# VF-71

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-71
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{{moresources|date=February 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Fighter Squadron 71
|image=File:F4F-3 VF-71 at NAS Norfolk 1941.jpg
|caption=VF-71 [F4F-3](/source/F4F_Wildcat) at [NAS Norfolk](/source/NAS_Norfolk) in 1941
|dates= 1 July 1939 – 7 January 1943
|country= [United States](/source/United_States)
|allegiance=
|branch= [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy)
|type= Fighter
|role= 
|size=
|command_structure= 
|current_commander= 
|garrison= 
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|mascot=
|battles=[World War II](/source/World_War_II)
|aircraft_attack= 
|aircraft_fighter= [F4F-3 Wildcat](/source/F4F_Wildcat)
|anniversaries=
}}

'''Fighter Squadron 71''' or '''VF-71''' was an aviation unit of the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy). Originally established as '''Bombing Squadron 7 (VB-7)''' on 1 July 1939, it was redesignated as VF-71 on 5 November 1940 and disestablished on 7 January 1943. It was the first US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-71.<ref>{{cite vf lineage|access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

==Operational history==
thumb|right|250px|VF-71 F4Fs and Spitfires on the deck of {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|6}} in April 1942
VF-71 was deployed on board the {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|6}} and in April 1942 supported [Operation Calendar](/source/Operation_Calendar) to deliver [Supermarine Spitfire](/source/Supermarine_Spitfire) fighter aircraft to [Malta](/source/Malta).

''Wasp'' was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in June 1942 and supported the [invasion of Guadalcanal](/source/Guadalcanal_Campaign) in August 1942. Many of the squadron's aircraft were lost in the sinking of the ''Wasp'' on 15 September 1942. The squadron was then land-based at [Palikulo Bay Airfield](/source/Palikulo_Bay_Airfield) on [Espiritu Santo](/source/Espiritu_Santo), and some supplemented the defense of Guadalcanal as part of the [Cactus Air Force](/source/Cactus_Air_Force). VF-71 scored seven kills before its disestablishment.

==See also==
*[History of the United States Navy](/source/History_of_the_United_States_Navy)
*[List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons](/source/List_of_inactive_United_States_Navy_aircraft_squadrons)
*[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons](/source/List_of_United_States_Navy_aircraft_squadrons)

==References==
{{reflist|}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vf-71}}
Category:Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VF-71](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-71) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF-71?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.