Country United States Part of Inactive | ||
Active 1 March 1942-28 September 1945 Aircraft F2A-3 BuffaloF4F WildcatF6F-3/5 Hellcat | ||
Fighting Squadron 9 or VF-9 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established on 1 March 1942, it was disestablished on 28 September 1945.
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Operational history
VF-9 established at NAS Norfolk on 1 March 1942 as part of the new Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) which was to be deployed abord the new carrier USS Essex. Originally equipped with the F2A-3 Buffalo, VF-9 began reequipping with the F4F-3 Wildcat in April 1942.
In late August 1942 VF-9 was deployed aboard USS Ranger to support Operation Torch. By late November 1942 Ranger had returned to NAS Norfolk and VF-9 rejoined the rest of CVG-9. VF-9 became the first Navy squadron to receive the F6F-3 Hellcat in February 1943.
In April 1943 CVG-9 embarked on the Essex for deployment to the Pacific Fleet. By mid-June 1943 Essex had arrived at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and CVG-9 was based at Naval Air Station Barbers Point. In September Essex left Pearl Harbor with CVG-9 embarked.
VF-9 scored over 250 kills in the Hellcat, making it the second most successful Hellcat squadron of the war.