VF-74

The VF-74 Be-Devilers was a U.S. Navy fighter squadron stationed at NAS Oceana until their disestablishment in 1994.

History

VF-74 was established on April 16, 1944 as VBF-20 flying the F4U-1 Corsair from NAS Wildwood in New Jersey. After six months they transitioned to the F6F Hellcat but soon changed to F8F Bearcats. During World War II the squadron flew from the USS|Kasaan Bay|CVE-59|6 and participated in the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon) as part of Task Force 88. In November 15, 1946 their designation was changed to VF-10A and was part of Carrier Air Group 9 on board USS|Philippine Sea|CV-47|6 and made their first deployment to the Mediterranean between February and June 1948. Before the cruise VF-10A had shifted to their new shore base of NAS Charleston, Rhode Island. At the same time, the squadron had adopted their devil’s insignia created by Ensign John P. Humphries. On August 12, 1948 the squadron became VF-92 and became part of CAG-7, moving to Naval Air Station Quonset Point and their final re-designation happened on January 15, 1950 when they became VF-74. They transitioned to the F4U-4 Corsair in 1951 and returned to the Mediterranean on board the USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|6.

With the Korean war raging, CAG-7 transferred to the Pacific in May 1952 and conducted a combat cruise on board the USS|Bon Homme Richard|CV-31|6. They were in combat for six months and flew 1500 combat sorties, mainly against North Korean targets. They also moved to the F2H Banshee, their first jet aircraft.

Within 12 months the Banshee was replaced by the F4D Skyray which was the US Navy’s first supersonic fighter, although it was phased out in 1962. VF-74 deployed to the Mediterranean three times, twice on board the USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6 and their final deployment was on USS "Franklin D. Roosevelt".

On July 8, 1961 VF-74 began to transition to the F-4 Phantom becoming the first deployable squadron to have the F-4 giving them the claim to fame "First in Phantoms".and on October 12 they deployed with the USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6 in August 1962. For 20 years VF-74 would deploy 15 times with the Phantom, 13 to the Mediterranean and two to South East Asia. Their first Vietnam cruise was a tragedy with an ordnance explosion on the deck of the USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6 on July 29, 1967. VF-74 lost 42 enlisted personnel and 3 F-4’s. Many squadron members were commended for their heroic actions whilst fighting the fires.

In early 1972 they transitioned from the F-4B to the F-4J. Between July 1972 to February 1973 the squadron returned to combat in Vietnam on board the USS|America|CV-66|6. During seven periods on the famous Yankee Station VF-74 did not lose a single aircraft to enemy action. VF-74 was just as successful in peace time, winning the CNO Safety “S” in 1974 along with the Battle “E”. In 1975 they moved to CVW-8 and took part in the maiden cruise of USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6. In 1976 they won the Admiral Joseph Clifton Award, making them the top US Navy fighter squadron. In 1982 they transitioned from the F-4J to the F-4S and made their final cruise with the F-4 Phantom began in May of 1982 and ended November 16, 1982. In February 1983 they began the transition to the F-14 Tomcat and in October the same year the squadron reported back to CVW-17 and their first cruise was in April 1984 on board the USS "Saratoga" which ended in October the same year.

In 1985 VF-74 and VF-103 became famous in the fight against terrorism. On October 7 member of the PLF hijacked the Italian cruise liner "Achille Lauro". When the ship arrived in Syria the hijackers made their way to Egypt where they were promised free passage to Tunisia in return of the hostages lives. The terrorists boarded an Egypt Air 737 on the night of October 10. But thanks to US Intelligence, president Ronald Reagan, ordered the Sixth Fleet to take action, to force down the 737 to Sigonella where US Special Forces could capture the hijackers. Four F-14s and an E-2C Hawkeye launched from Saratoga. The plan called for Saratoga's planes to make night intercepts and identifications of air contacts on the airways crisscrossing the central Mediterranean as they flew eastward toward a comman airway intersection south of Crete. After four interceptions, following two hair-raising, lights out intercepts of planes, the F-14s found the right aircraft. At about 2230, 30 miles southeast of Crete they closed in on the 737 which showed the tail number 2843 which identified the aircraft as the one they were looking for. After identifying themselves to the airliner’s pilot, the American planes eventually were able to convince the 737 to land at the NATO base in Sigonella, Sicily. Upon landing, the airliner was quickly surrounded by American soldiers. The terrorists ultimately were taken into Italian custody.

1986 was another busy year for VF-74 as they took part in Operation Attain Document and Operation El Dorado Canyon. During the next few years, VF-74 would make regular deployments to the Mediterranean Sea as part of CVW-17.

On August 11, 1988 VF-74 became the first squadron to receive the F-14A+ (now F-14B). By the end of the year they had finished the transition and VF-74 became the first squadron to launch an AIM-54 Phoenix from an F-14A+.

In 1990, VF-74 took part in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. VF-74 relieved the USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower|CVN-69|6, they took up station in the Red Sea and worked with the USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6. After eight months they returned to NAS Oceana on March 29, 1991. Within a year, VF-74 was back on cruise with the USS "Saratoga" on May 6 1992. Operations included taking part in support of the United Nations aid to the former republics of Yugoslavia in July. On September 14, VF-74 flew 1.700 nautical miles, dropping ordnance on the Wadi Natrun target range in Egypt. The squadron returned home on November 6.

As usual after returning from cruise, the squadron went straight to workups for the next deployment on board the USS|Constellation|CV-64|6 after the carrier had returned from Service Life Extension Program, they also conducted carrier qualifications on USS "Saratoga". However, in August 1993 the Navy decided to deploy only one F-14 squadron on board "Saratoga", and as VF-74 was a non-TARPS squadron they were left back home and moved from CVW-17 to be under direct command of Fighter Wing Atlantic. Although they did not take part in any cruise VF-74 took up aggressor role with various Navy and Air Force squadrons. On January 20, 1994, VF-74 took part in the last deployment, this time to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in February where VF-74 launched seven air-to-air missiles with 100% success rate. On April 30, 1994, VF-74 was disestablished after 50 years of service.

ee also

*Harry Brinkley Bass VF-74 transitioned from the F-4 J to the F-4 S in January of 1982 and made there final cruise with F-4 Phantoms began in May of 1982, and ended November 16th 1982 (that date is listed as the date that we deployed). We arrived late at night in the middle of a storm. I got soaked and about froze to death manning the rails. In Feruary of 1983 we started to get our F-14's. VF-74 was the first deployable squadron of any service to receive Phantoms giving us our claim to fame "First in Phantoms".

References

* [http://www.tomcatalley.com/squadron/vf74hist.htm VF-74 History]
* [http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-history-combat.htm#achille The 1985 Achille Lauro affair]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/achille_lauro.htm Operation Red Hat]