VF-171
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Fighter Squadron 171
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1 April 1944 – 15 March 1958
|country= United States
|allegiance=
|branch= United States Navy
|type=
|role= Fighter aircraft
|size=
|command_structure= Inactive
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=Phantom Fighters
Aces
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=World War II
|aircraft_fighter=F8F Bearcat
FH-1 Phantom
F2H-2/3 Banshee
|anniversaries=
}}
Fighter Squadron 171 or VF-171 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as Fighter Squadron 82 (VF-82) on 1 April 1944, it was redesignated VF-17A on 15 November 1946, redesignated as VF-171 on 11 August 1948 and disestablished on 15 March 1958.{{cite vf lineage|access-date=6 October 2016}}
Operational history
File:Ray Wagner Collection Image (16155639638).jpg on {{USS|Midway|CV-41|6}}]]
File:FH-1 Phantoms of VF-17A on USS Saipan (CVL-48) on 6 May 1948 (NNAM.1996.253.7239.010).jpg on {{USS|Saipan|CV-48|6}} in May 1948]]
File:McDonnell F2H-3 landing CVA-42 1958.jpg lands on {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|6}} in 1958]]
VF-17A was the first Navy squadron to operate the McDonnell FH Phantom receiving its first aircraft in August 1947 and its full complement of 24 aircraft by 29 May 1948. VF-17A became the Navy's first fully operational jet carrier squadron when it deployed aboard {{USS|Saipan|CVL-48|6}} on 5 May 1948.{{cite book|last=Grossnick|first=Roy|title=United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995|publisher=Naval Historical Center|year=1997|isbn=0945274343|page=171}}{{cite web|url=http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/history-up-close/squadron-takes-jet-to-sea/|title=Squadron takes jet to sea|publisher=National Naval Aviation Museum|date=5 May 2015|accessdate=11 January 2016}}
Due to the shortcomings of the FH-1, VF-171 became the first squadron to be equipped with F2H-1 Banshees in March 1949.{{cite book|last=Thomason|first=Tommy|title=U.S. Naval Air Superiority: Development of Shipborne Jet Fighters - 1943-1962|publisher=Specialty Press|year=2008|isbn=9781580071109|page=39}} The first emergency use of an ejection seat by a U.S. aircraft occurred in August 1949 when a VF-171 pilot successfully ejected from his F2H-1 after losing control due to aircraft icing at high altitude.{{rp|201}}
VF-171 was part of Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) embarked on {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|6}} when it took part in Exercise Mainbrace in September 1952.
VF-171 and CVG-17 embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt for a Mediterranean deployment from July 1957 to March 1958. During this deployment it participated in Operation Deep Water in September 1957.
Home port assignments
Aircraft assignment
Notable former members
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:VF-171}}