VF-8 (1941-2)

Fighting Squadron 8 or VF-8 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established 2 September 1941, it was disestablished on 28 August 1942.[1]

Fighting Squadron 8
Active2 September 1941-28 August 1942
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
Part ofInactive
AircraftF4F Wildcat
EngagementsWorld War II

Operational history
VF-8 F4Fs prepare to launch from USS Hornet in 1942

VF-8 was deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) aboard the USS Hornet. Initially equipped with the F4F-3 Wildcat, in February 1942 VF-8 reequipped with the F4F-4 at Naval Air Station Alameda while the Hornet embarked the 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers to be used in the Doolittle Raid.[2]

During the Battle of Midway 10 VF-8 F4Fs were forced to ditch due to lack of fuel while searching for the Japanese fleet, two of the pilots were lost at sea.[3] Following the battle in June 1942 Hornet returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor where VF-8 was disembarked and replaced by VF-72.[4][5]

Home port assignments
  • NAS Alameda
  • Naval Station Pearl Harbour

Aircraft Assignment

See also

References
  1. "Fighter Squadron Lineage". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. Chun, Clayton (2006). The Doolittle Raid 1942: America's First Strike Back at Japan. Osprey Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 9781841769189.
  3. "The List". National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 9 Jul 1942". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. "Location of U.S. Naval Aircraft, World War II 27 Aug 1942". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.