1943 to 1945

Original unit badge circa 1943

Air Group NINETEEN was established on 15 August 1943, consisting of VF-19 (Fighting), VB-19 (Bombing) and VT-19 (Torpedo). Initially stationed at Los Alamitos where it started to receive it's aircraft, the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat, along with SBD-5 for VB-19 and TBM-1 for VT-19.

The Hellcat was first reported in use by VF-19 on 07 August 1943, with just seven F6F-3, though by the end of the month, this figure rose to 36. The -5 joined the squadron in July 1944, as VF-19 boarded the Lexington. Half way through its war service, VF-19 reported 56 aircraft: 29 x F6F-3, 2 x F6F-3N, a F6F-3P, 21 x F6F-5and one F6F-5P.

Insignia of USS Lexington (CV-16)

Aboard the USS Lexington (CV-16), NINETEEN saw it's first action the Battle for Leyte Gulf, the climactic American naval victory over Japan. While the carrier came under constant enemy attack in the engagement in which USS Princeton (CVL 23) was sunk, her planes joined in sinking Japan's super-battleship Musashi and scored hits on three cruisers 24 October 1944. Next day, with Essex aircraft, they sank carrier Chitose, and alone sank Zuikako. Later in the day, they aided in sinking a third carrier, Zuiho. As the retiring Japanese were pursued, her planes sank heavy cruiser Nachi with four torpedo hits 5 November off Luzon.

F-6F of VF-19 crash aboard Lexington, Nov. 1944.
Grumman F6F-3 'Hellcat' flown by Ens. Lawrence M. Cauble, VF-19 Satan's Kittens, Sept to Oct. 1944.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat flown by Ens. Lawrence M. Cauble
VF-19 Satan's Kittens
USS Lexington (CV-16)
Sept to Oct. 1944

During the action, the Lexington lost her island structure to a kamikaze plane. Within 20 minutes mayor blazes were under control, and she was able to continue normal flight actions, her guns knocking down a would-be kamikaze heading for the carrier USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) as well. On 9 November Lexington arrived Ulithi to repair battle damage and learn that Tokyo once again claimed her destroyed.

 

F-6Fs of VF-19 Lexington under attack, Nov 1944
Grumman F6F-5 flown by Cmdr. Theodore Hugh Winters, VF-19 Satan's Kittens, USS Lexington (CV-16)

Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
flown by Cmdr. Theodore Hugh Winters
VF-19 Satan's Kittens
USS Lexington (CV-16)

After returning to the US, VF-19 was the first squadron to transition to the new Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat, reporting in June 1944. The Hellcat F6F-5 was last reported in squadron with VF-19 on 28th July, 1945. By the 4th August, 1945, the Hellcat had been fully replaced with the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat.

The Bearcat never saw action during the Second World War, VF-19 aboard USS Langley, was on route to the Pacific when Japan surrendered on the 16th of August 1945.

Air Group 19 was one of the most decorated Air Groups of WWII, boasting eleven air aces, including:

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Artwork