Accepted by the Navy in 1958, this F11F's service career encompassed VF-51 and VF-111 at NAS Miramar and VF-33 aboard USS Intrepid before transfer to VT-26 at NAS Chase Field, TX in 1966. In 1967 it was selected for the Pensacola-based Blue Angels and performed as ship #1, being turned over to the nearby NAM at the end of the 1968 season. It was later restored to its smart VF-33 colours and placed on display. With so many jets preserved in Blue Angles or Thunderbirds colours despite not have actually flown with them, it is refreshing to see the reverse happening

The Demon arrived too late for the Korean War and all 239 had been withdrawn by 1964 so it did not get to see action in Vietnam either. Both the original F3H-1 with Westinghouse engines and the later F3H-2 with Allison J71s were underpowered and troublesome, but became the design basis for McDonnell's F-4. This example had just over two years in service with VF-121 from acceptance in 1957, then going to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Memphis. Put on show at NAS Cecil Field, FL in 1975, it arrived at the NAM in 1999. The F3H-2M Sparrow missile version became the MF-3B in 1962

This early Crusader entered service in June 1958 with VF-174 at NAS Cecil Field, FL in a training capacity. For 18 months from November 1960 it was assigned to VF-11 also at Cecil but deployed aboard USS Franklin D Roosevelt between February and October 1961, spending much of that time shore-based at Rota, Spain. In April 1962 it briefly returned to VF-174 before transfer to VU-2 at NAS Oceana, VA. Flown to the NAM at Pensacola in 1971 and presented as a VF-24 aircraft

This magnificent exhibit is the last surviving Marlin of the 285 built, although unfortunately now too hemmed in for a clear shot. Accepted in 1956, it served VX-1 and several patrol squadrons including VP-40 with which it deployed to SE Asia from 1965 to 1967. It made the last operational flight of a Navy flying boat in May 1967, landing in San Diego Bay. In 1968 it was flown from NAS North Island to Patuxent River and put into the care of the Smithsonian/National Air Museum. In 1977 it was tranferred by barge to Pensacola and by 1990 had undergone restoration, moving inside by 2011

Taken on charge in 1956, this Skyray operated with VF-141 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard, VF-23 at NAS Moffett Field and aboard USS Hancock, VMF(AW)-542 "Tigers" at MCAS El Toro, VMF(AW)-513 at NAS Atsugi, Japan, VMF(AW)-314 back at El Toro and VMF (AW)-114, MCAS Cherry Point. After redesignation from F4D-1 to F-6A in 1962, to NATC and NTPS Patuxent River. Ferried to Pensacola for preservation in 1969

Although now painted as a Naval Air Test Center aircraft, this Fury was in fact operated by VMF-232 "Red Devils", MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI for its short service life in the mid-1950s. This is one of only two FJ-2s in preservation, although there are also a number of the more powerful FJ-3s surviving

This is actually an ex-USAF T-33A, 58-0480, presented to represent a Navy TV-2 during the Korean War period. It was obtained from the George T Baker Aviation School at Miami where it had been used as a ground instructional airframe registered N63311

Accepted in 1954, this 'Spad' has quite a record. Its first combat cruise came with VA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" on board USS Midway in 1965, during which time it was part of a mission that engaged North Vietnamese MiG-17s, one of the enemy jets being shot down. After operating with VA-52 "Knightriders" aboard the carrier USS Ticonderoga in 1966-1967, it was back with VA-25, this time on USS Coral Sea for a 1967-1968 cruise. During these three deployments, it logged 219 combat missions. In February 1968 it flew the USN's last A-1 combat mission and was ferried to the NAM in 1969

