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VF-83 F6F-5s on USS Essex, 20 May 1945. VF-83 formed part of Carrier Air Group 83 (CVG-83) assigned to the USS Essex.CVG-83 was in action in the Pacific theatre from 10 March to 15 September 1945 participating in raids on Kyushu, supporting the invasion of Okinawa, the discovery and sinking of the Japanese battleship Yamato and other air strikes against the Japanese home islands.
Air Group 83 (Cmdr. Harmon Tischer Utter), 102 aircraft VF-83: 36 F6F Hellcat fighters VBF-83: 36 F4U Corsair fighters VB-83: 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers VT-83: 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Bunker Hill (Capt. G.A Seitz) Air Group 84 (Cmdr. G.M. Ottinger), 93 aircraft VF-84: 27 F4U Corsair fighters, 10 F6F Hellcat fighters
Southerland later fought in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. By then a commander and leading VF-83 aboard the USS Essex, he shot down two Ki-61 "Tonys". He became a confirmed ace in April of that year when he downed an A6M "Zeke" while serving aboard the USS Langley.
English: A U.S. Navy Grumman F9F-5 Panther of Fighter Squadron 83 (VF-83) "Roaring Bulls" about to be launched from the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). VF-83 was assigned to Carrier Air Group Eight (CVG-8) aboard the Coral Sea for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 26 April to 21 October 1953.
During the Aerial Battle of Taiwan–Okinawa, VF-8 destroyed thirty aircraft near Taien Airfield. Flying in this battle on October 12, 1944, Feightner shot down three Zekes (although at least one source [ 41 ] states the aircraft were "Oscars") bringing his total to nine aircraft destroyed. [ 42 ]
VF-82 Grumman F6F-5 ready for launch from USS Bennington off Okinawa in May 1945: Most of the F6F-5s built were painted overall glossy sea blue. The Hellcat first saw action against the Japanese on 1 September 1943, when fighters off USS Independence shot down a Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boat. [40]
On 4 February 1953, the squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron Eighty Three (VF-83). In the same year VF-83 made a deployment aboard USS Coral Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. In August 1954, VF-83 transitioned to the F7U-3M Cutlass equipped with the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile, and on 1 July 1955 was re-designated as attack squadron VA-83.
[28] [29] The initial invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945 was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II. [30] [31] The Kerama Islands surrounding Okinawa were preemptively captured on March 26 by the 77th Infantry Division. The 82-day battle on Okinawa itself lasted from April 1, 1945 until June 22, 1945.