page_title: VF-96
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: VF-96 / History
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Vought F8U-2 Crusader (BuNo 146908) from Fighter Squadron VF-142 Fighting Falcons after a "bolter" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34). VF-142 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard the Oriskany for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 14 May to 15 December 1960.
context_page_description: Fighter Squadron 96, or VF-96 Fighting Falcons was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from 1962 to 1975. When assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine their tailcode was NG, and their radio callsign was Showtime. Originally established as United States Naval Reserve squadron VF-791 Fighting Falcons on 20 July 1950 it was redesignated VF-142 after becoming a regular squadron on 4 February 1953. It was re-designated VF-96 on 1 June 1962 and disestablished on 1 December 1975.
context_section_description: VF-791 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) aboard USS Boxer for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Korea from 2 March to 24 October 1951. During this deployment VF-783 lost 4 F4U-4s.
  VF-142 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard USS Randolph for a Mediterranean deployment from 3 February to 6 August 1954.
  VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard USS Ranger for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 3 January to 27 July 1959.
  VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard USS Oriskany for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 14 May to 15 December 1960.
  VF-142 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11) aboard USS Kitty Hawk for her voyage around South America from 11 August to 1 November 1961.
  VF-96 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 November 1962 to 14 June 1963.
caption: VF-142 F-8C on USS Oriskany in 1960
exif: {}