: 207 mph, 333 km/h

(Source: John Voss, via 1000aircraftphotos.com photo #11008)

The US Navy used the Texan in a training role. The SNJ-1, which was similar to the USAAC’s BC-1 was ordered on 23 September 1938 in a batch of 16 with serials 1552/1567. 61 examples of the SNJ-2 version, with a R-1340-56 engine, were ordered on 25 September 1939 with serials 2008/2043 and 2548/2572. The SNJ-3 version was similar to the AT-6A and had a span of 42', 12.80m, length of 29', 8.84 m, a R-1340-49 engines and a max speed of 210 mph, 338 km/h. In addition to 298 transferred from the USAAF, 270 were built for the Navy outright. Serials were 6755/7024, 01771/01976 and 05435/05526. Twelve SNJ-3s were converted as SNJ-3C for carrier duties. The serials included 6792, 6797, 6803, 6854, 6916, 6957 and 7001. The SNJ-4 was similar to the AT-6C with a R-1340-AN1 engine and 2400 were built with serials 05527/05674, 09817/10316, 26427/27851 and 51350/51676. In addition it has been suggested that there was a SNJ-4 with out-of-sequence serial 09063. Of these 40 were converted for deck landings training as SNJ-4C. Having a length of 29'6", 8.99 m, 1568 AT-6Ds were transferred from the USAAF to the US Navy as SNJ-5 and with serials 43638/44037, 51677/52049, 84819/85093 and 90582/91101 whilst the transfer of 91102/91106 was cancelled. A number of these (including 90752) were converted for deck landing training as SNJ-5C. The designation SNJ-5B was used for converted aircraft 43725, 43732, 43865, 84947, 85036 and 90752. The SNJ-6 designation refers to AT-6Fs transferred to the US Navy. They were similar to the SNJ-4 and carried serials 111949/112359. The transfer of 112360/112528 was cancelled. At least one SNJ-6, with serial 111987, was converted as SNJ-6B. Similar to the SNJ-4 but with a length of 29'6", 8.99 m, a number of SNJs of various types were converted in 1952 to SNJ-7 standards which equated the T-6G standards of the USAF. Serials included 112303. An armed version of this was designated as SNJ-7B and serials included 37850 and 112229. There was also a SNJ-7C conversion of aircraft with serials 90678, 90743 and 112314. The final development, SNJ-8, was ordered on 3 July 1952 and would have involved the construction of aircraft similar to the SNJ-7. An order designated TJ-8 and with serials 137246/137485 was cancelled. Refer also to A-27, AT-6, AT-16, BC-1, BC-2, BT-9, BT-10, BT-14, F-64, NJ, TJ

SN2J North American Specifications: span: 42'11", 13.08 m length: 33'10", 10.31 m engines: 1 Wright R-1820-78 max. speed: 270 mph, 434 km/h

(Source: US Navy?)

The XSN2J-1 was a basic trainer intended as a successor to the SNJ. Two were ordered in 1945 with serials 121449/121450 but a change in training syllabus rendered the aircraft obsolete. The first took place in February 1947.

TJ North American Texan Specifications: span: 42', 12.80 m length: 29'6", 8.99 m engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 max. speed: 210 mph, 338 km/h Originally ordered as SNJ-8 and redesignated as TJ-8, this order with serials 137246/137485 was cancelled. Refer also to A-27, AT-6, AT-16, BC-1, BC-2, BT-9, BT-10, BT-14, F-64, NJ, SNJ

T2J North American Buckeye Specifications: span: 36', 10.97 m length: 36'8", 11.18 m engines: 1 Westinghouse J34-WE-36 max. speed: 492 mph, 792 km/h

(Source: US Navy)

The Buckeye was a tandem seat trainer of which 217 were built under the T2J designation with further development of the design and more production to follow under the T-2 designation. Six XT2J-1s were ordered with serials 144217/144222 and the first flight was on 31 January 1958. At least one (144218) was converted to YT2J-1, but it is likely that the some of the others, if not all, were also converted to YT2J-1. Those remaining in service on 18 September 1962 were redesignated as YT-2A. The first production version was the T2J-1 and 211 were ordered from 29 June 1956 with serials 145996/146015, 147430/147530 and 148150/148239, whilst aircraft with serials 148823/148882 were cancelled. Those remaining in service on 18 September 1962 were redesignated as T-2A. Two T2J-1s (145997 and 144218) were converted as prototypes for the twin engined YT2J-2 on 26 January 1962. They had a span of 37'10", 11.53 m, length 38'3", 11.66 m, and 2 Pratt & Whitney J60-P-6 engines. The first flight took place on 30 August 1962 and on 18 September 1962 the aircraft were redesignated as YT-2B. Refer also to T-2

T3J North American Sabreliner Specifications: span: 44'5", 13.54 m length: 43'9", 13.34 m engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney J60-P-3 max. speed: 595 mph, 957 km/h

(Source: US Navy?)

42 examples of the Sabreliner were ordered on 25 September 1961 as T3J-1 crew trainers with serials 150542/150551, 150969/150992 and 151336/151343 but were redesignated as T-39D before they were delivered. A batch with serials 151344/151347 was cancelled. Refer also to T-39