F-89 Scorpion

The F-89 Scorpion was a twin-engine, all weather fighter-interceptor designed to locate, intercept, and destroy enemy aircraft by day or night under all types of weather. It made its maiden flight on Aug 16, 1948, and the first production model was delivered to the USAF in 1950. Northrop Aircraft Co. produced 1,050 F-89s for the USAF. The F-89 was the first multi-seat, all weather jet interceptor, the first aircraft designed to carry an all-rocket armament, and the first to carry the Hughes Falcon air-to-air guided missile. The major production version was the F-89D model; 682 F-89D aircraft were constructed, and 350 of these were modified to the F-89J model. On July 19, 1957, a Genie test rocket was fired from an F-89J, the first time in history that an air-to-air rocket with a nuclear warhead was launched and detonated. The F-89Js became the Air Defense Command's first fighter-interceptor to carry nuclear armament. This F-89D, serial number 53-2610, was delivered to the 32nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Otis AFB, MA, in August 1955 and was last flown by the 119th Fighter Group at Hector Field, ND, in October 1966.

Florida · United States