Fighter Squadron 51 (FITRON 51)

VF-51 ‘Screaming Eagles’

 

vf-51 screaming eagles crest insignia patch badge fighter squadron fitron us navy

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles fitron f-14a tomcat us navy

 

STATUS:

established as VF-1 on February 15, 1943

VF-1 redesignated VF-5 on July 15, 1943

VF-5 redesignated VF-5A on November 15, 1946

VF-5A redesignated VF-51 on August 16, 1948

VF-51 disestablished on March 31, 1995

AIRCRAFT:

Grumman F9F Panther (1950-53)

Grumman F9F Cougar (1954-56)

North American FJ-3 Fury (1957-58)

Douglas F4D Skyray (1959-60)

Vought F8U Crusader (1961-62)

Vought F-8E/H/J Crusader (1963-70)

McDonnell F-4B/G/N Phantom II (1971-77)

Grumman F-14A Tomcat (1978-95)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

May 1950 - December 1950 with CVG-5 aboard USS Valley Forge (CV 45)

June 1951 - March 1952 with CVG-5 aboard USS Essex (CV 9)

November 1952 - June 1953 with CVG-5 aboard USS Valley Forge (CVA 45)

March 1954 - November 1954 with CVG-5 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CVA 47)

October 1955 - May 1956 with CVG-5 aboard USS Kearsarge (CVA 33)

July 1957 - December 1957 with CVG-5 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31)

March 1960 - October 1960 with CVG-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

May 1961 - January 1962 with CVG-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

July 1962 - September 1962 with CVG-5 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)

January 1963 - July 1963 with CVG-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

April 1964 - December 1964 with CVW-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

August 1965 with CVW-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

September 1965 - May 1966 with CVW-5 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14)

January 1967 - July 1967 with CVW-5 aboard USS Hancock (CVA 19)

January 1968 - October 1968 with CVW-5 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31)

March 1969 - October 1969 with CVW-5 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31)

April 1970 - November 1970 with CVW-5 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31)

September 1971 - July 1972 with CVW-5 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43)

March 1973 - November 1973 with CVW-15 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43)

December 1974 - July 1975 with CVW-15 aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA 43)

October 1976 - April 1977 with CVW-19 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42)

May 1979 - February 1980 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

April 1981 - November 1981 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

March 1983 - October 1983 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

May 1984 - July 1984 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

October 1984 - May 1985 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

May 1986 - July 1986 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

August 1986 - February 1987 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

June 1988 - December 1988 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

September 1989 - November 1989 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

February 1990 - July 1990 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

April 1991 December 1991 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

November 1992 - May 1993 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

June 1994 - December 1994 with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

 

images

 

vf-51 screaming eagles fighter squadron f-14a tomcat carrier air wing cvw-15 uss kitty hawk cv 63

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1994

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1994

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat cvw-15 uss kitty hawk cv 63

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1993

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat russian tupolev tu-95 bear

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) with a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear - 1991

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat carrier air wing cvw-15

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1991

 

f-14a tomcat vf-51 screaming eagles cvw-15 uss kitty hawk cv 63

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1991

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-14 tomcat uss carl vinson cvn 70

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - November 1987

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat launches aim-7 sparrow aam missile

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) launches an AIM-7 Sparrow AAM - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1986

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1985

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat cvw-15 uss carl vinson sovjet tupolev tu-95 bear-d

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with a Sovjet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-D aircraft - 1984

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat nas miramar california

F-14A Tomcats (VF-51 / CVW-15) in flight over NAS Miramar, California - 1984

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1984

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) - 1983

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1981

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-14a tomcat carrier air wing cvw-15 uss kitty hawk cv 63 aim-54 phoenix aam missile

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) launches an AIM-54 Phoenix missile - 1979

 

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - 1979

 

f-14a tomcat vf-51 screaming eagles uss kitty hawk cv 63 sovjet tu-95 bear

F-14A Tomcat (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) with a Sovjet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear - 1979

 

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles cvw-19 f-4n phantom uss franklin d. roosevelt cv 42

F-4N Phantom II’s (VF-51 / CVW-19 - foreground) embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42) - 1977 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-4n phantom II carrier air wing cvw-19 uss franklin d. roosevelt cv 42

F-4N Phantom II (VF-51 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42) intercepts a Sovjet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear - circa 1977 (courtesy of the NNAM)

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-4n phantom uss franklin d. roosevelt cv 42 lybian tupolev tu-22 blinder

F-4N Phantom II (VF-51 / CVW-19) embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42) intercepts a Lybian Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder - 1977 (courtesy of the NNAM)

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-4b phantom cvw-15 uss coral sea cva 43

 F-4B Phantom II (VF-51 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) - circa 1971

 

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f-8h crusader carrier air wing cvw-5 uss bon homme richard cva 31

F-8H Crusaders (VF-51 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1968 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f-8e crusader cvw-5 uss ticonderoga cva 14 sovjet tupolev tu-16 badger

F-8E Crusader (VF-51 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) escorting two Sovjet Tupolev Tu-16 Badger - 1963 (courtesy of the NNAM)

 

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f4d-1 skyray cvg-5 uss ticonderoga cva 14

F4D-1 Skyray (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1960

 

 

vf-51 screaming eagles fj-3 fury carrier air group cvg-5 uss bon homme richard cva 31

FJ-3 Fury (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1957 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles fj-3 fury cvg-5 uss bon homme richard cva 31

FJ-3 Fury (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1957 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

 

vf-51 screaming eagles f9f-2 panther cvg-5 uss valley forge cva 45

F9F-2 Panther (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Valley Forge (CVA 45) - 1953

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f9f-2 panther cvg-5 uss essex cv 9 ensign neil armstrong

F9F-2 Panthers (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Essex (CV 9) - 1951-52 - note: S-116 was flown by Ensign Neil Armstrong (courtesy of the NNAM)

 

f9f-2 panther vf-51 screaming eagles cvg-5 uss essex cv 9

F9F-2 Panther (VF-51 / CVG-5) embarked on USS Essex (CV 9) - 1951-52

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles f9f-2 panther cvg-5 uss valley forge cv 45

F9F-2 Panthers (S-102, S-115) assigned to VF-51 / CVG-5 embarked on USS Valley Forge (CV 45) - 1950

 

 

history

 

 

patches

 

fighter squadron vf-51 screaming eagles crrest patch insignia badgevf-51 screaming eagles patch crest

vf-51 screaming eagles patch crest insignia badge fitron us navy

 

 

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