F2H Stars & Stripes Structured Twill Cap

The F2H Banshee was a twin-engine, carrier-based jet fighter developed for the U.S. Navy after the Second World War. It was a larger and more powerful successor to McDonnell’s earlier FH-1 Phantom, with two Westinghouse J34 turbojets, four 20 mm cannon and a straight-wing layout suited to early carrier jet operations.

The first XF2H-1 prototype flew on Jan 11ᵗʰ, 1947, and the Banshee entered production soon after. Early F2H-1 aircraft were followed by the improved F2H-2, which added more powerful engines, wingtip fuel tanks and the ability to carry bombs and rockets. Later versions included night fighter, nuclear strike, all-weather fighter and photo-reconnaissance variants.

The Banshee saw its most important combat use during the Korean War. F2H-2 fighters operated from U.S. Navy carriers, flying escort, interdiction and strike missions, including rail and road attacks during Operation Strangle. Its range and high-altitude performance also made it useful for escorting B-29 Superfortress bombers on long missions over North Korea.

The F2H-2P Photo Banshee became the U.S. Navy’s first jet-powered reconnaissance aircraft. Unarmed and fitted with a lengthened camera nose, it carried six aerial cameras and flew high-speed photographic missions over Korea with Navy and Marine Corps units. These aircraft covered targets as far north as the Yalu River and often faced the threat of MiG-15s.

The Banshee also served with the Royal Canadian Navy, which operated 39 second-hand F2H-3 aircraft from 1955 to 1962. Canada used the Banshee as an all-weather fleet defence and ground-attack fighter from HMCS Bonaventure and shore bases such as Shearwater, Nova Scotia.

Production totalled 894 aircraft, including the prototypes. The Banshee remained in front-line U.S. Navy service until Sep 1959, with some aircraft continuing in reserve units into the early 1960s. Although later swept-wing fighters soon overtook it, the F2H Banshee was an important early carrier jet and a major step between the Navy’s first jet fighters and later McDonnell designs such as the F-4 Phantom II.

Why are the stripes vertical?
Great question - and you're absolutely right that the U.S. flag is usually displayed with horizontal stripes. But in this design, we’ve reimagined the flag as an artistic tribute rather than a literal representation. We chose to depict the flag as if it were hanging vertically from above, similar to how it might appear draped at a hangar entrance or suspended during a ceremony. This vertical orientation allows the iconic silhouette of the aircraft to really shine -with the red and white stripes running the length of the fuselage, it creates a bold, centred look while still honouring the flag’s spirit and symbolism.