VB-8, VBF-8 and VF-8 | USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)

[walika]

VB-8

Embroidered on black twill.

 

VBF-8

Established: 2 January 1945
Disestablished: 23 November 1945. Insignia approved 15 May 1945.
Aircraft: F6F-5 Hellcat

 

 

Embroidered on twill.

 

Grumman-F6F-5-Hellcat | VBF-8

 

 

VF-8 (I)
Established: 2 Sep 41
Disestablished: 25 Aug 42

Deployment: Hornet (CV-5) Dec 41-Jun 42
Aircraft: F4F-4
Combat record: 5 victories. Lost 3 pilots on deployment.

The first Fighting Eight was part of the original Hornet's ill-starred air group. The squadron logged one day of combat-4 June at Midway-and came off poorly even by CV-5's tragic standards.

While Torpedo Eight flew independently to the Japanese carrier force, the rest of the air group searched in vain for a target. The CAG, Cdr. Stanhope
Ring, led 35 SBDs and 1O of Lt. Cdr. Pat Mitchell's Wildcats on a prolonged, fuel-guzzling flight before belatedly breaking off the hunt. All of Mitchell's F4Fs splashed with empty tanks, and two pilots were lost in the process. The rest were picked up days later.

Meanwhile, other VF-8 pilots on CAP helped intercept Hiryu's dive-bombing attack on Yorktown. Four Hornet Wildcats were credited with five shootdowns,
including two Zeroes by Ens. Morrill Cook, Jr. Tragically, another Fighting Eight pilot was killed by U.S. anti-aircraft fire.

With Mitchell missing and his exec reporting to sick bay, VF-S badly needed leadership. Lt.Cdr. John S. Thach arrived on the 5th with elements of
his own mixed VF-3/42 and operated from Hornet tor the rest of the battle.

VF-8 (II)
Established: 1 Jun 43
Disestablished: 23 Nov 45

Deployment: Bunker Hill (CV-17) Mar-Oct 44
Aircraft: F6F-3, -3P, -5, -5P
Combat record : 156 victories, 13 aces. Lost 7 on deployment.

Established at Norfolk in mid-1943, the second VF-8 was led by 32-year-old Cdr. William M. Collins from the Annapolis class of '34. He benefitted
from combat-experienced pilots such as Lt.Cdr. Scott McCuskey (VF-42 and VF-3) and Lt(jg) Whitey Feightner (VF-10).

The squadron's baptism came during strikes on the Palaus on 30-31 March 1944, when 11 victories were claimed. Two more during the second Truk raid on 29 April were the last until the Marianas campaign.

On 11 June, VF-8 notched seven more kills during CAPs and strikes against Guam. The carrier battle of the 19th resulted in widespread opportunity, as Bunker Hill Hellcats splashed 20 raiders, nearly all before noon. The next evening's attack on the Japanese task force resulted in two confirmed and two probables.

Fighting Eight shone during September and October battles over the Philippines and Formosa. Twenty-two claims resulted from day-long combats over Luzon on 21 September, eclipsed by a startling SO at Formosa on 12 October. Five of those fell to the CO; 13 more were splashed in the next two days.

VF-8 ended its combat deployment with a Frances snooper dispatched on 21 October. The squadron reformed at Alameda, California, in January 1945 and was preparing for a second combat cruise when the war ended.

 

 

Embroidered on twill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

F6F Hellcats of VF-8 on board the carrier Bunker Hil (CV-17)

 

 

CV-17 USS Bunker Hill

During 1943-1944 she took part in many engagements in the Pacific including strikes against Rabaul, operations over Gilbert Islands, Tarawa, Bismarck Archipelago, Marshall Islands, Marianas, Palau, Truk, Battle of the Philippine Sea, Caroline Islands, Okinawa, Luzon, and Formosa. During 1945 she participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of Okinawa.

On May 11th, 1945 while supporting the Okinawa invasion, Bunker Hill was hit and severely damaged by two kamikazes. This was the single most deadly kamikaze attack on a U.S. ship during World War II. She went for repairing.


Task Group 58.3, under Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman, departs Ulithi on 10 February 1945. Seen from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) are USS Cowpens (CVL-25), left, and USS Essex (CV-9), center.

 

Task Force 58 conducted attacks against the Tokyo area (16–17, and 25 February) both to neutralize the enemy's air power before the landings on Iwo Jima (19 February) and to cripple the aircraft manufacturing industry.

 

In 1945 Bunker Hill was the flagship of Task Force 58, commanded by Vice-Admiral Marc A. Mitscher. Commodore Arleigh Burke was his Chief of Staff, and the admiral's staff all were accommodated aboard the carrier.

 

 

Source:

Tillman, Barrett. U. S. Navy Fighter Squadrons in World War II. 1997.

 

[Bill Scott]

Rick after 38 years of patch business you show us patches I have never seen or owned.It is such a pleasure to get a peek at what has to be one of the Greatest Squadron patch collections on the planet.Again Thank You.Scotty

[walika]

Rick after 38 years of patch business you show us patches I have never seen or owned.It is such a pleasure to get a peek at what has to be one of the Greatest Squadron patch collections on the planet.Again Thank You.Scotty

 

Scotty,

 

Thanks so much for the compliment. It means a lot. Glad you're seeing some new stuff.

 

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthful 2018!

 

Rick

[The Iron Brigade]