Fighter-Bomber Squadron 4 (VBF-4) WW2

Fighter-Bomber Squadron 4 (VBF-4) flew the Vought F4U Corsair,the fastest carrier-based fighter of World War II. Serving aboard USS Essex (CV-9) in 1945, VBF-4 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 Essex

Essex deployed four times during the war, operating across the Central Pacific, Philippines, and Japanese home waters. She launched strikes against Marcus Island, Wake, the Gilberts, Truk, the Marianas, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The Essex-class design proved so successful that 24 ships were built, forming the backbone of the Fast Carrier Task Force that destroyed Japanese naval and air power.

VBF-4 participated in 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, striking Japanese targets during Japan homeland strikes. Working alongside fighter squadrons like VF-4, 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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