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VF-143 Squadron History, aircraft type

Alex Ridpath

By Alex Ridpath,
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Alex Ridpath

Alex Ridpath

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Hi ya

Another sunday question. The academy F14A in 1:48 comes with VF-143 decals for the USS America. I have been doing some reseach (maybe badly ?!?!?) I can only se F14B's and no mention of the USS America. lots of other CVs but no CV66. can anyone shed light on this.

Thanks again :cop:

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FIGHTS ON

FIGHTS ON

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hi ya

Another sunday question. The academy F14A in 1:48 comes with VF-143 decals for the USS America. I have been doing some reseach (maybe badly ?!?!?) I can only se F14B's and no mention of the USS America. lots of other CVs but no CV66. can anyone shed light on this.

Thanks again :cop:

When VF-143 wore the "AE" tail code for Carrier Air Wing (????? - forgotten!!!!) and were on America in the '70s. Airwing One ("AB" tailcode) then joined America and of '70s.

I believe historically, that the airwings used to bear some relationship with the sqn numbers. So VF-143 were originally part of AirWing 14 back in the '60s ("NK" tail code). Along with VF-142, VA-144 & VA-145). Many of these historic relationships began to break down as newer a/c entered service, presumably requiring more lengthier transitions. (The America finished off the Vietnam war with Air Wing 9 (?) "AJ" tailcodes which included F-4Js being flown by a USMC sqn. This subsequently was Nimitz'z 1st Airwing and retained this USMC sqn whist the 1st F-14 sqns (VF-41 & 84) transitioned from Airwing (?? AE tailcode) flying F-4Ns - I suspect that in this shuffling VF- 143 ended up on America. Certainly VF-143s striking F-4J scheme (with the blue stripe) appears in phots with "NK" & "AJ - USS America" codes.

Edited by FIGHTS ON
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phantom

phantom

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Yep, when VF-142 and 143 were flying Phantoms with the Pacific fleet they were tasked for some reason in the early 70's to switch to a east coast airwing (CVW-8 AJ). Could be the overabundance of fighter units now on the west with the formation of VF-1 and 2 in Tomcats.

Anyway, 142 and 143 came over to the east coast did a cruise on America and then were set to transition to the Tomcat.

Here is a model I did with modified decals, (I have not done 143 yet).

IMGP9188.jpg

So they transitioned and then for some reason just before the cruise started on Nimitz they switched the two fighter units back to America and AE tail codes. VF-74 and VMFA-333 (Phantom units) then got switched to CVW-8 and the brand new Nimitz.

Later VF-41 and 84 would make the first full cruise with Tomcats on Nimitz with CVW-8.

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Darren Roberts

Darren Roberts

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When VF-143 wore the "AE" tail code for Carrier Air Wing (????? - forgotten!!!!) and were on America in the '70s. Airwing One ("AB" tailcode) then joined America and of '70s.

I believe historically, that the airwings used to bear some relationship with the sqn numbers. So VF-143 were originally part of AirWing 14 back in the '60s ("NK" tail code). Along with VF-142, VA-144 & VA-145). Many of these historic relationships began to break down as newer a/c entered service, presumably requiring more lengthier transitions. (The America finished off the Vietnam war with Air Wing 9 (?) "AJ" tailcodes which included F-4Js being flown by a USMC sqn. This subsequently was Nimitz'z 1st Airwing and retained this USMC sqn whist the 1st F-14 sqns (VF-41 & 84) transitioned from Airwing (?? AE tailcode) flying F-4Ns - I suspect that in this shuffling VF- 143 ended up on America. Certainly VF-143s striking F-4J scheme (with the blue stripe) appears in phots with "NK" & "AJ - USS America" codes.

AE would have been CVW-6. You are correct about the -143 designation being tied to the airwing. In 1948, the Navy did a major reshuffle on of squadron designations. The airwing number became the first part of the squadron designation and the last digit was the squadron's modex/sidenumber. So, for VF-143, they were originally the third squadron in CVW-14 (NK tailcode) with 3XX sidenumbers and blue trim. That's the reason that VF-143 has blue trim, even though they carried the 1XX series modex/sidenumber in later years. This system eventually broke down because of squadrons not being able to match deployment schedules. So, squadron designations were simply left alone when a squadron moved airwings.

