VF-32 Swordsmen 2005 F-14 Tail

Fly with the VF-32 Swordsmen with this handcrafted F-14 Tail! 20 inches

Squadron History

The VFA-32 Swordsmen originated on Feb. 1, 1945 as VBF-3, after VF-3 was split into two squadrons. VBF-3 joined Carrier Air Group THREE onboard USS YORKTOWN (CV 10) operating in the Pacific theater. Flying F6F-5 “Hellcats”, VBF-3 pilots became the first Navy carrier-based pilots to attack the homeland of the Japanese Empire. During the heavy action on that day, the squadron shot down 24 Japanese aircraft for which the Swordsmen received the Presidential Unit Citation. In 1946, VBF-3 transitioned to F8F-1 “Bearcats” and redesignated as VF-4A. In August 1948, the squadron became VF-32, with the transition to the F4U-4.

At the outbreak of the Korean conflict, pilots from VF-32 were flying F4U-4 “Corsairs” onboard USS LEYTE (CV 32). From October 1950 to January 1951, VF-32 participated in strikes against Korean targets including Wonsan Harbor, Puckchong, Chonjin, and the Chosin Reservoir. A significant event for the Swordsmen occurred on the 4th of December, 1950 during a strike against the Chosin Reservoir. ENS Jesse L. Brown, the first black Navy fighter pilot, was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced down in North Korean territory. A squadron mate, LTJG Thomas Hudner looked down and saw his friend trapped in his aircraft, reaching up to Hudner for help as the plane caught fire. LTJG Hudner crash landed his aircraft alongside ENS Brown in an attempt to rescue him, but his efforts were in vain. The President awarded LTJG Hudner the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic effort and ENS Brown the Distinguished Flying Cross. After operations in Korea, the squadron returned to the East Coast where they became the first operational unit to fly the Grumman F9F-6 “Cougar”, the Navy’s first swept wing jet fighter. VF-32 made subsequent deployments onboard USS TARAWA (CV 40) in 1953 and the USS TICONDEROGA (CV 14) in 1955.

In 1956, VF-32 became the first Navy squadron to transition to the new F8U-1 “Crusader”. While deployed onboard USS SARATOGA (CVA 60) as a unit of Carrier Air Group THREE, VF-32 participated in the Lebanese conflict of 1958. During the Cuban missile crisis in late 1962, VF-32 flew 96 sorties in support of photoreconnaissance flights and intelligence gathering missions. The Squadron changed home port from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia after returning from cruise in 1965. VF-32 detached from Carrier Air Group THREE, ending a relationship that had lasted continuously since the squadron’s inception.

VF-32 deployed on the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (CVA 42) in June 1966 as a component of Carrier Air Group ONE and sailed for Southeast Asia. The squadron flew 940 combat sorties in five months, building a highly successful combat record and losing no aircraft or aircrew. In May 1968, VF-32 deployed on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) for her maiden voyage. In 1971, the squadron received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in support of SIXTH FLEET operations during the Middle East Crisis. In 1974, VF-32 introduced the F-14A “Tomcat” to the East coast, embarking on their first Atlantic Fleet deployment in June 1975. On that cruise, the Navy awarded VF-32 the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award as the Navy’s top fighter squadron. In October 1977, VF-32 became the first fleet squadron to fly against the Air Force F-15, setting the stage for regularly scheduled dissimilar air combat training between the Air Force and the Navy. The Gypsies of VF-32 again deployed for the Mediterranean on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) in June 1978. VF-32 conducted the first fleet test and evaluation of the new and highly successful Television Camera System. The Swordsmen also deployed with AIM-9L missiles for the first fleet captive-carry evaluation. A mid-cruise missile exercise, “BUZZARDEX”, was an unqualified success with firings of AIM-54A PHOENIX and