Country United States Type Fighter Engagements World War II | Branch United States Navy Nickname(s) Hellcats | |
Active 6 August 1942 - 19 November 1945 | ||
Fighter Squadron 33 or VF-33 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as Escort-Scouting Squadron 16 or VGS-16 on 6 August 1942, it was redesignated as Composite Squadron 16 or VC-16 on 1 March 1943, redesignated as VF-33 on 15 August 1943 and disestablished on 19 November 1945. It was the first US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-33.
Operational history
VF-33 equipped with the F6F Hellcat was first deployed to Munda, Solomon Islands where they supported the New Georgia Campaign.
While deployed in the Solomons, VF-33 was credited with 60 Japanese aircraft shot down, and produced three aces: Lt.(jg) Frank E. Schnieder with seven kills, Lt. C. K. Hildebrandt with five kills, and Lt.(jg) James J. Kinsella also with five kills, three with VF-33 and two with VF-72 in the F4F-4 Wildcat.