VB-88 | VBF-88 "Gringos" | VF-88 "Gamecocks" | VT-88 "The Tormentors" | CVG-88 - USS Yorktown (CV-10)

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VB-88 | VBF-88 "Gringos" | VF-88 "Gamecocks" | VT-88 "The Tormentors" | CVG-88 - USS Yorktown (CV-10)

 

18 August 1944 CVG-88 Established

Deployment: 1 July 1945 - 20 October 1945 CV-10 USS Yorktown

 

Yorktown underway - 1945.

 

 

 

 

VB-88

15 August 1944 Established
29 October 1945 Disestablished

Deployment: 1 July 1945 - 20 October 1945 CV-10 USS Yorktown CVG-88 SB2C-4

Lot attributed to Ross W. Russell (1922-1998) who was commissioned as an aviator in 1942 and served on the Lexington and Yorktown during WWII, and subsequently in Korea and Vietnam, serving a total of 38 years, retiring as a LCDR. Lot included his squadron patch, an engraved sterling silver cigarette case and photo.

 

 

Solid embroidered. (This example is used, exhibiting some soiling.)

 

 

Lt. Ross W. Russell, USN (1942)

 

 

Sterling Silver cigarette case, engraved with gold aviator wings attached.

 

 

 

 

Aircraft: SB2C-4

 

 

 

VBF-88 | "Gringos"

2 January 1945 Established at Otis Field
29 September 1945 Disestablished

Aircraft: FG-1D

Deployment: 1 July 1945 - 20 October 1945 CV-10 USS Yorktown CVG-88

The Bomber Fighter Squadrons, were created to reduce the Fighter Squadrons in an Air Group to an acceptable size. Fighter Squadrons had up to 60 planes and 100 pilots. Normally a Fighter Squadron was split in two to create a Bomber Fighter Squadron.

 

VBF-88 became the only Corsair squadron to fly from Yorktown in World War II. With only three aerial encounters, the gringos logged five victories over the Japanese home islands during the last three weeks of hostilities. A long overland strike the morning of August 15 turned up several Myrts at Hokoda Airfield. Two Nakajima reconnaissance planes were destroyed. Before the strike could return to base, Task Force 38 announced that the Japanese had agreed to surrender.

 

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

 

 

Embroidered on twill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VBF-88 FG-1D on the USS Yorktown.

 

 

 

VF-88 | "Gamecocks"
15 August 1944 Established
29 October 1945 Disestablished

Aircraft: F6F-5, -5N, -5P

 

Artwork of insignia

 

 

 

Based on Saipan from mid-May to mid-June, FitRon-88 one aboard Yorktown on 17 June. On the morning of August 15 Air Group 88 had a strike over Japan when the cease-fire order came through. While outbound over the coast, six VF-88 hellcats were attacked by a mixed formation of perhaps 17 enemy fighters. The squadron claimed a Jack and four Franks. In 1982, while visiting some of the Japanese pilots they fought that day, it was learned that the Imperial Navy pilots had not received the cease-fire order, thus resulting in the last dogfight of World War II.

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

 

VT-88 | "The Tormentors"

15 August 1944 Established
29 October 1945 Disestablished

Aircraft: TBM-3

Deployments:

May-June 1945 Marianas

1 July 1945 - 20 October 1945 CV-10 USS Yorktown CVG-88 TBM-3

 

 

Solid embroidered.