Fighter Squadron 73 (FITRON 73) VF-73 ‘Jesters’
sorry, no insignia
STATUS:		established as VF-73 on July 27, 1948 VF-73 disestablished on March 1, 1958
AIRCRAFT:		Grumman F9F-5 Panther (1952-53) Grumman F9F-6 Cougar (1953-56) North American FJ-3 Fury (1957-58)
DEPLOYMENTS:		January 1953 - July 1953 with CVG-10 aboard USS Tarawa (CVA 40) January 1954 - August 1954 with CVG-6 aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) May 1955 - December 1955 with CVG-7 aboard USS Hornet (CVA 12) July 1957 - February 1958 - with CVG-4 aboard USS Randolph (CVA 15)
images
FJ-3M Fury (VF-73 / CVG-4) embarked on USS Randolph (CVA 15) - 1957 (National Naval Aviation Museum) F9F-6 Cougar (VF-73 / CVG-7) embarked on USS Hornet (CVA 12) - 1955 (National Naval Aviation Museum) F9F-6 Cougar (VF-73 / CVG-7) after a crash landing - 1954 (National Naval Aviation Museum) F9F-6 Cougar (VF-73 / CVG-6) embarked on USS Midway (CVA 41) - 1954
history
Fighter Squadron 73 (VF-73), also known as the "Jesters", was a United States Navy fighter squadron established at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island on July 27, 1948. During its existence, the squadron flew several different single engine prop and jet aircraft and made four deployment cruises. VF-73 was disestablished on March 1, 1958. VF-73 deployments: USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) and USS Leyte (CV-32) While at NAS Quonset Point, VF-73 was attached to Carrier Air Group Seven and deployed to the Mediterranean with the USS Philippine Sea and USS Leyte. The cruise lasted from January 4, 1949 - May 22, 1949. USS Midway (CVA-41) From January 4, 1954 - August 4, 1954, VF-73 again deployed to the Mediterranean while attached to Carrier Air Group Six on board the USS Midway. USS Hornet (CVA-12) In 1955, VF-73 was once again attached to Carrier Air Group Seven. On May 4, 1955, the squadron deployed to the Far East with the USS Hornet, becoming part of the Navy's Seventh Fleet. During the cruise, the Hornet helped cover the evacuation of Vietnamese from the Communist-controlled north to South Vietnam, then ranged from Japan to Formosa, Okinawa, and the Philippines in readiness training with the 7th Fleet. VF-73 returned to the United States with the Hornet on December 10, 1955. USS Randolph (CVA-15) On July 1, 1957, VF-73 deployed to the Mediterranean for the last time while attached to Carrier Air Group Four on board the USS Randolph. Between August and December 1957, as political turmoil in Syria threatened to further disturb the already turbulent Mideast, the Randolph patrolled the eastern Mediterranean. The squadron returned to the United States on February 24, 1958. source: wikipedia
patches
| seaforces.org | US Navy Air Units start page |