VF-74

Fighter Squadron 74
VF-74 squadron patch
Active	16 April 1945 – 30 April 1994
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Fighter aircraft
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Be-Devilers
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F6F-5 Hellcat F8F-1 Bearcat F4U-1/-4 Corsair F9F-8 Cougar F4D-1 Skyray F-4B/J/S Phantom II F-14A/B Tomcat

VF-74, Fighter Squadron 74, Be-Devilers was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from 1944 to 1994. Originally established as VBF-20 on 16 April 1945, it was redesignated as VF-10A on 15 November 1946, redesignated as VF-92 on 12 August 1948, redesignated as VF-74 on 15 January 1950 and disestablished on 30 April 1994. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-74.

VBF-20 was established on 16 April 1945 flying the F4U-1 Corsair from NAS Wildwood in New Jersey. After six months they transitioned to the F6F Hellcat but soon changed to F8F Bearcat. On 15 November 1946 their designation was changed to VF-10A and was part of Carrier Air Group 9 on board USS Philippine Sea and made their first deployment to the Mediterranean between February and June 1948. Before the cruise VF-10A had shifted to their new shore base of Naval Auxiliary Air Station Charlestown, Rhode Island. At the same time, the squadron had adopted their devil’s insignia created by Ensign John P. Humphries. On 12 August 1948 the squadron became VF-92 and became part of CAG-7, moving to Naval Air Station Quonset Point and their final re-designation happened on 15 January 1950 when they became VF-74. They transitioned to the F4U-4 Corsair in 1951 and returned to the Mediterranean on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.

With the Korean war raging, CAG-7 transferred to the Pacific in May 1952 and conducted a combat cruise on board the USS Bon Homme Richard. They were in combat for six months and flew 1500 combat sorties, mainly against North Korean targets. They also moved to the F9F-8 Cougar, their first jet aircraft.