FIGHTER SQUADRON NINE ONE VF-91 RED LIGHTNINGS

VF-91 was originally commis¬sioned as VF-20 in 1942 while equipped with Grumman F6F-3 Hell¬cats. F6F-5s replaced the F6F-3s in August 1944 and on 20 October, the squadron destroyed eighteen Japa¬nese aircraft over Taiwan.VF-20 was transferred to NAAS Charleston in 1946 and redesignated VF-9A on 15 November.

Assigned to the newly commissioned USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) for her 1946/47 shakedown cruise, the squadron flew a mixed bag of F6F-5P Hellcats and F8F-1 Bearcats. This was followed by a Med cruise in 1948.

In September 1948, VF-9A was redesignated VF-91. The squadron deployed to Korea in 1953 with F9F-2 Panthers. F9F-6 Cougars replaced the Panthers in 1954, which in turn was replaced by FJ-3 Furys in 1956.
The Red Lightnings obtained the F8U-1 Crusader, an aircraft capable of the speed the squadron's name im¬plied, in December 1958. These were replaced with F8U-2s in September 1959.

VF-91 deployed its F8U-2s (F-8Cs) twice aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61) before the squadron was redesignated VF-194 (see VF-194) on 1 August 1963.

VF-91 F-8C 146996 landing at NAS Atsugi, Japan, on 12-10-62. The red lightning bolt that would become standard on VF-194 F-8s has been added to the tail and the pilot's name, LT S. C. FLYNN is under the canopy rail. (T. Matsuzaki)

VF-91 F-8Cs 146994 (#104), 146997 (#101), 146993 (#103), and 145565 (#108) in flight over Mount Fujiyama, Japan, in Sep¬tember 1962. 146994 and 146993 have a red tail stripe just below the fin tip. (USN)

VF-91 F8U-2 147098 sports a thin red stripe below the black fin tip as It taxis in at San Francisco on 9-18-60. (William T. Larkins)

VF-91 F8U-2 145566 from the USS
Ranger in May 1960. (USN via Downey)