VF-72

Fighting Squadron 72 or VF-72 was an aviation unit of the U.S. Navy, originally established as VF-7 on 1 July 1939, it was redesignated as VF-72 on 19 November 1940 and disestablished on 29 March 1943.

Operational history
VF-7 was originally equipped with Grumman F2F and Grumman F3F aircraft. It was reequipped with the F4F-3 Wildcat in December 1940 and deployed as part of Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) aboard the USS Wasp (CV-7).

From January to March 1942 VF-72 was deployed on USS Ranger (CV-4) in the Atlantic Fleet. In April 1942, VF-72 was based ashore at Naval Station Norfolk and then transferred to the USS Wasp. In early June 1942, VF-72 had reequipped with the F4F-4 at NAS Alameda and from mid-June through July was shore-based at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. In August VF-72 was deployed on USS Hornet (CV-8).

Artist Thomas C. Lea III depicted VF-72's executive officer, Lt A. C. "Silver" Emerson in action during the Solomon Islands campaign in his painting "Defending the Ship."

Following the sinking of the USS Hornet (CV-8) on 26 October 1942, VF-72 was deployed on USS Nassau (CVE-16) from January until March 1943 when it was disembarked at Pearl Harbour.

Home port assignments

 * NAS Norfolk
 * NAS Alameda
 * Naval Station Pearl Harbor

Aircraft assignment

 * Grumman F2F-1
 * Grumman F3F-1
 * Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat