Fighter Squadron 63 (FITRON 63)

VF-63 ‘Fighting Redcocks’

 

vf-63 fighting redcocks crest insignia patch badge fighter squadron us navy

fighter squadron vf-63 fighting redcocks fitron us navy

 

STATUS:

established as VF-63 on July 28, 1948

VF-63 redesignated VA-63 in March 1956

AIRCRAFT:

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (1948-50)

Vought F4U-4 Corsair (1950-52)

Grumman F9F-5 Panther (1953-54)

Grumman F9F-6 Cougar (1954-55)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

October 1948 - November 1948 with CVG-6 aboard USS Midway (CVB 41)

October 1949 - November 1949 with CVG-6 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42)

August 1950 - November 1950 with CVG-2 aboard USS Boxer (CV 21)

December 1950 - March 1951 with CVG-2 aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45)

March 1951 - June 1951 with CVG-2 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47)

February 1952 - September 1952 with CVG-2 aboard USS Boxer (CV 21)

August 1953 - March 1954 with CVG-2 aboard USS Yorktown (CVA 10)

November 1954 - June 1955 with CVG-2 aboard USS Essex (CVA 9)

 

images

 

fighter squadron vf-63 fighting redcocks f9f-5 panther carrier air group cvg-2 uss yorktown cva 10

F9F-5 Panther (VF-63 / CVG-2) embarked on USS Yorktown (CVA 10) - 1953

 

vf-63 fighting redcocks fighter squadron f4u-4 corsair cvg-2 uss philippine sea cv 47

F4U-4 Corsair (VF-63 / CVG-2) emberked on USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) - 1951 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

 

history

Chronology of significant events:

16 Sep 1950: The squadron participated in its first combat action, providing close air support for the amphibious landings at Inchon, Korea.

23 June 1952: VF-63, along with other units from Boxer (CV 21), Princeton (CV 37), Philippine Sea (CV 47), Bon Homme Richard (CV 31), U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps squadrons, conducted a major offensive against hydro-electric targets in North Korea.

6 August 1952: While launching combat sorties a severe fire broke out on the hangar deck of Boxer following the explosion of an aircraft gasoline tank. Eight people were killed and one was missing, with several seriously injured. VF-63 did not suffer any casualties, however, three of the squadron’s personnel were awarded Bronze Stars for their heroic and courageous action during the fire.

February 1955: The squadron, while deployed aboard Essex (CVA 9), provided air support during the evacuation of Chinese Nationalist from the Tachen Islands after the bombardment of the islands by the People’s Republic of China.

 

patches

 

 

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