---
title: "The Navy had hybrid fighter jets during WWII"
description: "In 1943, Admiral John S. McCain Sr. proposed hybrid Navy fighter jets that used both a jet and piston engine."
date: "2023-05-22"
modified: "2023-05-22"
authors:
  - name: "Miguel Ortiz"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/navy-fighter-jets-hybrid-wwii/"
categories:
  - "Aircraft"
  - "History"
  - "Navy"
  - "Tactical"
  - "War History"
  - "World War II"
---

# The Navy had hybrid fighter jets during WWII

![navy fighter](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-VF-41-in-flight.jpeg>)

In 1943, Admiral John S. McCain Sr. proposed hybrid Navy fighter jets that used both a jet and piston engine. Early jet engines were sluggish and considered unsafe for carrier takeoffs and landings. McCain's idea called for an aircraft that would use its piston engine for takeoff and landing, but it's jet engine for the majority of a flight. On February 11, 1943, Ryan Aeronautical was awarded a contract for the first prototypes of the FR-1 Fireball.

![vf-66 navy fighter jets](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-VF-66-North-Island.jpeg>)
**A Fireball assigned to VF-66 at NAS North Island (U.S. Navy)**

The Fireball had a 1,350-horsepower radial engine mounted in the nose and a 1,600 lb turbojet engine mounted in the rear of the fuselage. Ducts in each wing root fed air to the jet engine. Both engines used the same grade of fuel, fed from two self-sealing fuel tanks. The FR-1 was armed with four .50-caliber [M2 Browning machine guns](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/this-is-the-upgrade-m2-browning-fans-have-been-waiting-for/>) with 300 rounds each. It could also carry four 5-inch rockets and a 1,000 lb bomb or 100-gallon drop tank under each wing. The Fireball's bubble canopy gave the pilot excellent all-around visibility.

![fr-1 hybrid design](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-takeoff-1947.jpeg>)
**The FR-1's hybrid design was made obsolete as jet technology improved (U.S. Navy)**

Ryan delivered the first XFR-1 prototype in April 1944. On June 25, 1944, the Fireball made its first flight without its jet engine, though it was installed shortly thereafter. Initial test flights revealed instability in the aircraft due to design miscalculations and larger stabilizers were retrofitted onto the prototypes. During carrier testing in January 1945, the Fireball made five catapult takeoffs with its piston engine and three with both engines. No issues were reported.

![carrier trials](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-trials-Ranger-1945.jpeg>)
**Fireballs conduct carrier trials aboard* Ranger*, May 1945 (U.S. Navy)**

[Fighter Squadron 66 (VF-66)](<https://www.twz.com/36750/the-forgotten-fireball-made-the-first-jet-powered-carrier-landing-by-accident>), the Firebirds, received the first operational FR-1s in March 1945. The squadron was slated to deploy to the Pacific and three Fireballs were brought aboard USS *Ranger* (CV-4) to qualify pilots. However, two of the aircraft were damaged during landing. Over the following months, VF-66 was able to qualify its pilots. Ready to sail, the squadron was on pre-embarkation leave when the Japanese surrendered and WWII ended. On October 18, 1945, VF-66 was decommissioned and its pilots and aircraft were reassigned to VF-41.

![fr-1 navy fighter jets](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-Landing-1946.jpeg>)
**The FR-1's nose gear was prone to failing under hard landings (U.S. Navy)**

On November 6, 1945, Ensign J. A. West's Fireball lost its radial engine on approach to the USS *Wake Island* (CVE-65). West managed to start the turbojet and barely managed to catch the last wire for a safe landing. This event is claimed to be the first, albeit unintentional, pure jet power landing on an American carrier. However, some critics argue that there is evidence that shows the Fireball may have been helped aboard by some residual power from its piston engine.

![fireball navy fighter jets](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FR-1-Planes-of-Fame.jpeg>)
**The only surviving Fireball on static display (Planes of Fame)**

During WWII, the Navy ordered 1,100 total FR-1s. After the Japanese surrender, the order was canceled and only 66 Fireballs were completed by November 1945. Although the aircraft did not see combat, it remained operational until August 1, 1947. Only one aircraft escaped scrapping as an instructional airframe for NASA. It was later acquired by the [Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California](<https://planesoffame.org/>), where it was restored and is on static display.

*Feature Image: U.S. Navy*

## Author
Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-ortiz1495>)