1/48 AF3S Guardian Mad Boom Anti-Submarine USN Warfare Bomber

1/48 AF3S Guardian Mad Boom Anti-Submarine USN Warfare Bomber. During the 1950s, the AF-2 Guardian anti-submarine aircraft were operating from the US Navy carriers in so-called Hunter-Killer pairs. The development of the Guardian began during WWII, though the original request from the US Navy had been for a torpedo-bomber. At Grumman, this project was known under G-70 designation, while the Navy recognized it as the XTB3F.The prototype AF-2 (which was a radar-equipped Hunter version) first flew in November 1948, while the AF-2S performed its first flight in January the following year. A year later, the type entered service with the US Navy, later to be joined by a third version, the AF-3S, which was basically a AF-2S with a magnetic anomaly detector fitted. The AF-3s were operated both from land bases and aircraft carriers. During the Korea War, the type was used to defend US Navy vessels in the combat zone.The Guardian was removed from front line service in 1955, and remained with onl