#vf-51

Easter Offensive, 1972 by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: 1972 – A Grumman A-6 Intruder of Marines attack Squadron (All Weather) #224 [VMA(AW)-224] traps on the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). A McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II of Attack Squadron #51 (VF-51) and an LTV A-7 Corsair II of Attack Squadron #22 [VA-22] are visible in background, during the Easter Offensive, in Vietnam.

Easter Offensive, 1972 by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: 1972 – A McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom of Fighter Squadron #51 [VF-51] is partially visible at the entrance of the hangar aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), then operating off the Vietnam Coast to support military operations during Easter Offensive. Notice, During the Vietnam War, VF-51 was the first squadron to evaluate the air-to-ground capability of the F-8 Crusader, and because of this, VF-51 was picked to fly secret interdiction missions into Laos in June 1964. In 1965 VF-51 flew F-8 Crusaders off the USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) flying missions into Vietnam and Laos. The squadron became MiG killers when they shot down two North Vietnamese MiG-21s in 1968. In 1971 VF-51 transitioned to the F-4 Phantom and shot down four MiG-17s.

Easter Offensive, 1972 by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: 1972 – A McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II of Fighter Squadron #51 [VF-51] is launched from the deck of USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), then operating off the Vietnam Coast to support military Operations during Easter Offensive.

F-14D-164348-VF31-MIRAMAR-NOV94 by Michel Klaveren