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VF-43 was a Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was originally established as Fighter Squadron 74A (VF-74A) on 1 May 1945, it was redesignated Fighter Squadron 74 (VF-74) on 1 August 1945, redesignated VF-1B on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-21 on 1 September 1948, redesignated as Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43) ''Challengers'' on 1 July 1959 and Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) on 1 June 1973. It was disestablished on 1 July 1994.
VF-1B was assigned to Carrier Air Group One (CVBG-1), aboard and was embarked on ''Midway's'' first deployment from 29 October 1947 to 11 March 1948 to the Mediterranean.
VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group Six (CVG-6) and deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS ''Midway'' from 9 January to 5 May 1952.
VF-21 was assigned to Air Task Group 181 (ATG-181) aboard from 24 January to 31 March 1956 during her shakedown cruise in the Atlantic, and aboard for a Western Pacific deployment from 15 October 1956 to 22 May 1957.
VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) aboard the in 1957 and served on ''Ranger's'' shakedown cruise from 4 October to 6 December 1957. This would be VF-21's last deployment.
On 1 July 1959 VF-21 was redesignated as Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43) and became a fleet replacement squadron for the F-11 Tiger and later the A-4 Skyhawk. The squadron subsequently adopted the moniker of the "Challengers" in 1961.
In June 1973, the squadron was redesignated as Fighter Squadron FORTY-THREE (VF-43) and was assigned as an Atlantic Fleet adversary squadron at NAS Oceana, Virginia in support of training Atlantic Fleet fighter squadrons collocated at NAS Oceana. In this role, the squadron would fly the A-4F/J and TA-4F/J Skyhawk II, the T-38A Talon, the F-16N Fighting Falcon, and the F-21A Kfir, the latter being an Israeli-built modification of the
Operational history
VF-1B was assigned to Carrier Air Group One (CVBG-1), aboard and was embarked on ''Midway's'' first deployment from 29 October 1947 to 11 March 1948 to the Mediterranean.
VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group Six (CVG-6) and deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS ''Midway'' from 9 January to 5 May 1952.
VF-21 was assigned to Air Task Group 181 (ATG-181) aboard from 24 January to 31 March 1956 during her shakedown cruise in the Atlantic, and aboard for a Western Pacific deployment from 15 October 1956 to 22 May 1957.
VF-21 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) aboard the in 1957 and served on ''Ranger's'' shakedown cruise from 4 October to 6 December 1957. This would be VF-21's last deployment.
On 1 July 1959 VF-21 was redesignated as Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43) and became a fleet replacement squadron for the F-11 Tiger and later the A-4 Skyhawk. The squadron subsequently adopted the moniker of the "Challengers" in 1961.
In June 1973, the squadron was redesignated as Fighter Squadron FORTY-THREE (VF-43) and was assigned as an Atlantic Fleet adversary squadron at NAS Oceana, Virginia in support of training Atlantic Fleet fighter squadrons collocated at NAS Oceana. In this role, the squadron would fly the A-4F/J and TA-4F/J Skyhawk II, the T-38A Talon, the F-16N Fighting Falcon, and the F-21A Kfir, the latter being an Israeli-built modification of the Dassault Mirage 5
The Dassault Mirage 5 is a French supersonic attack aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s and manufactured in France and a number of other countries. It was derived from Dassault's popular Mirage III fighter and spawned seve ...
. The squadron also conducted instrument proficiency training and spin training in the T-2C Buckeye. Following the end of the Cold War and subsequent reductions in the U.S. defense budget, VF-43 was identified for disestablishment. Following VF-43's inactivation in July 1994, its mission was assumed by strike fighter and fighter composite squadrons in the Naval Air Reserve. At NAS Oceana, this mission is primarily accomplished by Fighter Composite Squadron 12 ( VFC-12).
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports: *NAS Oceana
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana is a United States Navy Naval Air Station located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Nowadays, the station is located on 23.9 km2. It has total of 250 aircraft deployed and buildings valued at $800 mil ...
Aircraft Assignment
* F4U-5 Corsair * F8F Bearcat * F-9F8 Cougar * FJ-3 Fury * F-11 Tiger *T-2 Buckeye
The North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers to jets. It entered service in 1959, beginn ...
* A-4F Skyhawk
*T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the mos ...
* F-21A Kfir - 1985-88
* F-16N Viper - 1987-1994
See also
*List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
There are hundreds of US Navy aircraft squadrons which are not currently active dating back to before World War II (the U.S. Navy operated aircraft prior to World War I, but it did not organize them in squadrons until after that war). To be mo ...
* History of the United States Navy
The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy" the ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vf-43 Aircraft squadrons of the United States Navy