Fighter-Bomber Squadron 18 (VBF-18) WW2

VBF-18 was one of the Navy's new fighter-bomber squadrons of 1945. The VBF (Fighter-Bomber) designation was introduced on January 2, 1945, when the Navy split enlarged fighter complements into pure fighter (VF) and fighter-bomber (VBF) units. The kamikaze threat demanded more fighters on carriers, while the declining Japanese surface fleet reduced the need for dedicated dive bombers. VBF squadrons flew the Vought F4U Corsair, handling both air superiority and ground attack roles from the same aircraft.

Aboard USS Intrepid

USS Intrepid (CV-11), "The Fighting I," earned five battle stars in the Pacific despite being hit by torpedoes and kamikazes multiple times. Commissioned in August 1943, Intrepid fought from the Marshalls through Okinawa. She was struck by kamikaze aircraft on four separate occasions, earning a reputation as one of the unluckiest,and toughest,carriers in the fleet. Today she is preserved as the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86 in Manhattan.

VBF-18 served aboard USS Intrepid (CV-11) as part of Carrier Air Group 18 in 1945, flying the Vought F4U Corsair during strikes against the Japanese home islands in 1945, when American carriers operated within sight of the enemy mainland, hitting airfields, factories, and warships in harbors across Honshu and Kyushu. The Corsair's combination of speed, firepower, and 4,000-pound bomb capacity made VBF squadrons the most versatile combat units on any carrier flight deck.

The Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair was the fastest carrier-based fighter of World War II. Its distinctive inverted gull wing,designed to accommodate the massive 13-foot, 4-inch propeller driven by a 2,250-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine,made it instantly recognizable. Capable of 417 mph, the Corsair was faster than any Japanese fighter it faced and could carry 4,000 pounds of ordnance, making it a devastating fighter-bomber.

The pilots of VBF-18 earned their place in history. Honor them with authentic Navy squadron gear.