Officially Licensed US Navy VF-111 / VFC-111 Sundowners Patch — Fighter Squadron 111 / Fighter Composite Squadron 111 Sundowners Embroidered Patch
Sundowners — shooting down the Rising Sun since World War II.
Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) "Sundowners" was one of the most storied fighter squadrons in United States Navy history. The Sundowners earned their name during World War II, when the squadron's pilots were credited with downing Japanese aircraft — "setting the sun" on the Rising Sun flag of Imperial Japan. The nickname stuck, and the Sundowners carried it through decades of fighter aviation excellence.
VF-111 flew the F4U Corsair in World War II, the F9F Panther and F-8 Crusader during the Cold War, and the legendary F-14 Tomcat during the Vietnam era and beyond. The Sundowners' F-14 Tomcats were among the most recognized aircraft in naval aviation, with the squadron's distinctive markings making them a favorite among aviation enthusiasts. VF-111 later transitioned to VFC-111 as an adversary squadron, providing dissimilar air combat training (DACT) to fleet fighter squadrons using the F/A-18 Hornet. In this role, the Sundowners continued their fighter legacy by training the next generation of naval aviators in the art of aerial combat, ensuring the fleet's fighter pilots were ready for any threat.
This patch honors the Sundowners' fighter legacy.
Perfect For: VF-111 and VFC-111 Sundowners veterans, F-14 Tomcat enthusiasts, adversary squadron collectors, and World War II-to-modern Navy fighter patch fans.
Sundowners forever — VF-111/VFC-111.
