Jolly Rogers
The VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” were a squadron of F4U Corsairs that
flew missions in the pacific during WWII. Ira ‘Ike’ Kepford was the
top ace of the VF-17 with 16 kills including one Japanese Kamikaze pilot
that he shot down just before it crashed into the U.S.S. Bunker Hill.
For this action Kepford would receive the Navy Cross medal.
