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Fighter Squadron 72 (FITRON 72)
VF-72 ‘Bearcats / Hawks’
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STATUS:
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established as VBF-18 on January 25,
1945 VBF-18 redesignated VF-8A on November 15,
1946 VF-8A redesignated VF-72 on July 28, 1948 VF-72 redesignated
VA-72 on January 3, 1956 |
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AIRCRAFT:
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Grumman
F8F-1 Bearcat (1948-50) Grumman
F9F-2/5 Panther (1951-55) |
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DEPLOYMENTS:
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January
1949 - May 1949 with CVG-7 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) September
1949 - January 1950 with CVG-7 aboard USS Leyte (CV 32) July
1950 - November 1950 with CVG-7 aboard USS Midway
(CVB 41) May
1952 - January 1953 with CVG-7 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV 31) February
1953 - May 1953 with CVG-7 aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20) September
1953 - February 1954 with CVG-7 aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20) May
1955 - December 1955 with CVG-7 aboard USS Hornet (CVA 12) |
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images
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F9F-5 Panther (VF-72 / CVG-7) embarked on
USS Bennington (CVA 20) - 1953-54 F9F-2 Panther (VF-72 / CVG-7) embarked on
USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1952 |
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history
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Nicknames: 1945-50 = Bearcats / 1950 - 56 =
Hawks |
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patches |
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VF-72 “Bearcats” and “Hawks” insignia |
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