VF-51 is credited to be the first F-14 squadron to intercept Soviet Tu-22M (Tu-26) Backfire bombers, armed MiG-23 Floggers and Su-15 Flagons using the Tomcat's TCS (Television Camera Sight). The TCS allowed the crew to passively identify …

Fighter Squadron 51 (FITRON 51) VF-51 ‘Screaming Eagles’ STATUS: established as VF-1 on February 15, 1943. VF-1 redesignated VF-5 on July 15, 1943

In November, VF-51 became the first operational squadron to fly the FJ-1 Fury jet fighter. In July 1950, VF-51—equipped with F9F-2 Panthers on the USS Valley Forge (CV-45)—became the first Navy squadron to fly jets in combat and scored the Navy's first aerial kills of the Korean War.

Jan 14, 2019 · During Operation Linebacker over Vietnam in 1972, the two McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II squadrons aboard the USS Coral Sea, VF-111 “Sundowners” and VF-51 “Screaming Eagles” each had their own obstacles to overcome to become some of the premier Phantom units in Southeast Asia.

In 1947, the Screaming Eagles were the first Navy fleet squadron to enter the jet age, flying the North American FJ-1 Fury. During evaluations, VF-51 became the first squadron to operate jets from a carrier.

Two airborne piston fighters—Yak-9s—were shot down, one each falling to the guns of F9Fs piloted by Lieutenant (junior grade) Leonard H. Plog and Ensign E. W. Brown of VF-51. They were the first Navy jet pilots to down an enemy aircraft. The jets then turned their cannon against ground facilities.

Until its disestablishment, VF-51 was the oldest fighter squadron in continuous service with the Pacific Fleet. VF-51’s roots are traced back to 1927 when the Screaming Eagles insignia could be seen with the VF-3S Striking Eagles which flew the Curtis F6C-4.

Weapons procurement tapering off after the end of World War II motivated the Navy to cut back production to 30 aircraft. The only squadron equipped with the FJ-1 was VF-51, led by Commander Evan Peter (Pete) Aurand, later to become naval aide to …

Powered by an 18kN Allison J32-A-2 turbojet, the FJ-1 saw short operational service aboard USS Boxer, being replaced by the F9F-2 Panther. This straight-wing Fury is one of just 33 built. Flown by Cdr E. Aurand, it set a speed record of 1 h, 58 m, …

Among VF-51's 'firsts' is it's claim to be the first US Navy squadron to land the F-14A automatically in both day and night conditions. Another of the squadron's claims to fame is that they were the first to intercept Soviet Tu-26 Backfire bombers, armed MiG-23 Floggers and Su-15 Flagons using the Tomcat's TCS (Television Camera Sight).