{"title":"Fighter Squadron 46 (VF-46) WW2","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"collection-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFighter Squadron 46 (VF-46) WW2\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFighter Squadron 46 (VF-46) flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat from \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-cabot-cvl-28-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Cabot (CVL-28)\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-46 was part of that force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAboard USS Cabot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-cabot-cvl-28-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Cabot (CVL-28)\u003c\/a\u003e earned the Presidential Unit Citation and nine battle stars for her outstanding combat record. Cabot fought from the Marshalls through the Philippines and Okinawa. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944, Cabot's aircraft helped sink the Japanese battleship Musashi,at 72,000 tons, the largest warship ever sunk by carrier aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVF-46 served as part of Carrier Air Group 46 from 1945, participating in carrier operations across the Pacific Theater, striking Japanese-held islands, providing fleet air defense, and supporting the island-hopping campaign that drove American forces from the Gilberts to Japan's doorstep. The squadron provided fighter cover for the fleet and struck Japanese military targets during Pacific operations.\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\u003eThe pilots of VF-46 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-46-vf-46-ww2.oembed","provider":"Tactically Acquired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}