F3D Stars & Stripes Structured Twill Cap

The Douglas F3D Skyknight was a twin-engine, two-seat, carrier-capable night fighter developed for the U.S. Navy after the Second World War. Designed around the bulky airborne radar systems of the late 1940s, it had a wide fuselage, side-by-side crew seating and four 20 mm cannon in the lower nose. The XF3D-1 prototype first flew on Mar 23ʳᵈ, 1948.

The Skyknight was not built as a fast daytime dogfighter. Its job was to find and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in poor weather, using radar to guide the crew into firing position. Powered by two Westinghouse J34 turbojets, the F3D was large, heavy and slow compared with swept-wing fighters, earning the nickname “Willy the Whale”, or simply “Whale”, among many crews.

The F3D saw its most important fighter service during the Korean War. Marine Skyknights operated mainly from land bases, escorting B-29 Superfortress night bombing missions and intercepting enemy aircraft in darkness. Using its radar and cannon armament, the Skyknight became one of the most successful jet night fighters of the war, with confirmed victories over enemy aircraft including MiG-15s.

After Korea, the Skyknight remained useful because its roomy airframe could carry specialised electronics. Some aircraft supported early Sparrow missile development, while others were converted for electronic warfare. Under the 1962 U.S. designation system, the F3D became the F-10, and electronic warfare aircraft became EF-10B Skyknights.

Marine EF-10Bs served in Vietnam during the first half of the war, flying electronic countermeasures missions from Da Nang. They helped jam North Vietnamese radar and surface-to-air missile systems during strike missions over North Vietnam, working alongside aircraft such as the Air Force EB-66. The EF-10B flew its final combat missions in October 1969 and was later replaced by more capable electronic attack aircraft such as the EA-6A Intruder.

Around 265 Skyknights were built, with production ending in the early 1950s. The final Marine Skyknight mission was flown in May 1970, ending a career that stretched from Korean War night fighting to Vietnam War electronic warfare.

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.