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Andy Mullen

Andy Mullen

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From >> GONAVY << site

Air Wing	Carrier					   Date Out	Date In	Version  Modex
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 15/04/1976  25/10/1976 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 10/06/1977  19/07/1977 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 25/09/1977  25/04/1978 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	16/01/1979  13/07/1979 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	15/04/1980  22/12/1980 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	20/08/1981  07/10/1981 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	05/01/1982  13/07/1982 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	27/04/1983  02/12/1983 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/05/1984  20/06/1984 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	10/10/1984  08/05/1985 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/07/1985  22/08/1985 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	29/02/1988  29/08/1988 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/03/1990  12/09/1990 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	26/09/1991  02/04/1992 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  20/05/1994  17/11/1994 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  26/01/1996  23/07/1996 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	18/02/2000  18/08/2000 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CV-67 John F Kennedy		  07/02/2002  17/08/2002 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  20/01/2004  26/07/2004 F-14B	AG100

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Reddog

Reddog

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From >> GONAVY << site

Air Wing	Carrier					   Date Out	Date In	Version  Modex
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 15/04/1976  25/10/1976 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 10/06/1977  19/07/1977 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 6	  CV-66 America				 25/09/1977  25/04/1978 F-14A	AE100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	16/01/1979  13/07/1979 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	15/04/1980  22/12/1980 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	20/08/1981  07/10/1981 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	05/01/1982  13/07/1982 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	27/04/1983  02/12/1983 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/05/1984  20/06/1984 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	10/10/1984  08/05/1985 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/07/1985  22/08/1985 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	29/02/1988  29/08/1988 F-14A	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	08/03/1990  12/09/1990 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	26/09/1991  02/04/1992 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  20/05/1994  17/11/1994 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  26/01/1996  23/07/1996 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-69 Dwight D Eisenhower	18/02/2000  18/08/2000 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CV-67 John F Kennedy	  07/02/2002  17/08/2002 F-14B	AG100
CVW- 7	  CVN-73 George Washington	  20/01/2004  26/07/2004 F-14B	AG100

The list missed one cruise.

CVW-7 CVN-74 John C Stennis 28/02/98 28/08/98 F-14B AG100

Reddog :D

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victory103

victory103

Posted
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Anyway, 142 and 143 came over to the east coast did a cruise on America and then were set to transition to the Tomcat.

Here is a model I did with modified decals, (I have not done 143 yet).

Never seen any pics of a VF-143 Tomcat witj "AJ" tailcodes! Anybody here? Or did they directly jump from their "AJ" Phantoms to "AE" Tomcats?

Interesting to consider that VF-14/-24/-74/-84/-114/-154/-194 should have had overall green colors and VF-33/ -103 blue! :D

Anybody to fill out the gaps below?

VF >> Nickname >> Theoretical modex & color >> pre-F-14 modex & color >> F-14 modex & color >>

1 Wolfpack >> - (red) >> C1 - (-) >> NK/ NE 1xx (red)

2 Boutny Hunters >> - (yellow) >> - (-) >> NK/ NE 2xx (yellow)

11 Red Rippers >> AB 1xx (red) >> AA 1xx (red) >> AC/ AE/ NK/ AG 1xx (red)

14 Tophatters >> AB 4xx (green) >> AB 1xx (red) >> AB/ AC 1xx (red)

21 Freelancers >> NE 1xx (red) >> NE 1xx (yellow) >> NK/ NF 2xx (yellow)

24 Renegades >> NE 4xx (green) >> NP 2xx (F-8) (red) >> NG 2xx (red)

31 Tomcatters >> AC 1xx (red) >> AC 1xx (red) >> AC/ AE/ NK/ 2xx/ AJ 1xx (red)

32 Swordsmen >> AC 2xx (yellow) >> AB 2xx (yellow) >> AB/ AC 2xx (yellow)

33 Starfighters >> AC 3xx (blue) >> AG/ AE 2xx (yellow) >> AB 2xx (yellow)

41 Black Aces >> ?? 1xx (red) >> AG/ AE 1xx (red) >> AJ 1xx (red)

51 Screaming Eagles >> NF 1xx (red) >> NM/ NK 1xx (red) >> NL 1xx (red)

6? ? >> AE xxx () >> ? ?

