Fighter Squadron 73 also known as the "Jesters", was a United States Navy fighter squadron established at Naval Air Station Quonset Point

Naval Air Station Quonset Point

Naval Air Station Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base in Quonset Point, Rhode Island that was deactivated in 1974. Next to NAS Quonset Point was Camp Endicott at Davisville, home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Quonset Point also gave its name to the Quonset hut,...

, Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

 on July 27, 1948. During its existence, the squadron flew several different single engine prop and jet aircraft and made four deployment cruises. VF-73 was disestablished on March 1, 1958.

USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)

USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)

USS Philippine Sea was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the first US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea. Philippine Sea was commissioned in May 1946, too late to serve in World War II...

 and USS Leyte (CV-32)

USS Leyte (CV-32)

USS Leyte was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name. Leyte was commissioned in April 1946, too late to serve in World War II...

 

While at NAS Quonset Point, VF-73 was attached to Carrier Air Group Seven and deployed to the Mediterranean with the USS Philippine Sea and USS Leyte. The cruise lasted from January 4, 1949 - May 22 1949.

USS Midway (CVA-41) 

From January 4, 1954 - August 4, 1954, VF-73 again deployed to the Mediterranean while attached to Carrier Air Group Six on board the USS Midway.

USS Hornet (CVA-12) 

In 1955, VF-73 was once again attached to Carrier Air Group Seven. On May 4, 1955, the squadron deployed to the Far East with the USS Hornet, becoming part of the Navy's Seventh Fleet. During the cruise, the Hornet helped cover the evacuation of Vietnamese from the Communist-controlled north to South Vietnam, then ranged from Japan to Formosa, Okinawa, and the Philippines in readiness training with the 7th Fleet. VF-73 returned to the United States with the Hornet on December 10, 1955.

USS Randolph (CVA-15) 

On July 1, 1957, VF-73 deployed to the Mediterranean for the last time while attached to Carrier Air Group Four on board the USS Randolph. Between August and December 1957, as political turmoil in Syria threatened to further disturb the already turbulent Mideast, the Randolph patrolled the eastern Mediterranean. The squadron returned to the United States on February 24, 1958.

See also

• Naval Aviation
  Naval aviation
  Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
  
  
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of Sabre and Fury units in US military
• United States Naval Aviator
  United States Naval Aviator
  A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
  
  
• Military Aviation
  Military aviation
  Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...