{"title":"Fighter Squadron 40 (VF-40) WW2","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"collection-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFighter Squadron 40 (VF-40) WW2\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFighter Squadron 40 (VF-40) flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat during 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. Serving aboard \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-lexington-cv-16-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Lexington (CV-16)\u003c\/a\u003e as part of Carrier Air Group 40, VF-40 was one of the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/u-s-navy\"\u003eUS Navy\u003c\/a\u003e fighter squadrons that secured American control of the Pacific skies during \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/world-war-ii-merch\"\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAboard USS Lexington\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-lexington-cv-16-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Lexington (CV-16)\u003c\/a\u003e, the \"Blue Ghost,\" earned 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation during \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/world-war-ii-merch\"\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/a\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVF-40 deployed aboard USS Lexington from 1943-1945, flying combat sorties during Okinawa Campaign and Japan homeland strikes. The squadron provided fighter cover for the fleet, escorted bomber strikes against Japanese targets, and conducted fighter sweeps to destroy enemy aircraft on the ground. Alongside squadrons like \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fighter-squadron-19-vf-19-satan-s-kittens-ww2\"\u003eVF-19 Satan's Kittens\u003c\/a\u003e, VF-40 was part of the carrier air power that won the Pacific War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAircraft: The Grumman F6F Hellcat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Grumman F6F Hellcat compiled a 19:1 kill ratio against Japanese aircraft,the highest of any fighter in the Pacific Theater. Between its combat debut over Marcus Island on August 31, 1943, and VJ-Day, Hellcat pilots claimed 5,223 aerial victories, accounting for 56 percent of all Navy and Marine air-to-air kills. Armed with six .50-caliber Browning machine guns and capable of carrying 2,000 pounds of ordnance, the F6F was equally lethal in air combat and ground attack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pilots of VF-40 earned their place in history. Honor them with authentic \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/u-s-navy\"\u003eNavy\u003c\/a\u003e squadron gear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/tacticallyacquired.com\/collections\/fighter-squadron-40-vf-40-ww2.oembed","provider":"Tactically Acquired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}