VFA-143

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Strike Fighter Squadron One Four Three
VFA-143 Insignia
Active	1949 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	US Navy
Type	Fighter/Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Carrier Air Wing Seven
Garrison/HQ	NAS Oceana
Nickname	"Pukin Dogs"
Equipment	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Engagements	Gulf of Tonkin Incident Operation Pierce Arrow Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom
Decorations	FFARP trophy Tactical Reconnaissance trophy Battle Efficiency "E", 1990 Joseph C. Clifton Award

Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143) also known as the "Pukin Dogs" are a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, best-known for shooting down an unidentified flying object over Nebraska, in 1953. The Pukin Dogs are an operational fleet squadron and flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet. They are currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Seven and deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69).^[1]

1 History
2 References
3 See also

[edit] History

[edit] Late 1940s to the 1980s

VFA-143 Pukin’ Dogs began as VF-871, a reserve F4U-4 Corsair squadron based at NAS Alameda in 1949. The squadron deployed twice during the Korean War, flying off the aircraft carriers USS Princeton (CV-37) and USS Essex (CV-9). The squadron was named VF-123 and transitioned to the F9F-2 Panther in 1953. In 1958 they transitioned to the F3H Demon and were designated VF-53 and around this time the squadron adopted its current insignia, a winged black lion (or as squadron lore has it, its actually the mythological created Griffin) on a blue shield. There are two tales on how the distinctive squadron name came about: the popular version is that when the Griffin design was unveiled a female observer commented that the creature’s droopy head and gaping mouth made it looked like a dog throwing up. A few claimed the nickname originated in Vietnam when a USAF F-105 pilot remarked on how the beast resembled a vomiting canine. Either way, the legend of the World Famous Pukin’ Dogs had begun.^[2]

VF-871 F4U-4 Corsair aboard USS Essex in 1952

In 1962 the unit was designated VF-143 and began its transition to the F-4 Phantom. They deployed seven times during the Vietnam War along their sister squadron VF-142 Ghostriders. The downing of a MiG-21 in 1967 proved to be one of the highlights of the squadrons long deployment during the war. The last Viet Nam deployment commenced in September 1972 flying the F-4J Phantom. The squadron deployed with Carrier Air Group (CAG) 14 on board the USS Enterprise. During the deployment the squadron lost it's executive Officer, Cmdr Harley Hall and Safety Officer while performing one of the last combat missions from Enterprise. Cmdr Hall is still listed as Missing in Action (MIA). The squadron returned to NAS Miramar in June 1973. The squadron made one more deployment to the Mediterriean three months later, before converting to the F-14A Tomcat. In 1974 VF-143 transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat and after the transition was complete they moved from NAS Miramar to NAS Oceana in 1976. VF-143 was soon a TARPS equipped squadron and as such had provided the first time imagery of the new Soviet aircraft carrier Novorossiysk and the new Soviet Slava class cruiser. On August 5, 1983, VF-143 intercepted five MiG-23s some 220 kilomters south of the USS Eisenhower when on deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, No weapons were ever fired during these encounters but the situation was "very tense".^[3] The Pukin’ Dogs became the first to fly combat TARPS missions when they flew 45 combat reconnaissance sorties over Lebanon in the autumn of 1983. VF-143 was also one of the first squadrons to deploy with the F-14A(+) (later renamed F-14B), this occurred in March 1990 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69).^[2]

[edit] 1990s

A F-14B Tomcat from VF-143 over Lake Pyramid.

