Fighter-Bomber Squadron 19 (VBF-19) WW2

Fighter-Bomber Squadron 19 (VBF-19) flew the Vought F4U Corsair,the fastest carrier-based fighter of World War II. Serving aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) in 1945, VBF-19 was part of the Navy's new fighter-bomber program that combined air superiority and ground attack capabilities in a single squadron.

The VBF Concept

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.

USS Randolph

USS Randolph (CV-15) was an Essex-class carrier that survived a kamikaze strike while anchored at Ulithi Atoll on March 11, 1945,one of the few carriers hit while not at sea. A twin-engine Japanese bomber, part of Operation Tan, crashed into Randolph's aft flight deck, killing 25 and wounding 106. She was repaired in two weeks and returned to combat for the Okinawa campaign and final strikes against Japan.

VBF-19 participated in the Okinawa Campaign from April through June 1945, the last and bloodiest amphibious assault of the Pacific War, where the fleet absorbed nearly 1,900 kamikaze sorties, striking Japanese targets during Okinawa Campaign. Working alongside fighter squadrons like VF-19, the VBF Corsair pilots handled both air-to-air combat and precision bombing missions.

The Vought F4U Corsair compiled an 11:1 kill ratio in the Pacific, claiming 2,140 aerial victories during World War II. Originally deemed unsuitable for carrier operations due to poor forward visibility on approach, the Corsair first saw combat as a land-based Marine fighter over Bougainville in February 1943. By 1945, carrier landing techniques had been refined and the Corsair became the Navy's primary fighter-bomber, armed with six .50-caliber guns and up to 4,000 pounds of bombs or eight 5-inch rockets.

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