VF-16

For the Formula One car, see Haas VF-16.

Fighter Squadron 16
Active	1943 – 16 November 1945
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Fighter
Nickname(s)	Fighting Airedales
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat

Fighting Squadron 16 or VF-16 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy during World War II. Originally established in 1943, it was disestablished on 16 November 1945.[1]

Operational history

VF-16 F6F-3 takes off from USS Lexington in 1943

VF-16 F6F-5s on USS Randolph in August 1945

From late November 1943, VF-16 deployed on USS Lexington and supported the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign including the Battle of Tarawa. On 23 November VF-16's pilots shot down 17 Japanese aircraft.[2] By the end of 1943 the pilots of VF-16 had shot down 55 Japanese aircraft, with three pilots becoming aces.[2]: 19 

On 19 June 1944 while deployed on the Lexington, the squadron participated in the Marianas Turkey Shoot and squadron pilot Lt Alexander Vraciu shot down six Japanese Yokosuka D4Ys in eight minutes.

In 1945 VF-16 was deployed on USS Randolph.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

References

1. "Lineage for Fighter Squadrons" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
2. Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. Osprey Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 1855325969.