74 Bedevilers >> AG 4xx (green) >> AJ 1xx (red) >> AA 1xx (red)

84 Jolly Rogers >> AJ 4xx (green) >> AG/ AE 2xx (yellow) >> AJ (yellow)

92 Silver Kings >> NG 2xx (yellow) >> NG 2xx (yellow) >> decomm. (-)

96 Falcons >> NG 6xx (black) >> NG (black) >> decomm. (-)

101 Grim Reapers >> AK 1xx (red) >> AD 1xx (?) >> AD 1xx (red)

102 Diamondbacks >> AK 2xx (yellow) >> AG/ AE 1xx (red) >> AB 1xx (red)

103 Sluggers >> AK 3xx (blue) >> AC 2xx () >> AA 2xx (blue)

111 Sundowners >> NH 1xx (red) >> NM/ NL 2xx () >> NL 2xx (red)

114 Aardvarks >> NH 4xx (green) >> NH 1xx (Orange) >> NH 1xx (Orange)

142 Ghostriders >> NK 2xx (yellow) >> NK 2xx (yellow) >> AJ/ AE/ AG 2xx (yellow)

143 Pukin Dogs >> NK 3xx (blue) >> NK/ AJ 1xx (blue) >> AJ/ AE/ AG 1xx (blue)

151 Vigilantes >> NL 1xx (red) >> NF 2xx (yellow) >> NE 3xx (F/A-18) ((yellow))

154 Black Knights >> NL 4xx (green) >> NM/ NK 1xx (red) >> NK/ NF 1xx (red)

161 Chargers >> AH xxx (red) >> NF 1xx (red) >> decomm. (-)

17? ? >> AA xxx () >> ? ?

191 Satan's Kitten >> NM 1xx (red) >> NM 1xx (red) >> NM 1xx (red)

194 Red Lightnings >> NM 4xx (green) >> NM 2xx (red) >> NM 2xx (red)

211 Checkmates >> NP 1xx (red) >> NP 1xx (F-8) (red) >> NG/ AB 1xx (red)

213 Black Lions >> NP 3xx (blue) >> NH 2xx (red) >> NH/ AJ 2xx (blue)

301 Superheat >> ?? 1xx (red) >> ? AF 1xx (?)

302 Stallions >> ?? 2xx (yellow) >> ? ND 2xx (?)

Edited by victory103
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Reddog

Reddog

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Never seen any pics of a VF-143 Tomcat witj "AJ" tailcodes! Anybody here? Or did they directly jump from their "AJ" Phantoms to "AE" Tomcats?

Interesting to consider that VF-14/-24/-74/-84/-114/-154/-194 should have had overall green colors and VF-33/ -103 blue! :coolio:

Anybody to fill out the gaps below?

VF >> Nickname >> Theoretical modex & color >> pre-F-14 modex & color >> F-14 modex & color >>

