VF-11

File:Curtiss F6C-1 (15343270592).jpg date unknown]]

File:Boeing F4B VF5.jpg date unknown]]

File:Grumman FF-1 9365 VF-5B 5-F-15 Aug36 80-G-466495 (21420119735).jpg in 1936]]

File:Grumman F3F-1 0232 VF-4 4-F-7 13Jan39 NARA 80-G-414446 (via RJF) (18168977189).jpg in 1939]]

VF-5 was established on 1 February 1927 at Hampton Roads, Virginia flying the Curtis F6C-3 Hawk. From 1927 to World War II, the squadron flew various aircraft including the Boeing F3B-1 and F4B-1, the Grumman FF-1 and F3F-1 and also held the following designations (designations tended to change based on the mission; e.g., "S" for scout, "B" for bomber): VF-5S, VF-5B, VB-1B, and VF-4.

File:F4F-4 CV-4 11 1942.jpg testing their guns on {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|6}} prior to Operation Torch in November 1942]]

File:F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-4 Red Rippers in flight c1945.jpg c.1945]]

During World War II, VF-41 deployed on {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|6}} supported the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa, downing 14 Vichy French aircraft in the Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat on 8/9 November 1942.{{cite book|last=Tillman|first=Barrett|title=Wildcat Aces of World War 2|url=https://archive.org/details/wildcatacesworld02till|url-access=limited|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=1995|isbn=9781855324862|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wildcatacesworld02till/page/n59 60]–1}} The squadron lost 7 F4Fs in action over the same period.{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Douglas|title=Volume I: U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Lost During World War II - Listed by Ship Attached|publisher=Lulu.com|year=2011|isbn=9781257822324|page=180}}{{Self-published inline|date=December 2017}}{{cite book|last=Wordell|first=M.T.|title="Wildcats" Over Casablanca: US Navy Fighters in Operation Torch|publisher=Little, Brown, and Co.|year=1943|isbn=157488722X|page=304}} In October and November 1943 while operating from USS Ranger, VF-41 attacked targets in German-occupied Norway.{{rp|81}}

The squadron transferred to the Pacific Theatre. VF-4 deployed aboard {{USS|Bunker Hill|CV-17|6}} losing 5 F6Fs in operations off the Philippines in November 1944.{{rp|34}} VF-4 deployed aboard {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} and participated in the Battle of Mindoro, attacks on Japanese bases on Formosa and the Battle of Okinawa, losing 28 F6Fs between November 1944 and March 1945.{{rp|70–1}} For the fighter-bomber mission the Hellcat was fitted with wingroot pylons, each of which could carry a 1,000 -Ib bomb or a 'Tiny Tim' rocket. Smaller rockets were carried on three zero-length launchers on each wing.

VF-11 operating the F8F-1 Bearcat was assigned to Carrier Air Group One (CVG-1) embarked on {{USS |Tarawa|CV-40|6}} on a cruise from the U.S. West Coast to the U.S. East Coast from 1 October 1948 to 21 February 1949.

File:F2H2 F2H2P over Korea 1953.jpeg escorts a VC-61 F2H-2P over Korea in 1953]]

File:F2H-4 Banshees VF-11 in flight 1958.jpg

VF-11 flew the F2H-2 Banshee during the Korean War as part of Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) deployed on {{USS|Kearsarge|CV-33|6}} from 11 August 1952 to 17 March 1953. During this deployment VF-11 lost 2 F2H-2s and their pilots to enemy fire.{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Douglas|title=U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and MATS Aircraft Lost During the Korean War|publisher=Lulu.com|year=2013|isbn=9781304610737|page=121}}{{Self-published inline|date=December 2017}}

VF-11 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 10 (CVG-10) aboard {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} for a Mediterranean from 13 August 1956 to 11 February 1957.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

VF-11 operating the F2H-4 was assigned to Air Task Group 201 (ATG-201) aboard {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} for a deployment to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific from 2 February to 17 November 1958. In the Mediterranean, USS Essex supported the US Marines landed in Lebanon.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

In 1959, VF-11 moved to NAS Jacksonville and was disestablished on 15 February 1959, their men and equipment being distributed to other squadrons and activities. The 3rd VF-11, redesignated from VF-43 on 16 February 1959 adopted the insignia and nickname of the disestablished second VF-11.

• Hampton Roads
• NAS Jacksonville

• F6C-3 Hawk
• F3B-1
• F4B-1
• FF-1
• F3F-1
• F4F-3 Wildcat
• F6F Hellcat
• F8F Bearcat
• F2H-2/4 Banshee
• F3D-2 Skynight

• VFA-11
• History of the United States Navy
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

{{reflist}}

{{US Navy navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vf-11}}

Category:Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy