FH3 Demon Stars & Stripes Rocks Glass

Sale price$10.99 USD Regular price$14.99 USD
Save $4.00 USD

Tax excluded.


The F3H Demon was the U.S. Navy’s first all-weather, missile-armed jet fighter designed specifically for carrier-based fleet air defence during the early Cold War. Introduced in 1956, the Demon marked a turning point in naval aviation, bringing radar-guided interception capability and swept-wing design into regular fleet service. With its menacing lines and imposing size, it earned its official nickname—“The Demon”—and became a familiar sight on carrier decks throughout the late 1950s.

Originally conceived as a supersonic interceptor, the Demon was hampered from the start by serious engine troubles. Early models were fitted with the Westinghouse J40, an underpowered and unreliable engine that plagued performance and led to multiple airframe losses. The program was nearly cancelled before McDonnell salvaged the design by re-engining it with the Allison J71 turbojet, resulting in the improved F3H-2 variant. Even with the J71, the Demon could not quite reach supersonic speeds in level flight, though it could exceed Mach 1 in a dive.

The Demon was armed with four 20mm cannons and became one of the first Navy fighters capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow. The F3H-2M variant was missile-equipped, although in practice the Sidewinder proved more reliable than the early Sparrows. Its onboard radar and stability made it a capable platform for all-weather interception and an important stepping stone in the transition from gun-only to missile-based air combat.

Operated exclusively by the United States Navy, the Demon never saw combat, but it flew extensively with fleet squadrons and carrier air wings from 1956 to the early 1960s. It also helped refine Navy tactics for beyond-visual-range engagements and radar intercept procedures. While its time in service was relatively brief, and its performance was eventually eclipsed by newer fighters, the Demon laid the technological and doctrinal groundwork for what followed.

The F3H Demon was ultimately retired by 1964, replaced by the far more capable and versatile F-4 Phantom II—a design that inherited much of the Demon’s airframe philosophy and built upon its hard-learned lessons. Though never a combat legend, the Demon played a pivotal role in the evolution of U.S. naval aviation, bridging the gap between early jet fighters and the supersonic missile era.