Fighter Squadron 96 (FITRON 96)

VF-96 ‘Fighting Falcons’

 

vf-96 fighting falcons crest insignia patch badge fighter squadron us navy

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons fitron mcdonnell douglas phantom us navy

 

STATUS:

established as VF-791 on November 1, 1949 (Reserve Squadron)

VF-791 called to active duty on July 20, 1950

VF-791 redesignated VF-142 on February 4, 1953

VF-142 redesignated VF-96 on June 1, 1962

VF-96 disestablished on December 1, 1975

AIRCRAFT:

McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II (1962-68)

McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II (1968-75)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

September 1962 - June 1963 with CVG-9 aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61)

June 1964 - May 1965 with with CVW-9 aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61)

October 1965 - June 1966 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

November 1966 - July 1967 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

January 1968 - July 1968 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

January 1969 - July 1969 with CVW-9 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65)

October 1969 - November 1969 with CVW-9 aboard USS America (CVA 66)

January 1970 - December 1970 with CVW-9 aboard USS America (CVA 66)

September 1971 - July 1972 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)

January 1973 - October 1973 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)

June 1974 - December 1974 with CVW-9 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64)

 

images

 

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons f-4j phantom carrier air wing cvw-9 uss constellation cva 64

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1970’s

 

f-4j phantom fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons cvw-9 uss constellation cva 64

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1970’s

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1973

 

vf-96 fighting falcons f-4j phantom aim-9 sidewinder aim-7 sparrow missiles

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1972

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1972

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1972 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - circa 1972

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - circa 1972

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) during refueling with an EKA-3B Skywarrior from VAQ-130 - circa 1972 (NNAM)

 

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons f-4j phantom dropping bombs over vietnam war

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) dropping bombs over Vietnam - 1971

 

vf-96 fighting falcons cvw-9 uss america cva 66 1970

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS America (CVA 66) - 1970

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS America (CVA 66) - 1970

 

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons f-4j phantom cvw-9 uss enterprise cvan 65

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1968 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

F-4J Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1968 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons f-4b phantom zuni rockets vietnam

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) fires ZUNI-rockets - 1966 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVW-9) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) over Laos - 1966 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

fighter squadron vf-96 fighting falcons f-4b phantom carrier air group cvg-9 uss ranger cva 61

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVG-9) embarked aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61) - circa 1963

 

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVG-9) embarked aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61) releases an AQM-37 Jayhawk target drone - 1963 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

fighter squadron vf-96 f-4b phantom cvg-9 hms hermes r12 royal navy

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVG-9) aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (R12) - 1963 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

vf-96 fighting falcons fighter squadron f-4b phantom cvg-9 uss ranger sovjet tupolev tu-16 badger

F-4B Phantom II (VF-96 / CVG-9) embarked aboard USS Ranger (CVA 61) escorting a Sovjet Tupolev Tu-16 Badger - 1963 (National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

 

history

 

 

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