VMF-251 posted its best night in FSO last night, if not it's best sortie ever. We launched from C22 with 31st Fighter Group to defend the carrier. As we climbed to alt and our patrol positions, the two strike packages (ours and one from the enemy CV) must have ran right into each other. Army of Muppets slaughtered the Kates before they could reach the carrier. 31st and VMF-251 arrived to help them with the Zekes.
My squad had been drilling hard on coordination and communication, knowing that 1v1 our F4Fs weren't well matched against the Zeros. However everything worked perfectly. We utilized our strengths to perfection: durability, firepower and ammo load, (we took the 4x.50cal option for longer duration of fire) and high-speed maneuverability, and our work on tactics paid off. Time and again if one Buc picked up a bandit, his wingman was right there to clear him off. The end result was between the squadrons of F4Fs, not one of the enemy strike package made it within flashing distance of the carrier. VMF-251 had one plane damaged and unable to rearm (landing gear) and one with engine damage (RTBed). The squadron that could rearmed aboard the carrier in flights, keeping at least four of us up at a time.
After our flights rearmed and reorganized, the remaining 9 F4Fs proceeded back north. With no threat to the carrier, we were permitted to proceed north to A9 by the CiC. Initially we were then redirected to 41, but over 9 a (dubiously legal) furball erupted. Eventually the fight got down to the deck where our F4Fs were at a disadvantage, but once again our hard-practiced teamwork came into play.
By the end of the frame, eight of VMF-251's pilots accounted for 32 enemy aircraft (all fighters) destroyed. Three scored at LEAST five victories, (eight, six and five) and one had four. Only three of the squadron appear to have actually been credited as "shot down." Most either successfully returned to base, or ditched on their way back but clear of the engagement area.