North American FJ-4B Fury - Veterans Memorial Sate Park - Cordele, GA.
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Lat34North
N 31° 57.530 W 083° 54.700
17R E 224802 N 3539575
This marker is located near the North American FJ-4B Fury, located on Cannon Rd near the visitors center in the Veterans Memorial Park, US 280 west of Cordele, GA. Fee area - day use $3.00
Waymark Code: WM8YTN
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 06/01/2010
Views: 5
North American FJ-4B Fury
With the Korean War focusing attention on the advancements made in Russian aircraft technology in the MiG 15, the Navy looked for a fast way to acquire a fighter with better performance. The best jet was the F86 Saber, which had developed from the original Fury and could easily defeat the MiG 15. Converting this Saber into a carrier fighter led to the Fury family of jet aircraft.
The last and definitive version of the Fury family was the FJ-4B or “Fury Bravo”. On the FJ–4B the wing was strengthened to handle the Martin Bullpup missile system. The engine was a Wright J65–W-16 A sapphire turbojet. The fury was also equipped with the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) from the Air Force F-86H. This system was used to deliver tactical nuclear weapons by automatically computing the exact time of bomb release; both to ensure hitting the target and allowing the pilot to get clear. A second set of speed brakes was added to improve the Jet’s attack capabilities. A total of 222 FJ–4Bs were produced from 1956 through 1958.
The FJ-4B had several good characteristics, including a roomy cockpit and excellent maneuvering in the air. The jet was referred to by its pilots as “Cadillac” and many thought the fury bravo a better attack platform than its replacement the A4D Skyhawk.
This FJ-4B has been detailed according to a photograph of it flying a refueling (??) mission on December 17, 1956. This Fury was manufactured by North American Aviation, Columbus Ohio and delivered Navy in 1957. The Fury was assigned to Attack Squadron VA-115 Roadrunners. The unit (??) was redesignated VA-144 Roadrunners midway through deployment on the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in 1959. In 1960 VA-144 and another squadron VA-146 Blue Diamonds deployed aboard USS Oriskany (CVA-34) The Fury then left VA-144 and was (??) aboard the USS Lexington (CVA-16) from 1961 to 1962. The Fury then left VA-144 and was transferred to VA-216 (???). The jet the returned stateside to a variety of stations before being surpluses in 1965.
Portions of this marker are very difficult to read.