FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE FOUR ONE, VF-141 IRON ANGELS

VF-141 F8U-2NE (F-8E) 149180 at WAS Miramar on 1-19-63. Tail stripe and ventral fin markings were red and af¬terburner section was painted. (Jansson)

The Iron Angels roots and insignia can be traced back to Fighter Squad¬ron Fourteen (VF-14) which was commissioned on 23 August 1943 at WAS Atlantic City as a component of Carrier Air Group Fourteen. Flying Grumman F6F Hellcats, VF-14 took part in the naval battles for Tinian, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Guam, Palau, Oki¬nawa, Leyte, and the second battle of the Philippine Sea. The Iron Angels returned to San Diego in November 1944 with nine Aces. The squadron was decommissioned on 14 June 1946.


When the Korean War broke out, many Naval Air Reserve squadrons were recalled to active duty. One of these, VF-721, was aboard the USS Boxer (CVA-21) as a component of Carrier Air Group Fourteen in March 1953 when it was redesignated VF-141. The new VF-141 adopted the Iron Angel insignia of World War II fame. While flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther, the squadron made a second Korean deployment aboard the USS Kearsarge (CVA-33).

Upon returning to Miramar, the Iron Angels transitioned to the Mc¬Donnell F2H-3 Banshee in late 1953. The squadron stepped up to the Dou¬glas F4D-1 Skyray in 1956 and the McDonnell F3H-2 Demon in 1959.

In May 1962 the Demons were replaced with the F-6E Crusader. The transition to the 1,0004-MPH Crusad¬ers was quick and orderly.

VF-141 took to sea aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64) in February 1963. 93 flying days with 1190 carrier landings, of which 314 were at night, ended when VF-141 returned home on 10 September 1963.

The squadron also participated in a firepower demonstra¬tion on 25 July for president Chaing Kai Chek and was awarded the CNO Safety Award for 1963. On 15 October 1963 VF-141 was redesignated VF-53 when it was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Five (see VF-53).

VF-141 F-8Es 149176 (#102) and 150320 (#113) over the USS Constellation (CVA-64) on 5-17-63. (USN)

VF-141 F-8E 149185 refueling from VA-146 A-4C 149559 in November 1962. Note the locations of the wing codes. (USN via Miller)

Air Wing Fourteen; VAW-11 E-1B, VA-145 A-1s, VA-146 A-4Cs,
VF-143 F-4B, VAH-10 A-3B, and VF-141 F-8E. (Tailhook)

Four F-8Es 150318 (#112), 149187 (#107), 149176 (#102), and
150335 (#114) over the Constellation on 6-20-63. (USN)