 Reported in February 1958 NavAirNews: THESE PILOTS of Fighter Squadron 21 were among the first to fly Grumman FllF's from an aircraft carrier. The squadron joined USS Ranger to take part in the final four weeks of her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. Based at NAS Oceana, the squadron received the final two of its 13 Tigers only one day before departing for Guantanamo. For four months prior to boarding the Ranger, pilots were familiarized with their planes. On arrival at Leeward Point they flew four weeks of air-to-air gunnery for a total of 657 hours, and fired more than 25,000 rounds of ammo. First to land aboard the carrier were LCdr. J. L. Holbrook, squadron commander, and Cdr. A. K. Earnest, CATG-181. VF-21 received its first F11F October, 1957 Provided John Gabbard.  The following is a note found in the January 1957 NavAirNews: 3 January, 1956 First air operations aboard the USS Forrestal. Cdr. R. L. Werner, Commander, ATG 181, and Cdr. W. M. Harnish, commanding VF-21, piloting FJ-3 Furies, were the first to land aboard and be catapulted from the bow. January 1957 NavAirNews - US Navy Photo Provided John Gabbard. |