VF-72

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= Fighting Squadron 72

|image=

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|dates= 1 July 1939 – 29 March 1943

|country= United States

|branch= United States Navy

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|size=

|command_structure= Inactive

|current_commander=

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|colonel_of_the_regiment=

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|equipment= F3F-3
F4F Wildcat

|equipment_label= Aircraft

|battles=World War II

|anniversaries=

}}

Fighting Squadron 72 or VF-72 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established as VF-7 on 1 July 1939, it was redesignated as VF-72 on 19 November 1940 and disestablished on 29 March 1943.{{cite vf lineage|access-date=6 October 2016}}

Operational history

VF-7 was originally equipped with Grumman F2F and Grumman F3F aircraft. It was reequipped with the F4F-3 Wildcat in December 1940 and deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) aboard the {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|6}}.{{cite book|last=Young|first=Edward|title=F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-sen: Pacific Theater 1942|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2013|isbn=9781780963228|page=15}}

From January to March 1942 VF-72 was deployed on {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|6}} in the Atlantic Fleet.{{cite web|url=|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 2 Feb 1942|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command}} In April 1942, VF-72 was based ashore at Naval Station Norfolk and then transferred to the USS Wasp.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/15-apr-1942.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910061035/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/15-apr-1942.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2015|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 15 Apr 1942|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=19 April 2016}} In early June 1942, VF-72 had reequipped with the F4F-4 at NAS Alameda and from mid-June through July was shore-based at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/4-jun-1942.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910141525/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/4-jun-1942.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2015|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 4 Jun 1942|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=19 April 2016}} In August VF-72 was deployed on {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|6}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/27-aug-1942.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920030028/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1942/27-aug-1942.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2015|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 27 Aug 1942|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=19 April 2016}}

Artist Thomas C. Lea III depicted VF-72's executive officer, Lt A. C. "Silver" Emerson in action during the Solomon Islands campaign in his painting "Defending the Ship."{{cite web|url=https://www.usni.org/userfiles/file/%20Sept/Lea%20Sept%2008.pdf|title=A Grizzly from the Coral Sea|publisher=Naval Institute Press|date=September 2008}}

Following the sinking of the {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|6}} on 26 October 1942, VF-72 was deployed on {{USS|Nassau|CVE-16|6}} from January until March 1943 when it was disembarked at Pearl Harbor.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1943/6-jan-1943.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920051023/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1943/6-jan-1943.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2015|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 6 Jan 1943|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=19 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1943/11-mar-1943.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920030118/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1943/11-mar-1943.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2015|title=Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 11 Mar 1943|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|accessdate=19 April 2016}}

Home port assignments

NAS Norfolk
NAS Alameda
Naval Station Pearl Harbor

Aircraft assignment

References

External links

Category:Fighter squadrons of the United States Navy

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1943