page_title: VF-52
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: VF-52 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Navy McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees from Fighter Squadron 52 (VF-52) "Knightriders" being launched from from the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), in 1958. VF-52 was assigned to Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) aboard the Ticonderoga for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 4 October 1958 to 16 February 1959.
context_page_description: Fighter Squadron 52 or VF-52 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as Bombing Fighting Squadron 5 on 8 May 1945, it was redesignated Fighting Squadron 6A on 15 November 1946, redesignated as Fighter Squadron 52 on 16 August 1948 it was disestablished on 23 February 1959. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-52.
context_section_description: VF-52 was the only Navy squadron equipped with the TO-1 Shooting Star, a version of the Air Force's F-80C that was acquired to familiarise Navy pilots with jet aircraft due to delays in developing naval jets.
  VF-52 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5) on board the USS Valley Forge and was deployed to the Western Pacific and Korea from 1 May to 1 December 1950. VF-52 along with VF-51, where the first Navy jet squadrons to see combat. On 18 November 1950 VF-52 pilot LtCom William E. Lamb was credited with shooting down a Korean People's Air Force MiG-15, this was the Navy's second jet vs jet kill.
  VF-52 served its second Korean War deployment assigned to Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) aboard the USS Valley Forge from 15 Oct 1951 to 03 July 1952.
  VF-52 served its third Korean War deployment assigned to Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) aboard the USS Boxer from 30 Mar 1953 to 28 Nov 1953.
  VF-52 embarked on the USS Wasp for a WestPac deployment as part of ATG1 from 1 Sep 1954 to 11 Apr 1955. 
  VF-52 embarked on the USS Lexington for a Western Pacific deployment from 28 May to 20 December 1956.
  VF-52 embarked on the USS Ticonderoga for a Western Pacific deployment from 4 October 1958 to 16 February 1959.
caption: VF-52 F2H-3s prepare to launch from USS Ticonderoga in 1958
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