USN VF-11 Sundowners

Fighter Squadrons (VF)

VF-11 ("Sundowners")

Aircraft: F4F Wildcats
Aces: Lt. (jg) Vernon E. Graham (6.5 kills)
Missions: 100+ sorties (April-July 1943)
Kills: 55 enemy aircraft

US Navy Fighter Squadron VF-11, also known as the "Sundowners," did participate in the Guadalcanal campaign during World War II. Established on October 10, 1942, at NAS North Island, California, VF-11 was equipped with Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters. Shortly after its formation, on October 23, 1942, the squadron was deployed to the Pacific theater, initially heading to Hawaii before moving on to the Solomon Islands.

VF-11 arrived at Guadalcanal on April 26, 1943, as part of Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11). Operating from the fighter strip west of Henderson Field, rather than an aircraft carrier, the squadron flew combat missions during a critical phase of the campaign. From April to July 1943, VF-11 engaged in intense aerial combat, downing 55 enemy aircraft. Notable actions included a significant engagement on June 12, 1943, where Lieutenant (jg) Vernon Graham became an ace by shooting down five Japanese Zeros in a single mission, and a major battle on June 16, 1943, where the squadron claimed 31 kills while repulsing the last major Japanese air strike on Guadalcanal.

Their contribution helped weaken Japanese air power in the region, supporting the broader Allied effort to secure Guadalcanal. After their deployment ended in August 1943, VF-11 returned to the U.S., later transitioning to F6F Hellcats for further Pacific operations.