VFA-143

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron One Four Three


caption= VFA-143 Insignia
dates= 1949 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= US Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role= Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= Carrier Air Wing Seven
garrison= NAS Oceana
garrison_label=
equipment= F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
equipment_label=
nickname= "Pukin Dogs"
patron=
motto=Sans Reproach
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles= Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Operation Pierce Arrow
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
anniversaries=
decorations= FFARP trophy
Tactical Reconnaissance trophy
Battle Efficiency "E", 1990
Joseph C. Clifton Award
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143) also known as the "Pukin Dogs" are a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The Pukin Dogs are an operational fleet squadron and flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet. They are currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Seven and deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). [ [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=26518 Carrier Air Wing 7 Begins OEF Missions] ]

Insignia and nickname

The squadron adopted its current insignia in 1953, a winged black lion (or a mythical Griffin) on a blue shield. There are two tales on how the distinctive squadron name came about: the popular version is that when the Griffin design was unveiled a female observer commented that the creature’s droopy head and gaping mouth made it looked like a dog throwing up. Some say that the nickname originated in Vietnam when a USAF pilot remarked on how the beast resembled a vomiting canine. Either way, the legend of the World Famous Pukin’ Dogs had begun.cite web
title = Strike Fighter Squadron ONE FOUR THREE [VFA-143]
work =
publisher = US Navy
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vf-143.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-30 ] In the politically correct aftermath of the Tailhook scandal in 1991, the squadron was forced to officially rename itself the "Dogs". This official banishment was widely ignored until Admiral John Mazach, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force, rescinded the policy in a 1996 speech to the squadron.

History

Two Navy squadrons have held the designation VF-143. The first was established on 20 July 1950 as VF-821, and redesignated VF-143 on 4 Feb 1953. This squadron was disestablished on 1 April 1958. The second VF-143 was established in 1950, was eventually redesignated VFA-143, and is the subject of this article.

1950s

VFA-143 began as VF-871, a reserve F4U-4 Corsair squadron based at NAS Alameda called to active duty on 20 July 1950. The squadron deployed twice during the Korean War, flying from the aircraft carriers USS Princeton (CV-37) and USS Essex (CV-9). On 4 Feb 1953, the squadron was redesignated VF-123 and transitioned to the F9F-2 Panther. In April 1958 they transitioned to the F3H Demon and were redesignated VF-53.

1960s

On 20 June 1962, the unit was redesignated VF-143 and began its transition to the F-4 Phantom. They deployed seven times during the Vietnam War. The squadron was credited with the downing of a MiG-21 in 1967.

1970s

The last VF-143 Vietnam deployment commenced in September 1972 with Carrier Air Group (CAG) 14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65). On the last day of official American hostilities, a squadron "Phantom" was struck by AAA fire near Quang Tri while performing one of the last combat missions of the war. Executive Officer, Cmdr Harley Hall and his RIO ejected near the coast and both were seen alive on the ground by their wingman. Hall's RIO was captured by North Vietnamese and returned from captivity a few months later. Cmdr Hall became the last Naval Aviator listed as Missing in Action (MIA). Two weeks after the shoot down, however, his status was changed from MIA to "Prisoner of War (POW), authenticated", a designation held until he was declared deceased in February 1980.

The squadron returned to NAS Miramar in June 1973, and three months later made a final "Phantom" deployment to the Mediterranean. In 1974 VF-143 transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat and then changed homeport to NAS Oceana in 1976. VF-143, along with sister squadron VF-142, were aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) for her maiden voyage in 1979.

1980s

In 1980 VF-143 deployed to the Indian Ocean in response to the Iran-Iraq war, setting a Navy underway record of 153 days. VF-143 soon gained Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) capability, and provided the first time imagery of the new Soviet aircraft carrier Novorossiysk and the new Soviet Slava class cruiser. On August 5, 1983, VF-143 intercepted five Libyan MiG-23s some 220 kilometers south of "Eisenhower" in the Mediterranean Sea. No weapons were fired during these encounters but the situation was "very tense". [ [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_357.shtml Libyan Wars, 1980-1989, Part 3 - Operation "Manta" By Tom Cooper] ] The Pukin’ Dogs became the first to fly combat TARPS missions when they flew 45 combat reconnaissance sorties over Lebanon in the autumn of 1983.

1990s

VF-143 was one of the first squadrons to deploy with the F-14A(+) (later renamed F-14B), in March 1990 aboard "Eisenhower".When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, "Eisenhower" and her battle group rushed to the Red Sea to deter the Iraqis from further advancement into Saudi Arabia. In late August, USS Saratoga (CV-60) relieved "Ike".

In early 1991, VF-143 was awarded COMNAVAIRLANT’s 1990 Battle Efficiency Award as the Atlantic Fleet’s finest fighter squadron. In addition, VF-143 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Joseph C. Clifton Award. In May 1991 during the Air Wing’s detachment to NAS Fallon, VF-143 dropped air-to-ground ordnance for the first time. In September, the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf, and participated NATO exercises in the Norwegian Sea.

In August 1992, the "Pukin’ Dogs" and the rest of CVW-7 switched aircraft carriers to the USS George Washington (CVN-73), the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. VF-143 deployed for "Washington’s" maiden cruise and then again for the carrier’s first Mediterranean Sea deployment in May 1994 where she took part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion and Operation Deny Flight. The VF-143 was awarded the 1994 Battle E, Safety S, Joseph C. Clifton and Golden Wrench awards.

In December 1994, the VF-143 completed departed on their second deployment in fifteen months, operating in support of Operation Decisive Endeavour and Operation Southern Watch. The squadron provided TARPS, Forward Air Controller, air superiority and air-to-ground missions. VF-143 returned to Oceana in July 1996.

In early 1997, VF-143 transitioned to the Navy's newest carrier, the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), deploying in 1998. The maiden deployment took them to the Persian Gulf, spending 131 days there in support of Operation Southern Watch. VF-143 played key roles using LANTIRN, night vision goggles and digital TARPS. VF-143 was recognized by COMNAVAIRLANT with the 1998 Battle “E” Safety "S" awards.

2000s

VF-143 deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Phase II. The last deployment with the F-14 was in 2004 aboard "George Washington" in support of Iraqi Freedom, during which time the squadron participated in strikes over Fallujah between April 28-April 29. [Tony Holmes (2005). "US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom", Osprey Publishing Limited. - Ongoing Operations, page 87]

In 2005 VF-143 transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and was designated Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143) on (date).

The first deployment with the F/A-18E commenced in 2006 and ended in the spring of 2007. During the cruise aboard "Eisenhower", VFA-143 supported Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and operations off the Somali coast. [ [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29568 CVW-7 Sailors Complete an Eight-Month Deployment] ] .

References

ee also

*Naval aviation
*Modern US Navy carrier air operations
*List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
*United States Naval Aviator
*United States Marine Corps Aviation
*Military aviation
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons