Coral Sea (CV 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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VF-194 ' f Barthold, LG . ,, . S Berries. C .ff , EY? , ,,, 7- K 94322,-as Bohannon, EL S I Boyd. RT s ' 3 . , L' M7 i f M ,,,V aw m f , V , V. Bb . , 4 i xp' fm, . Brown, GW I Buffington, DK Jr , K f X i 3 I CDR J. S. Bertrand A i o . ., co Zirii, 1 I V , ' ' I 1 ' . , t, , Cheatum, WC Comer, JS wi Crenshaw, KV 9 ,.A,r R ,Q ' Cutter, DM .4 , af A iw M. A , Dvorak, WC W Qf' 9 ix H A Ns we X :Q f V X5 'ig' 3. if The history of the Red Lightnings began in 1942, as VF-20, flying the now famous F-6F Hellcat. After establishing a distinguished combat record during World War Il, their designation was changed to VF-9A, and they deployed to the Mediterranean aboard the USS PHILIPPINE SEA flying the Grumman F-8F Bearcats. On 31 January 1953, the Red Lightnings, now designated VF-91, once again entered combat, this time on the Korean peninsula. By the time the truce was signed, the Lightnings had flown 1,938 missions, dropped over 570 tons of bombs, and fired 185,000 rounds of 20MM ammo, earning them a Navy Unit Citation. The Red Lightnings completed deployments aboard USS HORNE Tin 1954, USS KEARSARGE in 1955, and USS TICONDEROGA in 1957. In April of 1958, it was time for a change to the F-8U-1 Crusader. In a little over a year, the Red Lightnings had compiled one of the highest squadron averages in air to A I '13 R ur' air gunnery and became the first squadron to carrier qualify the Crusader, winning consecutive COMNAVAIR- PAC Battle 'E' awards in 1961 and 62, while aboard RANGER. The designation of VF-194 came on August 1, 1963. Vietnam gave the squadron yet another opportunity to show their combat prowess. Deployed aboard the USS BON HOMME RICHARD, the squadron's fifteen pilots racked up an impressive record including, 116 Air Medals, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Purple Hearts, 14 Navy Commendation Medals, as well as the COMNAVAIRPAC Battle 'E' for 1965. The period from 1969 to 1976 saw the Red Lightnings make six Westpac cruises aboard the USS ORISKANK In March of 1976, the Red Lightnings transitioned to the F4J Phantom ll, in preparation for still another Westpac, this time aboard USS CORAL SEA.

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