Fighting Squadron 33 (VF-33)
U.S. Navy (USN)

Wartime History
U.S. Navy (USN) Fighting Squadron 33 (VF-33).

Wartime History
Between August 27-30, 1943 VF-33 departed Espiritu Santo and arrived at Fighter One on Guadalcanal for their first tour of duty.

On August 27, 1943 flew their first alert duty. Over the next three weeks, undertook escort missions and strikes on enemy targets and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions over Vella LaVella and attacks on airfields on Bougainville.

On August 30, 1943 F6F Hellcats from VF-33 conduct a dog search over Rekata Bay, the first authorized land based mission in which a F6F-3 Hellcat took part.

On September 6, 1943 while escorting bombers, Ensign James A. Warren claimed the first enemy plane credited to the F6F Hellcat over Magusaiai Island in the Shortland Islands.

On September 11, 1943 lost is F6F Hellcat 25902 pilot Lt(jg) Clayton Potter, Jr. (MIA).

On September 15, 1943 lost is F6F Hellcat 25883 pilot Lt(jg) Robert R. Stalker (MIA).

On September 21, 1943 after three weeks withdraw to Espiritu Santo. During their first tour of duty, VF-33 claimed twenty-one Japanese fighters with the loss of two pilots (Potter and Stalker) plus two injured.

On November 29, 1943 moves to Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia.

References
NARA History of Fighting Squadron 33 page 1-2
(Page 1) "The first authorized mission took place the morning of 31 August 1943, consisting of a dog search off Rakata Bay, northern shore of Santa Isabel, Solomons - the first authorized land based mission in which a F6F-3 took part."

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