Fighter Squadron 143 or VF-143, also known as the World Famous Pukin' Dogs,[1] is an aviation unit of the United States Navy originally established as a Naval Reserve squadron VF-821 on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VF-143 on 4 February 1953 and deactivated on 1 April 1958.[2] In June 1962, the squadron was reactivated, and currently is flying the F/A-18E as part of Carrier Air Wing 7 at Naval Air Station Oceana.[3]
| Fighter Squadron 143 | |
|---|---|
_insignia_c1957.png) VF-143 squadron insignia | |
| Active | 20 July 1950 – 1 April 1958 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| Part of | Inactive |
| Nickname(s) | Kingpins |
| Engagements | Korean War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F4U-4 Corsair F9F-6 Cougar FJ-3M Fury |
Operational history
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VF-821 equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs was deployed on USS Princeton to the waters off Korea from 30 May-12 September 1951.[4] The squadron lost 4 F4Us and 3 pilots killed during this deployment.[5]
In June 1952 VF-821 now re-equipped with F9F-6 Cougars was again deployed to Korea on USS Essex under the command of Damon W. Cooper. The deployment ended on 6 February 1953 without the squadron losing any aircraft.[6]
VF-143 was embarked on the USS Philippine Sea in 1955.
VF-143 was embarked on the USS Hancock for a western Pacific deployment from 6 April to 18 September 1957.
VF-143 was reactivated in June, 1962 at Naval Air Station Miramar, and embarked aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) later that year. The squadron insignia changed to the 'Griffin' and they were called the 'Pukin Dogs'.
Home port assignments
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Aircraft assignment
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pedersen, Dan (2019). Top Gun: An American Story. New York, NY: Hachette Books. p. 187. ISBN 9780316416269.
- ^ "Lineage for Fighter Squadrons" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (4 March 2024). "VFA-143". VFA-143. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Ships & Other Units Eligible for the Korean Service Medal". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ Campbell, Douglas (2013). U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and MATS Aircraft Lost During the Korean War. Lulu Enterprises Incorporated. p. 155. ISBN 9781304610737.
- ^ Thompson, Warren (2014). F9F Panther Units of the Korean War. Osprey Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 9781782003526.
External links
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