Vietnam War USS RANGER VF-21 (Fighter Squadron 21) "Freelancers" Navy, Rare Patch of Significant Squadron (Removed)
VF-21’s first aerial victories would be the first confirmed kills achieved by a U.S. Navy fighter squadron during the Vietnam War. On June 17, 1965 Commander Louis Page and Lieutenant John Smith destroyed a MiG-17 with an AIM-7 Sparrow and moments later Lieutenant Jack Batson, jr and Lieutenant Commander Robert Doremus destroyed another MiG-17 with an AIM-7. VF-21 made six further deployments to the war zone aboard USS Coral Sea and USS Ranger between 1966 and 1973. In 1968 VF-21 upgraded to the F-4J and continued to operate this model until 1979.
Uniform removed.
VF-21’s first aerial victories would be the first confirmed kills achieved by a U.S. Navy fighter squadron during the Vietnam War. On June 17, 1965 Commander Louis Page and Lieutenant John Smith destroyed a MiG-17 with an AIM-7 Sparrow and moments later Lieutenant Jack Batson, jr and Lieutenant Commander Robert Doremus destroyed another MiG-17 with an AIM-7. VF-21 made six further deployments to the war zone aboard USS Coral Sea and USS Ranger between 1966 and 1973. In 1968 VF-21 upgraded to the F-4J and continued to operate this model until 1979.
Uniform removed.
VF-21’s first aerial victories would be the first confirmed kills achieved by a U.S. Navy fighter squadron during the Vietnam War. On June 17, 1965 Commander Louis Page and Lieutenant John Smith destroyed a MiG-17 with an AIM-7 Sparrow and moments later Lieutenant Jack Batson, jr and Lieutenant Commander Robert Doremus destroyed another MiG-17 with an AIM-7. VF-21 made six further deployments to the war zone aboard USS Coral Sea and USS Ranger between 1966 and 1973. In 1968 VF-21 upgraded to the F-4J and continued to operate this model until 1979.
Uniform removed.
