VF-194

Fighter Squadron 194 (VF-194) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was originally established as VF-91 on 26 March 1952, redesignated VF-194 on 1 August 1963 and disestablished on 1 March 1978. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated VF-194.

Squadron lineage

The US Navy does not recognize the tradition of squadrons once they have been disestablished. Therefore, even if there is a squadron with the same designation and nickname, it is officially a totally new squadron. Four different squadrons have been designated VF-194 since 1948, VF-194 ''Main Battery'' (1950–1955), VF-194 ''Yellow Devils'' (1955–1958), VF-194 ''Red Lightnings'' (1952–1978) and VF-194 ''Red Lightnings'' (1986–8), this page is focussed on the third VF-194.

Operational history

VF-91 was established on 26 March 1952 and equipped with the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) and made its first deployment on from December 1952 to August 1953 to Korea and the Western Pacific.

In 1954 the squadron exchanged their Panthers for the swept wing Grumman F9F-6 Cougar. Between 11 May 1954 and 12 December 1954 VF-91 circumnavigated the world aboard . From February to June 1956 VF-91 made its next deployment on as part of CVG-5, this time equipped with the F9F-8 Cougar.

The F9F-8s were replaced by the North American FJ-3 Fury in 1957 and the squadron made a Western Pacific cruise aboard between September 1957 and April 1958.

In 1959 VF-91 transitioned to the Vought F-8C Crusader and made three deployments aboard between 1960 and 1963.

On 1 August 1963 VF-91 was redesignated VF-194 and reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Nineteen. Between 1964 and 1973 VF-194 made eight deployments to the Vietnam War, two aboard (1964, 1965/66), two aboard (1966/67, 1967/68) and the last four aboard . During these deployments the squadron flew the F-8E from 1965 to 1968 and then the F-8J. After the end of the US involvement in Vietnam in 1973, VF-194 made another two cruises to the Western Pacific aboard ''Oriskany''. VF-194 and its sister squadron VF-191 were the last US Navy fighter squadrons equipped with the F-8 Crusader.

When USS ''Oriskany'' was retired as the last active , VF-194 received the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom in 1976. Together with VF-191 the squadron was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Fifteen. However, after only one deployment aboard the squadron was disestablished on 1 March 1978.

Gallery

File:North American FJ-3 Fury of VF-91 in flight, in 1957-1958.jpg, An FJ-3 of VF-91 in 1957
File:F-8C Crusader VF-91 in flight c9162.jpg, An F-8C of VF-91 from USS ''Ranger'' in 1962
File:Six Vought F-8J Crusader of VF-194 in flight, in 1971.jpg, F-8Js of VF-194 in 1971
File:F-4J VF-194 CV-43 1977.jpg, An F-4J of VF-194 on USS ''Coral Sea'' in 1977
File:F-4J VF-194 Tu-95 1977.jpg, F-4Js intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 in 1977

See also

* History of the United States Navy
* List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
* List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

References

military.com: ''VF-194 : Fighter Squadron 194''

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Fighter squadrons of the United States Navy
Military units and formations disestablished in 1978