VF-143
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Fighter Squadron 143
| image= Fighter Squadron 143 (United States Navy) insignia c1957.png
| image_size = 150
|caption=VF-143 squadron insignia
|dates= 20 July 1950 – 1 April 1958
|country= United States
|allegiance=
|branch= {{nowrap|Image:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg United States Navy}}
|type=
|role= Fighter aircraft
|size=
|command_structure= Inactive
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= Kingpins
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=Korean War
|aircraft_fighter= F4U-4 Corsair
F9F-6 Cougar
FJ-3M Fury
|anniversaries=
}}
Fighter Squadron 143 or VF-143, also known as the World Famous Pukin' Dogs,{{Cite book |last=Pedersen |first=Dan |title=Top Gun: An American Story |publisher=Hachette Books |year=2019 |isbn=9780316416269 |location=New York, NY |pages=187}} 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.{{cite vf lineage|access-date=6 October 2016}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic |date=4 March 2024 |title=VFA-143 |url=https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/vfa143/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=VFA-143}}
Operational history
File:F9F-6 of VF-143 landing on USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) 1953.jpg lands on {{USS|Kearsarge|CV-33|6}} in 1953]]
File:FJ-3M of VF-143 landing on USS Hancock (CVA-19) 1957.jpg lands on {{USS|Hancock|CV-19|6}} in 1957]]
VF-821 equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs was deployed on {{USS|Princeton|CV-37|6}} to the waters off Korea from 30 May – 12 September 1951.{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/navy-mc-awards-manual-rev1953/ships-other-units-eligible-korean-service-medal/other-navy-units-partii.html|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|title=Ships & Other Units Eligible for the Korean Service Medal|access-date=7 January 2016}} The squadron lost 4 F4Us and 3 pilots killed during this deployment.{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Douglas|title=U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and MATS Aircraft Lost During the Korean War|year=2013|isbn=9781304610737|page=155|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated }}
In June 1952 VF-821 now re-equipped with F9F-6 Cougars was again deployed to Korea on {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} under the command of Damon W. Cooper. The deployment ended on 6 February 1953 without the squadron losing any aircraft.{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Warren|title=F9F Panther Units of the Korean War|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2014|isbn=9781782003526|page=53}}
VF-143 was embarked on the {{USS|Philippine Sea|CV-47|6}} in 1955.
VF-143 was embarked on the {{USS|Hancock|CV-19|6}} 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
{{Empty section|date=January 2016}}
Aircraft assignment
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:VF-143}}