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the Eisenhower and its battle group rushed to the Red Sea to deter the Iraqis from further advancement into Saudi Arabia. In late August, the USS Saratoga (CV-60) relieved the Ike, and the Dogs headed home. The Pukin’ Dogs found 1990 to be a very successful year as they won the FFARP trophy for the second consecutive year and achieved the highest score in FFARP history. VF-143 also won the Tactical Reconnaissance (TACRECCE) trophy, an unprecedented dual victory in the same year. The squadron was also nominated for the Navy’s 1990 Arleigh Burke Award and the 1990 Department of Defense Phoenix Award for aviation maintenance. The success of 1990 became more evident in early 1991 when VF-143 was awarded COMNAVAIRLANT’s 1990 Battle “E” as the Atlantic Fleet’s finest fighter squadron. In addition, VF-143 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Joseph C. Clifton Award. Making history in May 1991, during the Air Wing’s second detachment to NAS Fallon, VF-143 dropped air-to-ground ordnance for the first time. In September, the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf. VF-143 also participated in Teamwork ’92 in the Norwegian Sea with NATO forces.^[2]

In August 1992, the Pukin’ Dogs and the rest of Carrier Air Wing Seven switched aircraft carriers to the USS George Washington (CVN-73), the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. VF-143 deployed for Washington’s maiden cruise and then again for the carrier’s very first Mediterranean Sea deployment in May 1994 where she took part in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion and Operation Deny Flight. This cruise was highlighted by the performance of the squadron in both Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Persian Gulf, particularly for the crucial TARPS imagery the squadron provided. The VF-143 was awarded the 1994 Battle E, Safety S, Joseph C. Clifton and Golden Wrench awards.^[2]

2005: transition from the F-14B to the F/A-18E

In December 1994, the Pukin’ Dogs completed their turnaround training cycle and departed on their second cruise in fifteen months. The preparation quickly paid off, as the Dogs were flying over Bosnia in support of Operation Decisive Endeavour and in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Carrier Air Wing Seven relied heavily on the Pukin’ Dogs to provide aircraft and personnel for TARPS (Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System), Forward Air Controller, air superiority and air-to-ground missions. Additionally, the Pukin’ Dogs and the rest of the air wing participated in joint exercises with the Netherlands, Spain, France, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. VF-143 returned to Oceana in July 1996, having flown 1400 missions with 99.3% success rate.^[2]

During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the squadron's unique nickname was the subject of many heated debates; some thought the name was in poor taste and questioned the Navy's judgment on allowing a fighter squadron to bear such a name. Of course, there were many Dog supporters who vehemently disagreed. The decision came down from the Navy was to have VF-143 drop the Pukin' part; thus the squadron is now officially known only as the Dogs. Naturally, this upset a lot of former and current Dogs, and many Dog lovers. However, in the era of pervasive political correctness, the change was inevitable (although, in 1996, VF-143 was once again officially recognized as the Pukin’ Dogs).^[2]

In early 1997, VF-143 once again changed carriers. This time to the Navy's newest carrier, the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). They were joined by VF-11, the cruise started in 1998. The maiden deployment took them to the Persian Gulf, spending 131 days there in support of Operation Southern Watch. VF-143 played key roles using LANTIRN, night vision goggles and digital TARPS. The excellence of VF-143 on the cruise was recognized by COMNAVAIRLANT selecting the Pukin’ Dogs for the Battle “E” award plus the Safety S.^[2]

[edit] 2000s

VF-143 Pukin’ Dogs have participated on several deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom (where they dropped JDAM bombs in combat) and Operation Iraqi Freedom Phase II. The last deployment with the F-14 was in 2004 onboard USS George Washington (CVN-73) in support of Iraqi Freedom. During that cruise F-14s (from both VF-11 and VF-143) would participate in 40 sorties, dropping bombs during a 48 hour period over Fallujah between April 28-April 29.^[4]

After their final cruise, VF-143 began its transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and was designated strike fighter squadron 143 (VFA-143).

The first deployment with the F/A-18E commenced in 2006 and ended in the spring of 2007. During the cruise with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, VFA-103 and VFA-143 supported Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and operations off the Somali coast, and alongside "Legacy Hornet" squadrons VFA-131 and VFA-83, they dropped 140 precision guided weapons and performed nearly 70 strafing runs^[5].