VF-96

Fighter Squadron 96
VF-96 squadron insignia
Active	1 June 1962 – 1 December 1975
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Fighter aircraft
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Fighting Falcons
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F4U-4 Corsair F9F-6 Cougar F-8C Crusader F-4B/J Phantom II

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 (CVW-9) 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.

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 the USS Randolph for a Mediterranean deployment from 3 February to 6 August 1954.

VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard the USS Ranger for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 3 January to 27 July 1959.

VF-142 was assigned to CVG-14 aboard the 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 the 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 (CV-61) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 November 1962 to 14 June 1963.

VF-96 embarked aboard the USS Ranger for a deployment to Vietnam from 5 August 1964 to 6 May 1965.

On 9 April 1965 an F-4B #151425 from VF-96 crashed into the sea following an engine flamout on launch for a 4 plane combat air patrol. Later during the patrol an F-4B piloted by Lieutenant j.g. Terence M. Murphy and his RIO, Ensign Ronald Fegan, shot down a Chinese MiG-17 "Fresco" near Hainan, scoring the F-4 Phantom's first air-to-air victory. The Phantom was then shot down either by another MiG or, as enemy reports later indicated, an AIM-7 Sparrow from one of Murphy's and Fegan's wingmen. Murphy and Fegan were listed as killed in action, body not recovered.