First flown in 1948, the F7U was ahead of its time and the capabilities of available power plants, being dubbed the "Gutless Cutlass". Plagued with weaknesses, over a quarter of the 320 F7Us built were lost to accidents. From 1954 this one flew with VF-83 (Oceana), VF-212 (Moffett), VA-151 (Alameda) and NARTU (Los Alamitos). Displayed in a Los Angeles park from 1960, it was restored from 1991. I was delighted to shoot this having recently acquired the wonderful new Crecy book on the Cutlass, co-authored by the owner of another F7U being restored for flight

This Cougar is painted in the colours of the unit with which it first operated, VF-142 based at NAS Miramar, from 1953 to 1956. Latterly deployed aboard USS Boxer, it was then transferred to VF-144. Next going to the Navy Reserve in 1957, it went into storage at Litchfield Park, AZ in 1959. Moving to NAS China Lake, CA in 1962 it was struck off and was seen on display at NAS Point Mugu, CA in the mid-1980s before joining the NAM in 1990

The Guardian was the largest single-engine piston-powered carrier aircraft to see service, flown in the ASW role till 1955 when replaced by the S2F Tracker. Used for maritime patrol in the Korea, it was unpopular with pilots being underpowered and heavy on the controls, suffering a high accident rate. This example was flown by VX-1 from NAS Key West and Naval Reserve units before disposal in 1956. Operated by Aero Union as tanker N3144G/E30 from 1962, it was later painted back into these USN colours and operated as a warbird before going to the museum in 1993

Records suggest this Banshee did not in fact fly with VMJ-1 which served in Korea as painted, instead remaining in the US with training unit VMJ-2 and later two USN squadrons. After being retired in 1958 it was put on show as a children's plaything in a park at Vero Beach, FL, the cockpit being filled with concrete. From 1989 it underwent an extraordinary restoration at Pensacola for the NAM and is now presented with every instrument correctly in place

Although effectively only a stopgap model until more advanced helicopters were introduced, the HO5S was widely used in the Korean War by the USMC for observation, scouting and medevac. This example is displayed in the colours of VMO-6 with whom it served in Korea before being damaged and returned to the US after a brief detachment in Japan. Moving to VMO-1 at MCAS New River, NC it was civilianised as N8003E by 1963 and entered the Naval Aviation Museum around 1988

Taking off for yet another training circuit. (Nikon D850 + Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED)

Taking off from Muchamiel. (Nikon D850 + Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED)

This unique two-seat trainer captured at Lechfeld was operated by Watson's Whizzers as '555/Willie' till flown to Cherbourg, the nose gear collapsing on landing. A replacement nose cone was fitted and it was shipped to the US in July 1945. Sent to Patuxent River for flight tests as BuNo 121448, it was then given to the Naval Aviation Museum, going on show at Willow Grove, PA from 1946 till 1993 when loaned for use as a pattern for the production of flying replicas. Static restoration in its 1944 marks was completed at Everett in 2000 and it returned to Willow Grove till 2007 when moved to NMNA

Delivered in 1949, this F9F-2 flew combat missions in Korea with VMF-311, VMF-115 and from USS Boxer with VF-151, as displayed here at NAS Pensacola where it completed its flying career in a training role

Although first flown in 1944, development delays meant that the Mauler did not enter service until 1948. The 151 built only operated with front-line squadrons till 1950 and the Navy Reserve till 1953. They were found to be heavy handling and difficult to land on carriers, the smaller Douglas Skyraider being favoured. This example, one of four complete examples surviving, was used as a target at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD before being moved to the Naval Aviation Museum as it was then known in 1972

Taking off from Muchamiel. (Nikon D850 + Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ED)

When delivered to the USN in 1948 this F8F went straight to the Naval Air Technical Training Unit here at NAS Pensacola but was transferred to the US Navy Reserve in 1950 at Akron, OH then Birmingham, AL. After time with experimental unit VX-20, it was struck off in 1956 with just 757 hours recorded. Displayed outdoors at Naval Training Station Bainbridge, MD, it was moved to the National Aviation Museum as long ago as 1964 and is now presented as the aircraft of Carrier Air Group 19's commander