It’s the F9F-8 Cougar.
But it’s based on the Panther.
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One of my instructors…a ways back for me…flew those. He was a Marine pilot in the Korean War. Colorful dude to say the least. He was in his late 60’s when he was looking over my shoulder, and still a go-getter.
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Things change and things stay the same. If you read the copy in that “Rosie” ad it basically says “this thing may not be bleeding edge but it’s here, and it’s ready.” 60 years later, Boeing did the same with snarky ads ridiculing the cost, complexity and over-promised performance of the F-35 when compared the an F-18 that can be had for half the price.
Back to the F9F. I am guessing that the unspoken “experimental” competition is the F-4.
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A Sikorsky HO3S-1 takes off from Battleship New Jersey (BB-62), Korea, 1951
A closer look…
BB-62 during the Vietnam War
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Do I see Mickey Rooney in a stovepipe hat?
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Medical air evacuation in WW-II:
Interior of a Curtiss C-46 transport plane, equipped with webbing strap litter supports.
Medics at a Curtiss C-46.
Uninjured soldiers were shipped with the C-46 also…
Regarding air transport, the C-47 Skytrain/DC-3 Dakota is predominantly in the picture, but there was also the C-46 “Whale”.
Below: 2x “Curtiss”:
a hommage to the “Whale” by artist Romain Hugault; scene: a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk from the Burma Banshees escorts a Curtiss C-46 Whale untill it lands safely (concept + final result):
(An awesome camera setup!)
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Another carrier based warbird was the McConell F2H-2 Banshee. At first sight the Grumman F9F-2 Panther and the Banshee look the same. The F9F-2 Panther is well known, the Banshee lesser.
The Panther was mainly developped as a fighter, even in some cases also used for ground attacks, and the Panther had a better maneuvrability in respect to the Banshee.
The Banshee had been developped before the Panther; it was basically the improved version of the first FH-1 Phantom. It had 2 engines, but it’s general performances were not better than the Panther. Although the Banshee was intended as a fighter, it was mainly used for ground attacks.
At least during the Korean War, the pilots appreciated the Panther’s air conditioned cockpit, which was a welcome change from the humid environment of piston-powered aircraft.
I was looking for photos with both jet fighters flying together, but so far found this painting:
The F2-H Banshee during the Korean War:
An Oldsmobile Starfire from 1955 with a Grumman F9F-2 and McDonnell F2H-2 like model on the hood:
edit
Three F9F-2 Panther and a F2H-2 Banshee in flight:
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Oh, wow. Flashback! I came this “| |” close to getting a ride in one one day! They used to use them in AK as, as best I recall, mock intruders into US airspace; the Eagles would then fly out and intercept.
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© Victor Hubinon, early 50s
To stay with the wingtip fuel tank warbirds: Lockheed F-94 (A, B, C) Starfire:
2x Lockheed F-94B:
(68th FIS, Korea, 1953)
Lockheed F-94A:
Lockheed F-94B:
(Korea 1953)
Lockheed F-94C:
© Victor Hubinon, early 50s
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F-94C and some Bs. Love them!
Man, how I’d love to see these in DCS.
Even the iconic T-bird trainer
@STORM. “On target”… 
F-94 Starfire; © Victor Hubinon, 1952
A fighter-interceptor squadron with their F-94B Starfire’s over Suwon, Korea (1952):
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I think those are real.
In Japan and South Korea it isn’t rare to see colorful manga-style paint schemes on planes and helis.
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