{"title":"Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) WW2","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"collection-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) WW2\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat from \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-langley-cvl-27-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Langley (CVL-27)\u003c\/a\u003e as part of the unprecedented expansion of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/u-s-navy\"\u003eUS Navy\u003c\/a\u003e air power during \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/world-war-ii-merch\"\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/a\u003e. By 1945, the Navy had over 100 \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/u-s-navy-aircraft-carriers\"\u003eaircraft carriers\u003c\/a\u003e in the Pacific,the most powerful naval air force ever assembled, and VF-43 was part of that force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAboard USS Langley\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-langley-cvl-27-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Langley (CVL-27)\u003c\/a\u003e was named after aviation pioneer Samuel P. Langley and the Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1). This Independence-class light carrier earned six battle stars in the Pacific, serving with the Fast Carrier Task Force from the Philippines Campaign through the final strikes against Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVF-43 served as part of Carrier Air Group 43 from 1945, participating 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. The squadron provided fighter cover for the fleet and struck Japanese military targets during Japan homeland strikes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAircraft\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\u003eWear the legacy. Shop \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/world-war-ii-merch\"\u003eVF-43\u003c\/a\u003e apparel and veteran gifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/tacticallyacquired.com\/collections\/fighter-squadron-43-vf-43-ww2.oembed","provider":"Tactically Acquired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}