Douglas’ first jet fighter design, the F4D, was a result of US postwar acquisition of German aeronautical data—specifically Alexander Lippisch’s work on delta-wing aircraft.
As both the F4D airframe and the J40 engine were new, the first two examples were initially fitted with Allison J35s for the first flight in January 1951 to mitigate risk. It was over a year before a J40-powered Skyray flew, and even then, it lacked an afterburner. Despite the second Skyray achieving a world speed record of 752 mph in October 1953, the J40 program was a failure; the engine proved unreliable and underpowered. Fortunately, the airframe could accommodate the Pratt & Whitney J57, which was fitted to production F4D-1s.
Conceived at the end of the pre-AAM era, the Skyray was armed with four 20mm Colt Mk. 12 cannons. By the time it entered service, it could also carry four Sidewinder missiles or 2.75″ rocket pods. While not primarily a fighter-bomber, it could carry two 2,000lb bombs if necessary.
Douglas produced 419 F4D-1s before the line closed. Despite its impressive climb performance, it entered service just as the Navy’s needs shifted toward long-range interceptors armed with Sparrow missiles to counter Soviet bombers. Redesignated as the F-6 in 1962, the type was retired from frontline service by VMF(AW)-115 in early 1964, though it continued to fly for several years with the Naval Test Pilot School and NASA.
F4D Bibliography:
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Boneyard Almanac: 20th Century Picture Book by Del Laughery (p. 41): Photo of F-6A BuNo 134748.
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“Douglas Skyray Viewed Close Up,” Aviation Week, October 26, 1953 (p. 18): The XF4D-1 prototype.
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“700-mph Skyray Tests Its Sea Wings,” Aviation Week, November 30, 1953 (p. 9): Trials aboard USS Coral Sea.
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“F4D Makes Carrier Evaluation Tests,” Naval Aviation News, February 1954 (p. 11): NATC evaluations from USS Coral Sea.
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“Navy batwinged interceptor gives carriers a supersonic punch,” Aviation Week, June 6, 1955 (p. 126): INCO/International Nickel advertisement featuring an artist’s depiction.
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“Skyray Meets the Marines,” Naval Aviation News, January 1957 (p. 30): Three photos covering VMF-115’s conversion to F4Ds.
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“VMF(AW)-115 and Skyray – Records Made at MCAAS Mojave,” Naval Aviation News, March 1957 (p. 25).
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“VF-74 Qualifies in F4Ds,” Naval Aviation News, May 1957 (p. 30).
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“Skyray Gets Catapult Trial” (3 photos), Aviation Week, April 9, 1959 (p. 39).
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Jordan Ross, “Navy Skyray,” Scale Modeler, April 1973: Building the 1/72 Hawk F4D kit as a VMF-318 aircraft.
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Trevor Pask, “Fast Flying Ford,” Scale Aviation Modeller International, April 2007: Building the 1/72 Tamiya F4D.
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F4D-1 cutaway diagram, Air International, October 1982 (pp. 180-181).
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American Military Aircraft: A History of Innovation, editor Jim Winchester (p. 149): Color profile of a VF-162 F4D.
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Robert D. Archer, Edwards Air Force Base: Open House at the USAF Flight Test Center 1957-1966 (p. 84): XF4D-1 with a closeup of a CJ805 engine mockup.
