Fighter Squadron 53 (FITRON 53)

VF-53 ‘Iron Angels’

 

fighter squadron vf-53 iron angels crest insignia patch badge

fighter squadron vf-53 iron angels fitron vought f-8 crusader

 

STATUS:

established as VF-721 on July 20, 1950

VF-721 redesignated VF-141 on February 4, 1953

VF-141 redesignated VF-53 on October 15, 1963

VF-53 disestablished on January 29, 1971

AIRCRAFT:

Vought F-8E Crusader (1963-68)

Vought F-8J Crusader (1969-71)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

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)

 

images

 

fighter squadron vf-53 iron angels f-8j crusader carrier air wing cvw-5 uss bon homme richard cva 31

F-8J Crusader (VF-53 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1970

 

vf-53 iron angels f-8j crusader cvw-5 uss bon homme richard cva 31

F-8J Crusader (VF-53 / CVW-5) with an A-4F Skyhawk of VA-22 embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1969 (courtesy of the NNAM)

 

fighter squadron vf-53 iron angels f-8e crusader cvw-5 uss hancock cva 19

F-8E Crusaders (VF-53 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Hancock (CVA 19) - 1967

 

fighter squadron vf-53 iron angels f-8e crusader uss ticonderoga cva 14

F-8E Crusader (VF-53 / CVW-5) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - early 1960’s

 

 

history

 

 

patches

 

 

| seaforces.org | US Navy Air Units start page |