This is the squadron patch from VF-12. VF-12 equipped with F6F-3 Hellcats formed part of Carrier Air Group 12 (CAG-12) and was assigned to USS Saratoga, flying aboard on 1 August 1943. CAG-12 supported the Battle of the Treasury Islands from October-November before the Saratoga returned to Pearl Harbor on 30 November. In January 1944 CAG-12 rejoined the Saratoga and supported the later phases of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and then carried out attacks against Japanese forces in the Indian Ocean before returning to Pearl Harbor in June. In January 1945 VF-12 was assigned to USS Randolph and supported the Invasion of Iwo Jima and raids on the Japanese home islands. Joseph C. (Jumpin’ Joe) Clifton was a member of this squadron, the one whom the US NAVAL AVIATION award is named after, hence why “SUNDOWN” is wearing it, as a tribute to him. This patch does not come with velcro attached.
