VF-194
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Short description 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.[1]
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 Template:USS 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 Template:USS. From February to June 1956 VF-91 made its next deployment on Template:USS 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 Template:USS between September 1957 and April 1958.
In 1959 VF-91 transitioned to the Vought F-8C Crusader and made three deployments aboard Template:USS 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 Template:USS (1964, 1965/66), two aboard Template:USS (1966/67, 1967/68) and the last four aboard Template:USS. 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 Template:Sclass, 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 Template:USS the squadron was disestablished on 1 March 1978.
Gallery
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An FJ-3 of VF-91 in 1957
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An F-8C of VF-91 from USS Ranger in 1962
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F-8Js of VF-194 in 1971
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An F-4J of VF-194 on USS Coral Sea in 1977
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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