FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE FOUR TWO - VF-142 FIGHTING FALCONS

Early 1958 photo of VF-142 F8t1-1s 143739 (#104) and 143764 (#102). Fuse¬lage arrow and tail markings were red.

VF-142 was originally established as VF-791 at NARTU Memphis, Ten¬nessee, on 1 November 1949. The squadron flew F6F-5 Hellcats as one of 128 fighter units of the Naval Air Reserve.

With the advent of the Kore¬an War VF-791 was one of eight fighter squadrons called to active duty on 20 July 1950.

Equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs VF-791 deployed to Korea on 2 March 1951 aboard the USS Boxer (CV-21) as a component of Reserve Air Group 101 (CVG-101). After returning to the United States on 24 October VF-791 became the first AIR PAC squadron to receive F9F-5 Panthers in April 1952.

On 4 February 1953, VF-791 and CVG-101 were redesignated VF-142 and CVG-14 respectively. After only thirteen months in the Panther and with no deployments in the type, VF-142 upgraded its mounts to F9F-6 Cougars in May. It was during this time that the name Fighting Falcons was selected. Two cruises were made with Cougars. One MED cruise aboard the USS Randolph (CVA-15) from 3 February to 4 August 1954 and one WESTPAC cruise aboard the USS Boxer (CVA-21).

In March 1956 the Cougars were replaced by FJ-3 Furys and one de¬ployment from 21 January until 25 July 1957 was made aboard the USS Hor¬net (CVA-12). Upon returning to NAS Miramar, VF-142 became the second AIR PAC line fighter squadron and the first Miramar based squadron to equip with the Chance Vought F8L1-1 in September 1957.

The Fighting Falcons spent most of 1958 ashore, evaluating new high-altitude pressure suits and working with the USAF NORAD Command on air defense intercept exercises. Dur¬ing carrier qualifications aboard the Midway on 12 March, LTJG G. M. Lindsay lost VF-142's first F8U-1 (143744) during a ramp strike. As¬signed to the USS Ranger (CVA-61) VF-142 deployed on 3 January 1959 where it was the first AIRPAC Cru¬sader squadron to operate from a Forrestal class carrier.

Following five weeks of combat training near Hawaii the squadron received the highest grade in CVG-14 during the OR!.

Dur¬ing the cruise which ended on 27 July, numerous air power demonstrations were conducted, along with armed CAP flights in the Formosa Straits.

In September 1959 the F8U-2 re¬placed the F8U-1 and the squadron took the improved Crusader to the fourth annual TOPGUN Weapons Meet at MCAAS Yuma. The second F-8 deployment commenced on 14 May 1960 aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34). On 30 June, VF-142 be¬came the first F-8 squadron to successfully complete an accident-free fiscal year.

In addition, the covet¬ed AIRPAC Battle Efficiency "E" Award was bestowed upon VF-142 as the outstanding day fighter squadron. This deployment ended on 15 De¬cember and VF-142 immediately left for the 1960 TOPGUN Weapons Meet at MCAS Yuma.

In June 1961, VF-142 swapped their F8U-2s for VMF-323's F8U-1s and in July joined CVG-11. On 11 Au¬gust they borded the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) as she departed Norfolk, Virginia, for her shakedown cruise to SAN DIEGO

Upon returning to Miramar, the F-8 pilots were transferred to the newly established VF-132. VF-142 was then assigned to RCVG-12 for transition training in the F4H-1 Phan- torn. Upon completion of conversion training, the Fighting Falcons of VF-142 was assigned to CVG-9 in April and on 1 June was redesignated VF-96.

The squadron would down ten MiGs and make eight combat cruises plus two peacetime cruises with the F-4 prior to disestablishment on 1 November 1975.

Red tailed VF-142 F8U-1 143761 on fi¬nal in 1958. (USN) VF-142 F8U-1 (F-8A) 145318 aboard the Ranger on 9-23-58. (USN) VF-142 F8U-2 146907 at the Yuma TOPGUN meet on 12-3-59. Markings were changed to a small red tail stripe under the fin cap. Note powder stains on the fuselage. (Swisher)

VF-142 F8U-2 (F-8C) 146908 touches down aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in 1960. The afterburner section was painted and the only markings were a thin red stripe below the black fin cap. (USN) VF-142 F8U-2 146913 taxis forward on the "Big 0" in 1960. (USN) VF-142 F8U-2s 146922 (#114), 146907 (#110), and 146924 (#107) on the flight line at MCAS Yuma for the December 1960 TOPGUN weapons meet. (S. Krause) F8U-2 145567 with a yellow tail stripe and the Battle "E" Award on the tail on 2-13-61. (USN)