VF-171

VF-171, originally established as VF-82 in 1944 and redesignated VF-17A in 1946 before becoming VF-171 in August 1948, was a pioneering U.S. Navy fighter squadron. It holds the distinction of being the Navy’s first operational jet fighter squadron, flying the FH-1 Phantom and later the F2H Banshee. VF-171 was based at NAS Quonset Point and participated in early carrier qualifications for jet aircraft, marking a significant transition from propeller-driven to jet-powered naval aviation. The squadron was disestablished in March 1959, but its legacy endures as a trailblazer in naval jet operations.