Taken on strength by the USN as an F3D-2 around 1951. Transferred to USMC and possibly saw service in Korea. Redesigned EF-10B in 1962. The Skyknight was the only Korean War jet fighter that also flew in Vietnam. As one of the last three Skyknights flying, operated by Raytheon for tests from 1968 at Holloman AFB, NM with US Army markings and retired to the museum by 1990. Painted in VMF(N)-513 marks as '12 7/8' which had replaced F-3D-2 '13', supposedly for better luck after the loss in Korea of another with that code

From the National Museum of Naval Aviation collection, on static display at Pensacola's 1987 Open Day.

Built as F3D-2 (F-10A) Bureau Number 124598. Converted to a EF-10B version in 1962. After retirement from USMC the aircraft was loaned to Raytheon Corporation for research (with US Army markings.) In 1987 it was finally retired to the National Naval Aviation Museum. In 2016 the a/c went through restoration and was repainted. VMF(N)-513 had this scheme on one of their F3Ds in Korea. Their number "13" F3D had been lost in action so the replacement was given the 12 7/8 in hopes of better luck.

Photographer: Richard Sullivan

F-10B Skyknight retired to D-M after use in trials as a test aircraft. It has been fitted with the nose radar from an F-4 Phantom II.