Fighting Squadron 8 or VF-8 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy. It was originally established 2 September 1941 and disestablished on 28 August 1942.

Operational history

VF-8 was deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) aboard the . Initially equipped with the F4F-3 Wildcat, in February 1942 VF-8 reequipped with the F4F-4 at

Naval Air Station Alameda Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay. NAS Alameda had two runways: 13–31 measuring and 07-25 measuring . Two helicopter pads and a control tower were ...

while the ''Hornet'' embarked the 16 B-25B Mitchell medium bombers to be used in the Doolittle Raid. During the Battle of Midway 10 VF-8 F4Fs were forced to ditch due to lack of fuel while searching for the Japanese fleet. Two of the pilots were lost at sea. Following the battle in June 1942 ''Hornet'' returned to

Naval Station Pearl Harbor Naval Station Pearl Harbor is a United States naval base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In 2010, along with the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base, the facility was merged to form Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. Pearl Harbor is ...

where VF-8 was disembarked and replaced by

VF-72 Fighting Squadron 72 or VF-72 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established as VF-7 on 1 July 1939, it was redesignated as VF-72 on 19 November 1940 and disestablished on 29 March 1943. Operational history VF-7 was originally equi ...

Home port assignments

*NAS Alameda *Naval Station Pearl Harbour

Aircraft assignment

* F4F-3/4 Wildcat

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vf-8 (1943-5) Fighter aircraft units and formations Aircraft squadrons of the United States Navy in World War II Military units and formations disestablished in 1942

Operational history

Home port assignments

Aircraft assignment

See also

References