{"product_id":"f2h-stars-stripes-structured-twill-cap","title":"F2H Stars \u0026 Stripes Structured Twill Cap","description":"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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nProduction 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhy are the stripes vertical?\u003cbr\u003e\nGreat 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.","brand":"I Love a Hangar","offers":[{"title":"Dark Navy \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469804896551,"sku":"1468199_5278","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dark Navy \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469804929319,"sku":"1468199_5279","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469804962087,"sku":"1468199_5276","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469804994855,"sku":"1468199_5277","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Royal Blue \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805027623,"sku":"1468199_5286","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Royal Blue \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805060391,"sku":"1468199_5287","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Red \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805093159,"sku":"1468199_5288","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Red \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805125927,"sku":"1468199_5289","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Olive \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805158695,"sku":"1468199_15901","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Olive \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805191463,"sku":"1468199_15902","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dark Grey \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805224231,"sku":"1468199_5280","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dark Grey \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805256999,"sku":"1468199_5281","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Grey \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805289767,"sku":"1468199_5282","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Grey \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805322535,"sku":"1468199_5283","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Khaki \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805355303,"sku":"1468199_5292","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Khaki \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805388071,"sku":"1468199_5293","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White \/ S\/M","offer_id":51469805420839,"sku":"1468199_5274","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White \/ L\/XL","offer_id":51469805453607,"sku":"1468199_5275","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0063\/1219\/8232\/files\/closed-back-structured-cap-grey-front-6a263f6a1be7a.jpg?v=1780891521","url":"https:\/\/iloveahangar.com\/products\/f2h-stars-stripes-structured-twill-cap","provider":"I Love a Hangar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}