Grumman F9F-8P (RF-9J) Cougar
Even before the Panther entered service the Navy and Grumman were examining the possibility of creating a swept-wing version of the aircraft. The appearance of the Soviet MiG-15 over Korea spurred on the process and the prototype made its first flight in September 1951. While the Cougar retained the F9F designation of the earlier Panther it was an almost entirely new design bearing only a superficial resemblance to the Panther.
Initially seen as an interim design, the Cougar turned out to be very adaptable and several versions and modifications were made over its lifetime. One of the more important of these is the photo reconnaissance version, the F9F-8P. This version incorporated a much larger nose housing several cameras and a fixed position refueling probe. Eventually nearly 2,000 Cougars of all types were built and some remained is service as late as 1974.

Wingspan34 ft 6 in.
Length44 ft 9 in.
Height12 ft 3 in.
Weight22,697 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed637 MPH
Service Ceiling41,500 ft
Range1,045 miles
EnginePratt & Whitney J48-P-8A turbojet with 7,250 pounds of thrust
Crew1
ManufacturerGrumman
MarkingsMarine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron 2 (VMCJ-2), Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1958
Serial Number144426
DesignationF9F-8P