FIGHTER SQUADRON THREE TWO, VF-32 SWORDSMEN

VF-32 F8U-1 142413 on 6-28-57 over Cecil Field. The wide tail stripe was yellow with black stripes and the square area in front of the guns was red. Note yellow and black wing stripes. (National Archives)

VF-32 was first commissioned as VFB-3 on 1 February 1945. The squadron flew F6F-3 Hellcats from the USS Yorktown (CV-10) during World War II. In 1946 the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat replaced the F6Fs and the squadron was redesignated VF-4A on 15 November 1946. On 7 August 1948 VF-4A was redesignated VF-32 and re-equipped with Vought F4U-4 Cor¬sairs in preparation for its combat cruise to Korea aboard the USS Leyte Gulf (CV-32) as part of Carrier Air Group three (CVG-3).
The Swordsmen returned from Korea in January 1951 and reported to NAS Sanford, Florida. In 1952 the squadron transferred to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and became the first Navy squadron to equip with the swept-wing Grumman F9F-6 Cougar. VF-32 flew the Cougar (F9F-6 F9F-8, and F9F-8B) from 1952 through 1956.

FBU-1 141361 in late 1956 with CVG-3's single "K" tail code on the yellow tail. The thin tail stripes were black and the black
powder stains around the gun ports would indicate recent gunnery practice. (USN via Barry Miller)

VF-32 F8U-1 143755 with the 1957 "AC" CVG-3 tail code refu¬els from an AD-5 Skyraider on 11-26-57. The tail colors remained the same, but the area around the canopy was painted yellow bordered by black. Note location of the wing codes. (National Archives)

VF-32 F8U-1 143755 with the 1957 "AC" CVG-3 tail code refu¬els from an AD-5 Skyraider on 11-26-57. The tail colors remained the same, but the area around the canopy was painted yellow bordered by black. Note location of the wing codes. (National Archives)
CAG BIRD, VF-32 F81.1-1 143742 aboard Saratoga in early January 1958. The yellow canopy area is very distinct and the thin horizontal tail stripes were yellow bordered in black. Vertical tail stripes were red, yellow, light blue, and orange. (J. C. Fahey via Dave strowski)

VF-32 F8U-1 143747 is being towed past the island on the Saratoga during the squadron's first F-8 cruise in 1958. (via AAHS)

143747 launches from the HMS Ark Royal. (via Burger) VF-32 flightline on 13 May 1960, with F8U-1 E 145417 in the foreground. (USN)

On 25 March 1957 the Swords¬man became the Navy's first fleet fighter squadron to receive the F8U-1 (F-8A) Crusader. In February 1958 VF-32 joined the newly commissioned USS Saratoga (CVA-60) for the car¬riers first Mediterranean cruise as part of CVG-3. During their first cruise with the Crusader the Swordsmen took part in the Lebanon Crisis by providing air cover for the landing of 1,800 United States Marines at Beirut in July 1958. VF-32 took its Crusaders aboard the "Sara" five more times be¬fore transitioning to the McDonnell F-48 Phantom in 1965. These deployments were:
1.) 8-15-59 until 2-26-60.
2.) 8-22-60 until 2-26-61.
3.) 11-28-61 until 5-11-62.
4.) 3-29-63 until 10-25-63.
5.) 11-28-64 until 7-12-65.

F8U-1Es (F-88s) 145460, 145490, 145515, and 145435 in flight over CVA-60 during 1960-61. (USN via Barry Miller)

The F8U-1 (F-8A) was replaced by the F8U-18 (F-8B) in 1959 and the F8U-2N (F-80) in 1961. While flying the F-8D in August 1962, the Swordsmen were called upon to es¬cort RF-8A photo-recon Crusaders conducting overflights of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Swordsmen moved from Cecil Field to Oceana in August 1965 and transitioned to the McDonnell F-4B Phantom for reassignment to CVW-1 and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). In early 1974 VF-32 began transition training into the Grumman F-14A Tomcat. The Swordsmen continue to fly the F-14 today.

VF-32 F8U-1E (F-813) 145482 is being hoisted aboard the USS Saratoga prior to the 1960-61 cruise. 145438 sits on the dock awaiting its turn with the crane. (USN)

VF-32 F8U-1E 145455 touches down on the USS Saratoga with a DELMAR target aft of the wing during 1961.
(USN)

VF-32 F-8D 148710 at the Paris Air Show in June 1965. Tail, ven¬tral fin, and upper wing markings were yellow bordered by black_ (D. Kasulka via Jansson) OF-8F gate guard 141351 in bo¬gus VF-32 markings. (Interair) F-8A 144427 painted in VF-32 1958 markings. This was a VC-7 OF-SF (see page 32).1986 photo at the Pima County Air Mu-seum. (Jim Burridge)