VF-7

Fighter Squadron 7 or VF-7 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established on 3 January 1944, it was disestablished on 8 June 1946. It was the second US Navy squadron to be designated VF-7.^[1]

Fighter Squadron 7
Active	3 January 1944 – 8 June 1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Aircraft	F6F-3/5 Hellcat
Engagements	World War II

Operational history

VF-7 equipped with the F6F-3 Hellcat was deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) aboard the USS Hancock in the Atlantic Fleet.^[2] VF-7 reequipped with the F6F-5 Hellcat at Naval Air Station Quonset in July 1944 and then reembarked on USS Hancock.^[3]

By September 1944 USS Hancock and CVG-7 had joined the Pacific Fleet.^[4] Hancock fought in the Philippines campaign (1944-45), including in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, at the Battle of Iwo Jima, and in the Battle of Okinawa.

From February–September 1945 CVG-7 was shore-based at Naval Station Puget Sound and then Naval Air Station Astoria.^[5][6]

Home port assignments

• Naval Air Station Quonset
• Naval Station Puget Sound
• Naval Air Station Astoria

Aircraft assignment

• F6F-3/5 Hellcat