VF-11/111 ‘Sundowners’ 1942–95

Book excerpt: The 'Sundowners' have flown some of the most iconic naval fighters ever built, namely the Wildcat, Hellcat, Panther, Crusader, Phantom II and the Tomcat. Fighting Squadron 11 was established at San Diego in August 1943, beginning a half-century record that spanned aerial combat in three wars from the piston to the jet age. The squadron produced seven aces while fighting in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam. From Barrett Tillman, the world's most prolific US naval aviation author with over two-dozen titles on the World War 2 period alone, this detailed history shows how the 'Sundowners' established an unexcelled record 'at the tip of the spear' in naval aviation history, from World War 2 until after the Cold War.