Fighter-Bomber Squadron 9 (VBF-9) WW2

VBF-9 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 Lexington

USS Lexington (CV-16), the "Blue Ghost," earned 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation during World War II. Named to honor the Lady Lex sunk at Coral Sea, the new Lexington was reported sunk by Tokyo Rose so many times that the Japanese propagandist gave up trying,earning her the nickname Blue Ghost. She served from the Gilberts through the final strikes on Japan. Today she is a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.

VBF-9 served aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) as part of Carrier Air Group 9 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.

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