Fighting Squadron 42 or VF-42 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy.

It was the first US Navy squadron to be designated as VF-42.

[1] VS-1B was assigned to the USS Ranger in the 1930s.

In December 1941 VF-42 was embarked on USS Yorktown for deployment to the Pacific Theatre.

[2] VF-42 shot down 25 Japanese aircraft until the squadron was disestablished following the sinking of the Yorktown on 7 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway.