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US Navy - Fighter Squadron 111 (FITRON 111)
VF-111 'Sundowners'
 
vf-111 sundowners insignia crest patch badge fighter squadron us navy 4x vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy fury cougar panther bearcat 106x
12/22
STATUS:   established as VF-11 on October 10, 1942
VF-11 redesignated VF-11A on November 15, 1946
VF-11A redesignated VF-111 on July 15, 1948
VF-111 disestablished on January 19, 1959
 
NOTE: there was a 2nd VF-111 (1959-95)
 AIRCRAFT:   Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Grumman F8F-1/2 Bearcat
Grumman F9F-2/5 Panther
Grumman F9F-6/8 Cougar
North American FJ-3M Fury
 DEPLOYMENTS:   July 1950 - March 1951 with CVG-11 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47)
October 1951 - July 1952 with ATG-1 aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45)
March 1953 - June 1953 with ATG-1 aboard USS Boxer (CVA 21)
June 1953 - December 1953 with CVG-4 aboard USS Lake Champlain (CVA 39)
September 1954 - April 1955 with ATG-1 aboard USS Wasp (CVA 18)
May 1956 - December 1956 with ATG-1 aboard USS Lexington (CVA 16)
August 1958 - January 1959 with ATG-4 aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20)
 
images

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy fj-3m fury atg-4 uss bennington cva-20 109
North American FJ-3M Fury (VF-111 / ATG-4) embarked aboard USS Bennington (CVA 20) - September 1958
Note: that aircraft wears the ATG-4 tail code "ND" on the tail and the ATG-1 tail code "NA" on the wing

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-6 cougar atg-1 uss wasp cva-18 108
Grumman F9F-6 Cougar (VF-111 / ATG-1) embarked aboard USS Wasp (CVA 18) - 1954/55

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-5 panther cvg-4 uss lake champlain cva-39 107
Grumman F9F-5 Panther (VF-111 / CVG-4) embarked aboard USS Lake Champlain (CVA 39) - 1953

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-5 panther atg-1 uss boxer cva-21 105
Grumman F9F-5 Panther (VF-111 / ATG-1) embarked aboard USS Boxer (CVA 21) - 1953

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-5 panther atg-1 uss boxer cva-21 106
Grumman F9F-5 Panther (VF-111 / ATG-1) embarked aboard USS Boxer (CVA 21) - 1953

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-2 panther atg-1 uss valley forge cv-45 104
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (VF-111 / ATG-1) embarked aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45) - 1951/52

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-2 panther cvg-11 uss philippine sea cv-47 111
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (VF-111 / CVG-11) embarked aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) - October 1950

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f9f-2 panther cvg-11 uss philippine sea cv-47 110
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (VF-111 / CVG-11) embarked aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) - October 1950

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f8f-2 bearcat cvg-11 uss valley forge cv-45 103
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (VF-111 / CVG-11) embarked aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45) - 1949

vf-111 sundowners fighter squadron us navy f8f-2 bearcat cvg-11 uss valley forge cv-45 102
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat (VF-111 / CVG-11) embarked aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45) - 1949



VF-11A (1946-48)

vf-11a sundowners fighter squadron us navy f8f-1 bearcat cvg-11 uss valley forge cv-45 02
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (VF-11A / CVG-11) embarked aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45) - 1947/48
 
 
Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111), also known as the Sundowners, was a fighter squadron of the United States Navy. Originally established as Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11) on 10 October 1942, it was redesignated as VF-11A on 15 November 1946, redesignated as VF-111 on 15 July 1948 and disestablished on 19 January 1959. On 20 January, another squadron, VF-111 (1956-95) then assumed the designation until its de-establishment in 1995. In November 2006, VFC-13 Detachment Key West was redesignated as VFC-111, taking on the Sundowner insignia and callsign.

History:
3 distinct Navy squadrons have called themselves ‘Sundowners’. The U.S. Navy frequently has given the same designation to two or more aviation units, leading to lasting confusion. Officially, the U.S. Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. However, historical tradition within the Naval Aviation community is such that a new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadron(s) with its designation.

World War II:
VF-11 was established at NAS North Island California on 10 October 1942 equipped with F4F Wildcats, and on 23 October was on its way to Hawaii. To epitomize its spirit and tactical superiority over the Japanese, the squadron decided it would be called the 'Sundowners' and its insignia depicts two Wildcats shooting down a Rising Sun.

From April to July 1943 VF-11 downed 55 enemy aircraft in aerial combat at Guadalcanal. After return to the U.S. and re-equipping with F6F Hellcats, VF-11 deployed on USS Hornet in October 1944. From then until February 1945 the squadron engaged in strike and air-to-air combat missions resulting in the shoot down of 102 enemy aircraft with dozens more destroyed on the ground. As a direct result of its combat record, the squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

VF-11A equipped with F8F Bearcats was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11) aboard the USS Valley Forge for her world cruise from 9 October 1947 to 11 June 1948.

1950s:
On 9 November 1950, early in the Korean War, Lieutenant Commander William T. Amen scored the first combat manned jet-on-jet kill, downing a Soviet MiG-15 while flying a Grumman F9F-2B Panther from the USS Philippine Sea. Two more Korean cruises were made in USS Valley Forge in 1951-52, then USS Boxer and USS Lake Champlain in 1953.

After Korea, VF-111 flew the F9F-8 Cougar and the FJ-3 Fury for three deployments to the Western Pacific aboard the carriers USS Lexington, USS Wasp, and USS Bennington.

VF-111 was disestablished on 19 January 1959.

On 20 January 1959, Attack Squadron 156 (VA-156) was redesignated as VF-111, thus continuing the Sundowner tradition, but not the unit lineage. For more information on this later squadron, see VF-111 (1956-95).

source: wikipedia
 
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