SQUADRON PATCH: Bomber Fighter Squadron EIGHTEEN (VBF-18) was using the Bearcat patch before 1945. This patch courtesy of Doug Siegfried, is displayed above. On December 5, 1950, Fighter Squadron SEVENTY TWO (VF-72) installed the Peregrine Falcon patch. The colors were: a red outline with upper background white and the lower background blue; the falcon had a black head with gray feathers and black markings; the beak, eye and feet were yellow with black markings and the tongue was red. In 1956, Attack Squadron SEVENTY TWO (VA-72) continued using the Peregrine Falcon patch but added a scroll with "ATAKRON 72." This patch courtesy of Youthly Puresome, is displayed above. AIRCRAFT: Date Type First Received - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: February 7, 1945 - - - - - - - - - - F6F-3/5 Grumman Hellcat August 10, 1945- - - - - - - - - - - F8F-1 Grumman Bearcat January 1947 - - - - - - - - - - - - F8F-1B Grumman Bearcat March 20, 1948 - - - - - - - - - - - F8F-2 Grumman Bearcat December 1, 1948 - - - - - - - - - - F8F-1 Grumman Bearcat February 9, 1950 - - - - - - - - - - F8F-1B Grumman Bearcat March 16, 1951 - - - - - - - - - - - F9F-2 Grumman Panther * October 11, 1951 - - - - - - - - - - F9F-5 Grumman Panther * February 1952- - - - - - - - - - - - F9F-2 Grumman Panther * February 1953- - - - - - - - - - - - F9F-5 Grumman Panther * September 1956 - - - - - - - - - - - A4D-1 Douglas Skyhawk February 12, 1958- - - - - - - - - - A4D-2 Douglas Skyhawk March 1961 - - - - - - - - - - - - - A4D-2N/A-4C Douglas Skyhawk ** May 1964 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A-4E Douglas Skyhawk March 1967 - - - - - - - - - - - - - A-4B Douglas Skyhawk January 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - A-7B Vought Corsair II September 13, 1977 - - - - - - - - - A-7E Vought Corsair II * The F9F through the F9F-5 Panther have straight wings; The F9F-6 through the F9F-8 Cougar have swept wings. ** The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C in 1962. Three view drawings from Harry Gann, redrawn by Bud Southworth. COMMANDERS: Assumed Command - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commanding Officer January 25, 1945 - - - - LT Mohl C. Norton, Jr. (Acting) March 5, 1945- - - - - - LCDR Jeremy Morrison September 14, 1945 - - - CDR Sam E. Clark June 11, 1947- - - - - - LCDR Frank Malinasky July 6, 1948 - - - - - - LCDR Burton F. Haker August 19, 1948- - - - - LT G. F. Colleran (acting) October 20, 1948 - - - - LCDR Frank Malinasky June 20, 1949- - - - - - LCDR Carlton H. Clark July 4, 1950 - - - - - - LCDR John B. Jorgensen July 9, 1951 - - - - - - LCDR Archibald W. Curtis January 1953 - - - - - - CDR Gordon J. Brown November 12, 1954- - - - LCDR Carlton F. Naumann February 8, 1956 - - - - LCDR Robert F. Hunt July 23, 1957- - - - - - CDR C. K. Ruiz February 4, 1959 - - - - CDR John K. Beling March 4, 1960- - - - - - CDR C. A. Hill, Jr. May 12, 1961 - - - - - - CDR W. W. Kendall Miller, Jr. April 16, 1962 - - - - - CDR Frederick S. Gore March 25, 1963 - - - - - CDR T. L. Neilson February 17, 1964- - - - CDR Grover C. Walker February 10, 1965- - - - CDR Joe D. Adkins February 11, 1966- - - - CDR Harrison B. Southworth March 15, 1967 - - - - - CDR E. J. Hofstra March 15, 1968 - - - - - CDR R. A. Phillips April 10, 1969 - - - - - CDR S. E. Latimer, Jr. October 17, 1969 - - - - CDR D. B. Young, Jr. September 9, 1970- - - - CDR R. K. Shea July 2, 1971 - - - - - - CDR M. G. Basford July 8, 1972 - - - - - - CDR J. F. Donahue July 14, 1973- - - - - - CDR Robert J. Kelly September 12, 1974 - - - CDR Edward D. Estes October 16, 1975 - - - - CDR Robert F. Brennock December 16, 1976- - - - CDR Patrick M. Commons April 6, 1978- - - - - - CDR Hugh A. Merrill July 1979- - - - - - - - CDR Howard E. Koss October 1980 - - - - - - CDR Carter B. Refo February 16, 1982- - - - CDR Robert L. Kiem June 9, 1983 - - - - - - CDR C. A. Cook November 21, 1984- - - - CDR Arthur F. Richardson May 3, 1986- - - - - - - CDR Gordon G. Stewart October 15, 1987 - - - - CDR James B. Waddell June 15, 1989- - - - - - CDR John R. Sanders MY DEPLOYMENTS: 08-23-82 to 10-30-82 - CVW-1 - CV 66 -- A-7E - NorLant/Med/Carib 12-08-82 to 06-02-83 - CVW-1 - CV 66 -- A-7E - Med/IO 04-24-84 to 11-14-84 - CVW-1 - CV 66 -- A-7E - Carib/Med/IO September to October 1990 and December 1990 to January 1991: The squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield, the build up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait. January 17, 1991: The squadron?s A-7E Corsair IIs participated in the first combat strike against Iraqi targets in Baghdad during Operation Desert Storm. January 29, 1991: Squadron aircraft flew their first combat mission in the Kuwait theater, striking Iraqi troops, tanks and artillery positions. February 27, 1991: Squadron aircraft participated in the last naval air combat strike of the war, hitting retreating Iraqi troops east of An Najef, Iraq. During the 43 days of war the squadron flew 362 sorties without the loss of a pilot or aircraft. June 8, 1991: The last two squadron aircraft participated in the Desert Storm Victory Parade Fly Over in Washington, D.C.