VF-53

Fighter Squadron 53, or VF-53 Iron Angels was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from  20 July 1950 to 29 January 1971. Originally established as reserve squadron VF-721 on 20 July 1950, it was redesignated as VF-141 on 4 February 1953 and then redesignated as VF-53 on 15 October 1963. The squadron was disestablished on 29 January 1971. It was the fourth US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-53.

Korean War
VF-721 equipped with the F9F-2 Panther was assigned to Carrier Air Group 101 (CVG-101) aboard USS Boxer (CV-21) for a deployment to Korea from 2 March to 24 October 1951. During this deployment the squadron lost 2 aircraft.

The squadron deployed on USS Kearsarge (CV-33) from 11 August 1952 to 17 March 1953. During this deployment the squadron lost 4 aircraft and two pilots killed.

1950s-60s
VF-141 equipped with the F2H-3 Banshee was assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) for a deployment to the Mediterranean from 3 February to 6 August 1954.

VF-141 equipped with the F4D-1 Skyray was assigned to Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5) aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 12 July to 9 December 1957. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CVG-14) aboard USS Ranger (CV-61) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 3 January to 27 July 1959.

VF-141 equipped with the F3H Demon was assigned to CVG-14 for a deployment to the Western Pacific aboard USS Oriskany (CVA-34) from 14 May to 15 December 1960. The squadron deployed aboard USS Lexington (CVA-16) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 November 1961 to 12 May 1962.

Vietnam
VF-53 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) and was deployed to Vietnamese waters aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) three times: 3 January to 15 July 1963; 14 April to 15 December 1964 and 28 September 1965 to 13 May 1966.

VF-53 was deployed on the carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) from 5 January to 22 July 1967. On 25 March 1967, a squadron F-8E crashed at sea on a non-combat mission, the pilot Lieutenant j.g. James Hise was killed in action, body not recovered.

VF-53 was deployed on the carrier USS Bon Homme Richard three times: from 27 January to 10 October 1968; from 18 March to 29 October 1969 and from 2 April to 12 November 1970. On 29 July 1968, LCDR Guy Kane flying an F-8E shot down a Vietnam People's Air Force MiG-17.

Home port assignments

 * NAS Glenview NAS Miramar

Notable former members

 * Thomas J. Hudner Jr.