VF-96

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Fighter Squadron 96
VF-96 squadron insignia
Active1 June 1962 – 1 December 1975
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
RoleFighter aircraft
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Fighting Falcons
EngagementsKorean War
Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
FighterF4U-4 Corsair
F9F-6 Cougar
F-8C Crusader
F-4B/J Phantom II

Fighter Squadron 96, or VF-96 Fighting Falcons was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from 1962 to 1975. When assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) their tailcode was NG, and their radio callsign was Showtime. Originally established as United States Naval Reserve squadron VF-791 Fighting Falcons on 20 July 1950 it was redesignated VF-142 after becoming a regular squadron on 4 February 1953. It was re-designated VF-96 on 1 June 1962 and disestablished on 1 December 1975.[1]

History[edit]

VF-791 F4U-4 over Korea in September 1951
VF-142 F9F-6s on USS Randolph in 1954
VF-142 F-8C on USS Oriskany in 1960
VF-96 F-4B escorts a Soviet Tu-16 in 1963

VF-791 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) aboard USS Boxer for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Korea from 2 March to 24 October 1951. During this deployment VF-783 lost 4 F4U-4s.[2]

VF-142 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard USS Randolph for a Mediterranean deployment from 3 February to 6 August 1954.

VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard USS Ranger for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 3 January to 27 July 1959.

VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard USS Oriskany for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 14 May to 15 December 1960.

VF-142 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11) aboard USS Kitty Hawk for her voyage around South America from 11 August to 1 November 1961.

VF-96 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 November 1962 to 14 June 1963.

Vietnam[edit]

VF-96 embarked aboard USS Ranger for a deployment to Vietnam from 5 August 1964 to 6 May 1965.

On 9 April 1965 an F-4B #151425 from VF-96 crashed into the sea following an engine flameout on launch for a four-plane combat air patrol.[3] Later during the patrol an F-4B #151403 piloted by Lieutenant j.g. Terence M. Murphy and his RIO, Ensign Ronald Fegan, shot down a Chinese MiG-17 "Fresco" near Hainan, scoring the F-4 Phantom's first air-to-air victory. The Phantom was then shot down either by another MiG or, as enemy reports later indicated, an AIM-7 Sparrow from one of Murphy's and Fegan's wingmen.[4][5] Murphy and Fegan were listed as killed in action, body not recovered.[6][7]

VF-96 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise for a deployment to Vietnam from 26 October 1965 to 21 June 1966.

On 12 February 1967, Lieutenant Commander Martin Sullivan and Lieutenant j.g. Paul Carlson flying F-4B #152219 crashed at sea during intercept training.[8][9]

On 9 May 1968 USAF exchange pilot Captain John Heffernan and his RIO Lieutenant j.g. Frank Schumacher shot down a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) MiG-21 with an AIM-7.[5]: 60–62 

A-7B from VA-146 and F-4J from VF-96 burning on USS Enterprise

Six squadron F-4Js were destroyed and ten crewmen killed during the USS Enterprise fire on 14 January 1969.

VF-96 embarked aboard USS America for a deployment to Vietnam from 10 April to 21 December 1970.

"Showtime 100", the VF-96 F-4J flown for three "kills" by Cunningham and Driscoll

VF-96 embarked aboard USS Constellation for a deployment to Vietnam from 1 October 1971 to 1 July 1972. During this deployment, on 10 May, Lieutenant Duke Cunningham and Lieutenant j.g. William P. Driscoll of VF-96 scored their aerial victories becoming the only US Navy aces of the war. Three more VPAF MiG-17s were downed by two other VF-96 crews that same day, two by Lieutenant Michael J. Connelly and Lieutenant Thomas J. Blonski and one by Lieutenant Steven C. Shoemaker and Lieutenant j.g. Keith V. Crenshaw.

VF-96 again embarked on Constellation for its final Vietnam cruise from 5 January to 11 October 1973.

Between 21 June and 23 December 1974 the Fighting Falcons along with sister-squadron VF-92 made its last operational deployment with CVW-9, aboard Constellation, before being disestablished on 1 December 1975.

Home port assignments[edit]

Aircraft assignment[edit]

Notable members[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lineage for Fighter Squadrons" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. ^ Campbell, Douglas (2013). U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and MATS Aircraft Lost During the Korean War. Lulu.com. p. 155. ISBN 9781304610737.
  3. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 82586". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. ^ Burgess, Richard (1985). The Naval Aviation Guide, 4th edition. Naval Institute Press. p. 388. ISBN 0870214098.
  5. ^ a b Elward, Brad (2012). US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965-70. Osprey Publishing. pp. 7–9. ISBN 9781782006589.
  6. ^ "Terence Meredith Murphy". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. ^ "ENS Ronald James Fegan". The Virtual Wall. 2012.
  8. ^ "LTJG Paul Victor Carlson". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  9. ^ "LCDR Martin Joseph Sullivan". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 21 December 2015.

External links[edit]

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