{"title":"Fighter Squadron 67 (VF-67) WW2","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"collection-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eFighter Squadron 67 (VF-67) WW2\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFighter Squadron 67 (VF-67) flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat from \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-yorktown-cv-10-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Yorktown (CV-10)\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-67 was part of that force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAboard USS Yorktown\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/uss-yorktown-cv-10-merchandise\"\u003eUSS Yorktown (CV-10)\u003c\/a\u003e, the \"Fighting Lady,\" was an Essex-class carrier named to honor the original Yorktown lost at Midway. Commissioned on April 15, 1943, she earned 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. Yorktown launched strikes across the Central Pacific, from the Gilberts and Marshalls through the Marianas, Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Today she is preserved as a museum ship at Patriots Point, South Carolina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVF-67 served as part of Carrier Air Group 67 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\u003eWear the legacy. Shop \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/world-war-ii-merch\"\u003eVF-67\u003c\/a\u003e apparel and veteran gifts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/tacticallyacquired.com\/collections\/fighter-squadron-67-vf-67-ww2.oembed","provider":"Tactically Acquired","version":"1.0","type":"link"}