1 Wolfpack >> - (red) >> C1 - (-) >> NK/ NE 1xx (red)

2 Boutny Hunters >> - (yellow) >> - (-) >> NK/ NE 2xx (yellow)

11 Red Rippers >> AB 1xx (red) >> AA 1xx (red) >> AC/ AE/ NK/ AG 1xx (red)

14 Tophatters >> AB 4xx (green) >> AB 1xx (red) >> AB/ AC 1xx (red)

21 Freelancers >> NE 1xx (red) >> NE 1xx (yellow) >> NK/ NF 2xx (yellow)

24 Renegades >> NE 4xx (green) >> NP 2xx (F-8) (red) >> NG 2xx (red)

31 Tomcatters >> AC 1xx (red) >> AC 1xx (red) >> AC/ AE/ NK/ 2xx/ AJ 1xx (red)

32 Swordsmen >> AC 2xx (yellow) >> AB 2xx (yellow) >> AB/ AC 2xx (yellow)

33 Starfighters >> AC 3xx (blue) >> AG/ AE 2xx (yellow) >> AB 2xx (yellow)

41 Black Aces >> ?? 1xx (red) >> AG/ AE 1xx (red) >> AJ 1xx (red)

51 Screaming Eagles >> NF 1xx (red) >> NM/ NK 1xx (red) >> NL 1xx (red)

6? ? >> AE xxx () >> ? ?

74 Bedevilers >> AG 4xx (green) >> AJ 1xx (red) >> AA 1xx (red)

84 Jolly Rogers >> AJ 4xx (green) >> AG/ AE 2xx (yellow) >> AJ (yellow)

92 Silver Kings >> NG 2xx (yellow) >> NG 2xx (yellow) >> decomm. (-)

96 Falcons >> NG 6xx (black) >> NG (black) >> decomm. (-)

101 Grim Reapers >> AK 1xx (red) >> AD 1xx (?) >> AD 1xx (red)

102 Diamondbacks >> AK 2xx (yellow) >> AG/ AE 1xx (red) >> AB 1xx (red)

103 Sluggers >> AK 3xx (blue) >> AC 2xx () >> AA 2xx (blue)

111 Sundowners >> NH 1xx (red) >> NM/ NL 2xx () >> NL 2xx (red)

114 Aardvarks >> NH 4xx (green) >> NH 1xx (Orange) >> NH 1xx (Orange)

142 Ghostriders >> NK 2xx (yellow) >> NK 2xx (yellow) >> AJ/ AE/ AG 2xx (yellow)

143 Pukin Dogs >> NK 3xx (blue) >> NK/ AJ 1xx (blue) >> AJ/ AE/ AG 1xx (blue)

151 Vigilantes >> NL 1xx (red) >> NF 2xx (yellow) >> NE 3xx (F/A-18) ((yellow))

154 Black Knights >> NL 4xx (green) >> NM/ NK 1xx (red) >> NK/ NF 1xx (red)

161 Chargers >> AH xxx (red) >> NF 1xx (red) >> decomm. (-)

17? ? >> AA xxx () >> ? ?

191 Satan's Kitten >> NM 1xx (red) >> NM 1xx (red) >> NM 1xx (red)

194 Red Lightnings >> NM 4xx (green) >> NM 2xx (red) >> NM 2xx (red)

211 Checkmates >> NP 1xx (red) >> NP 1xx (F-8) (red) >> NG/ AB 1xx (red)

213 Black Lions >> NP 3xx (blue) >> NH 2xx (red) >> NH/ AJ 2xx (blue)

301 Superheat >> ?? 1xx (red) >> ? AF 1xx (?)

302 Stallions >> ?? 2xx (yellow) >> ? ND 2xx (?)

A few Notes;

VF-103's F-14 color was yellow, not blue.

VF-161 trastioned from Phantoms to Hornets, they where on the Coral Sea with VFA-151.

No VF-17? for Tomcats, there was a VF-171 for Phantoms, it was the east coast RAG.

No VF-6? for Tomcats.

Reddog :salute:

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phantom

phantom

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Never seen any pics of a VF-143 Tomcat witj "AJ" tailcodes! Anybody here? Or did they directly jump from their "AJ" Phantoms to "AE" Tomcats?

I have, one book at home has two photos of them. Just have not figured out how I am going to model it yet.

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Darren Roberts

Darren Roberts

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Interesting to consider that VF-14/-24/-74/-84/-114/-154/-194 should have had overall green colors and VF-33/ -103 blue! :coolio:

Making a correction, the 4XX series modex/sidenumber trim color would have been orange, not green, which was the 5XX series. VF-114 kept their orange trim color throughout their exisance.

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