VF-8 (1943-5)

Fighter Squadron 8
Active 1 June 1943-23 November 1945
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) Hellcats
Aircraft F6F-3/5 Hellcat
Engagements World War II

Fighter Squadron 8 or VF-8 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established on 1 June 1943, it was disestablished on 23 November 1945. It was the second US Navy squadron to be designated VF-8.[1]

Operational history

VF-8 F6F-3s in flight in 1943

VF-8 under the command of Lt Cdr William M. Collins Jr. was initially assigned to the USS Intrepid during that ship's shakedown cruise in the Caribbean.

In March 1944 the squadron was deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) aboard the USS Bunker Hill until October 1944. During this deployment VF-8 pilot Lt. Edward L. Feightner scored 5 victories bringing his total score to 9.

From November 1944 to the end of January 1945 CVG-8 was shore-based at NAS Alameda.[2] From February to mid-May CVG-8 was based at NAAS Watsonville.[3] From late May to early August 1945 CVG-8 was based at NAS Puunene Hawaii.[4] By September 1945 CVG-8 was based on Saipan.[5]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports:

Aircraft Assignment

See also

References

  1. "Fighter Squadron Lineage". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 30 Jan 1945". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 19 May 1945". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 26 May 1945". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 7 Sep 1945". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 19, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.