VFC-111

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Fighter Squadron Composite 111 (VFC-111)


caption= VFC-111 Squadron Insignia
dates= November 2006 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Navy
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander= Commander Rob McGregor
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Sundowners
patron=
motto= Illegitimi Non Carborundum
colors=
march=
mascot=Omar
battles=
anniversaries=

Composite Fighter Squadron 111 (VFC-111) "Sundowners" is a US Navy Reserve adversary squadron based at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida (USA). It presently operates 12 Northrop F-5N "Tiger II" aircraft. [ http://www.tailhook.org/Wi06_Lemmons.htm Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20— The Hook magazine, Winter 2006]

History

VFC-111 was originally known as VFC-13 Detachment Key West, which was established in January 2006. VFC-13 Det. Key West was redesignated as VFC-111 in November 2006.

VFC-111 assumed its' 'Sundowner' insignia, callsign, and traditions from the VF-111 Sundowners, a famous U.S. Navy fighter squadron, that was disestablished in 1995. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm] .

Mission

The Sundowners operate as part of the U.S. Navy Reserve's fleet adversary program, providing dissimiliar air combat training to fleet squadrons. Ostensibly assigned to the Navy Reserve, VFC-111 is actually an Active-Reserve Integration (ARI) unit comprised of regular Navy and Navy Reserve personnel. The squadron's unique location at NAS Key West, Florida, home of the Navy's Strike Fighter Air Readiness Program (SFARP), eliminates costly adversary detachments and provides the majority of adversary support to all F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS) in the Navy and Marine Corps, VFA-106, VFA-122, VFA-125 and VMFAT-101.

References

External links

[http://navyreserve.navy.mil/Public/Staff/Centers/Forces+Command/Centers/Commander+Tactical+Support+Wing/Centers/VFC-111/WelcomeAboard/default.htm Official VFC-111 website]

ee also

*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Deactivated United States Navy aircraft squadrons