Fighter Squadron 72 (FITRON 72)

VF-72 ‘Bearcats / Hawks’

 

vf-72 hawks crest insignia patch badge fighter squadron fitron us navy

fighter squadron vf-72 hawks fitron us navy

 

STATUS:

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

AIRCRAFT:

Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (1948-50)

Grumman F9F-2/5 Panther (1951-55)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

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)

 

images

 

fighter squadron vf-72 hawks f9f-5 panther carrier air group cvg-7 uss bennington cva 20

F9F-5 Panther (VF-72 / CVG-7) embarked on USS Bennington (CVA 20) - 1953-54

 

vf-72 hawks fighter squadron f9f-2 panther cvg-7 uss bon homme richard cva 31

F9F-2 Panther (VF-72 / CVG-7) embarked on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) - 1952

 

 

history

Nicknames: 1945-50 = Bearcats / 1950 - 56 = Hawks

 

 

patches

 

vf-72 bearcats crest insignia patch   vf-72 hawks crest insignia patch

VF-72 “Bearcats” and “Hawks” insignia

 

 

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