VF-143

Fighter Squadron 143 or VF-143, also known as the World Famous Pukin' Dogs,^[1] is an aviation unit of the United States Navy originally established as a Naval Reserve squadron VF-821 on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VF-143 on 4 February 1953 and deactivated on 1 April 1958.^[2] In June 1962, the squadron was reactivated, and currently is flying the F/A-18E as part of Carrier Air Wing 7 at Naval Air Station Oceana.^[3]

Fighter Squadron 143
VF-143 squadron insignia
Active	20 July 1950 – 1 April 1958
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Fighter aircraft
Part of	Inactive
Nickname	Kingpins
Engagements	Korean War
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F4U-4 Corsair F9F-6 Cougar FJ-3M Fury

Operational history

VF-143 F9F-6 lands on USS Kearsarge in 1953

VF-143 FJ-3M lands on USS Hancock in 1957

VF-821 equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs was deployed on USS Princeton to the waters off Korea from 30 May – 12 September 1951.^[4] The squadron lost 4 F4Us and 3 pilots killed during this deployment.^[5]

In June 1952 VF-821 now re-equipped with F9F-6 Cougars was again deployed to Korea on USS Essex under the command of Damon W. Cooper. The deployment ended on 6 February 1953 without the squadron losing any aircraft.^[6]

VF-143 was embarked on the USS Philippine Sea in 1955.

VF-143 was embarked on the USS Hancock for a western Pacific deployment from 6 April to 18 September 1957.

VF-143 was reactivated in June 1962 at Naval Air Station Miramar, and embarked aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) later that year. The squadron insignia changed to the 'Griffin' and they were called the 'Pukin Dogs'.

Home port assignments

Aircraft assignment

• F4U-4 Corsair
• F9F-6 Cougar
• FJ-3M Fury
• F4-B Phantom II
• F-14A Tomcat
• F/A-18E Super Hornet

See also

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