VGS-18 Escort-Scouting Squadron 18 was established on 15 October 1942. It first operated out of
NAS Seattle before moving to
NAS Whidbey Island in December 1942. There it was temporarily attached to Air Wing Six for instruction.
VC-18 Beginning 1 March 1943, the US Navy changed its squadron designations. Among these changes, Escort-Scouting (VGS) squadrons were redesignated Composite (VC) squadrons. The squadron also relocated in March, transferring from Whidbey Island to
NAS San Diego. Instruction in carrier operations continued at this time including torpedo bombing practice with the
Grumman TBF Avenger.
VF-36 By 20 November 1943, the relatively new VF-36 squadron completed carrier qualification aboard . Fighting 36 joined up with Air Group 18 in February 1944 and changed its designation to VF-18, the previous fighter squadron having been detached and its pilots transferred to other squadrons.
VF-18 The squadron embarked aboard after significant delays. Repairs to the ship's damaged rudder took longer than expected and additional mechanical problems developed as soon as it left Pearl Harbor on 28 July 1944. The squadron's combat cruise aboard
Intrepid also ended prematurely. On 25 November 1944 two successive
Kamikaze attacks caused extensive damage to the ship, requiring it to leave the combat zone for repairs. Because of these occurrences, VF-18 only conducted strikes aboard
Intrepid from the period 6 September – 25 November 1944. They briefly served aboard afterward. The squadron participated in
one of the last major air battles against Japanese aviators during strikes against Japanese-held
Formosa on 12 October 1944, and along with the rest of their air group were the first pilots to strike at
Admiral Takeo Kurita's Center Force in the
Battle of Leyte Gulf.
VF-7A VF-71 attacks a bridge in Korea in November 1952 VF-71 was assigned to
Carrier Air Group Seven (CVG-7) aboard , which was deployed to Korea from 20 May 1952 to 8 January 1953. During this deployment VF-71 participated in the
Attack on the Sui-ho Dam from 23–7 June 1952. While embarked on as part of
Carrier Air Group Six VF-71 participated in
Operation Strikeback from 3–12 September 1957. VF-71 was embarked on the for a Mediterranean deployment from 2 September 1958 to 12 March 1959. ==Home port assignments==