The Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter’s M39 Cannon
On our way to do some grocery shopping, the Better Half and I stopped at the Western Museum of Flight at Louis Zamperini Field in Torrance, California. The museum sports a modest, but eclectic, collection of interesting aviation artifacts, aircraft and memorabilia.
Clickable image: one of two M39 Cannons installed.
Naturally, I was drawn to this exhibit of the Colt-Browning “Pontiac” M39 Cannon installed in a Northrop F-5A “Freedom Fighter” in the overcrowded hangar of the museum:
The Pontiac M39 was a 20 mm single-barreled revolver cannon developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s. It was used on a number of fighter aircraft from the early 1950s through the 1980s.
The M39 was developed by the Springfield Armory, based on the World War II–era design of the German Mauser MG 213, a 20 mm (and 30 mm) cannon developed for the Luftwaffe, but not used in combat. The same design inspired the British ADEN cannon and the French DEFA, but American designers chose a smaller 20 mm round to increase the weapon’s rate of fire and muzzle velocity at the expense of hitting power.
Initially designated the T-160, the new gun was installed for combat testing on a number of F-86 Sabre aircraft under the “GunVal” program in late 1952, and used in action over Korea in early 1953. It was subsequently adopted as standard armament of the F-86H fighter-bomber, F-100 Super Sabre, F-101A and F-101C Voodoo, and the F-5 Freedom Fighter. Current models of the F-5 Tiger II still use the M39A2 version of this weapon.
5 Responses to “The Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter’s M39 Cannon”
drjim on 09 Oct 2009 at 2158 #
I worked for a small company in Torrance called “Eidetics” for a while after I was laid-off from Hughes. The owner of the company had been the “Daddy” of the F-20 Tigershark until he got tired of all the political wrangling, and quit Northrop to start the company. We did a lot of aerodynamic work and made “Mod Kits” for A-4 Skyhawks and F-5’s, which were still front-line fighters in a lot of smaller countries.
Met and worked with some really neat people there, some of whom I’ve seen on various TV documentaries. Meeting Pete Knight, and having him autograph my copy of “The X Planes” by Jay Miller was quite a thrill. Pete is the guy who flew the X-15 to the 4,519MPH speed record that still stands for a manned, winged aircraft.
Minstrel on 10 Oct 2009 at 0855 #
Wow. I am in awe.
There is a very good on-line article about the X-15 and Pete Knight at http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/03/stuff_eng_x15.htm where I found this photo of Pete and the X-15:
drjim on 10 Oct 2009 at 1244 #
he was a very interesting guy. Of course, I just *had* to ask him what it was like. I remember him saying that you had to fly the flight profile *exactly* as planned, and it kept him pretty busy. But then he said the one thing he really remembered was how FAST the sky got dark, and that he could see starts in ‘broad daylight’.
I also worked with the guy who was the chief test pilot for the F-16 program, and another guy who was an instructor for F-5/T-38 pilots.
Quite an interesting bunch of guys.
Gary Griffin on 27 Oct 2009 at 0503 #
I worked on a lot of M39’s in the late 60’s, as an armorer with the 416TFS in Viet Nam. These were mounted on F100’s. Prior to that, I spent a short time at Edwards AFB, where I occassionally was involved with the “Skoshi Tiger” Program (F5’s).
All of the ones I’ve seen were manufactured by Pontiac Division of GM Corporation. I believe there was only one other manufacturer. I have seen the name on the gun photos in the tech manuals, but now cannot recall it.
I am curious about your “Colt Browning” reference? I think the museum may have it mislabeled.
Minstrel on 27 Oct 2009 at 0706 #
Regarding Gary’s comment: I found the Colt-Browning reference in an on-line document which I cannot seem to retrieve today. As I recall, the document referred to Colt Browning as heritage to the Pontiac cannon. The wiki article further refers to Springfield Armory as the developer. The museum did not post any reference to Colt-Browning on the exhibit.
Sorry for the confusion. I should have stated the loose reference a little better.
In addition, the actual cannon is not installed in this aircraft. For a photo of the cannon installed in a Brazilian F5, click here.