VF-126

Fighter Squadron 126 (VF-126) was an aggressor squadron of the U.S. Navy, and were known as the Fighting Seahawks, and after 1981 as the Bandits.^[1] The squadron was originally established as Attack Squadron 126 (VA-126) on 6 April 1956, it was redesignated VF-126 on 15 October 1965 and disestablished on 1 April 1994.^[2]

Fighter Squadron 126
Active	6 April 1956 – 1 April 1994
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Bandits
Aircraft	FJ-4B Fury A-4E/M TA-4J Skyhawk T-2C Buckeye F-5E Tiger II F-16N Viper

Operational history

VA-126 FJ-4B Fury c.1960

VF-126 F-16N, F-5E, A-4E, TA-4J and T-2C in 1987

VF-126 A-4M at NAS Miramar c.1991

NFWS F-14A at NAS Miramar in 1991

VA-126 was a West Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron. With its redesignation as VF-126 it became a Navy aggressor squadron.

Notable former members

• Gene Cernan
• Duke Cunningham
• Tom Kilcline Jr.

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports:

• NAS Miramar

Aircraft assignment

• FJ-4B Fury
• A-4E/M TA-4J Skyhawk
• T-2C Buckeye
• F-5E Tiger II
• F-16N Viper

See also

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