VF-194
Encyclopedia
Fighter squadron VF-194 Red Lightnings was an aviation unit of the United States Navy
. It was established in 1952 and disestablished in 1978. It was reactivated for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.
. On 15 February 1950 the squadron was redesignated VF-194 and changed its nickname to Main Battery. In 1951 this VF-194 transitioned to the Douglas AD-2 Skyraider
which it flew through various marks until being equipped with the Grumman A-6 Intruder
in 1966. As an attack squadron it was redesignated VA-196 on 4 May 1955. It was finally disestablished on 21 March 1997.
and made a single deployment to the Western Pacific on the aircraft carrier from August 1957 to April 1958 as part of Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3). Only eight days after the end of this deployment VF-194 and ATG-3 were disestablished on 10 April 1958.
. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) and made its first deployment on the 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 the . From February to June 1956 VF-91 made its next deployment on the , 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 the between September 1957 and April 1958.
In 1959 VF-91 transitioned to the Vought F-8C Crusader
and made three deployments aboard the 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 the (1964, 1965/66), two aboard the Ticonderoga (1966/67, 1967/68) and the last four aboard the Oriskany. 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 the Oriskany. VF-194 and its sister squadron VF-191
were the last US Navy fighter squadrons equipped with the F-8 Crusader.
When the Oriskany was retired as the last active Essex-class carrier, 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 the the squadron was disestablished on 1 March 1978.
On 1 December 1986 a new VF-194 was established, which claimed the unit's name and markings. After training with VF-124
the squadron was due to deploy onboard the flying the Grumman F-14A Tomcat
as part of CVW-10. However, VF-194 was disbanded on 30 April 1988, before the cruise could take place.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. It was established in 1952 and disestablished in 1978. It was reactivated for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.
Squadron linage
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. Three different squadrons have been designated VF-194 since 1948.VF-194 Main Battery (1950-1955)
The first VF-194 was established on 15 July 1948 as VF-153 Thundercats, flying the Grumman F8F-2 BearcatF8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engined fighter aircraft...
. On 15 February 1950 the squadron was redesignated VF-194 and changed its nickname to Main Battery. In 1951 this VF-194 transitioned to the Douglas AD-2 Skyraider
A-1 Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was an American single-seat attack aircraft that saw service between the late 1940s and early 1980s. It became a piston-powered, propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, and was nicknamed "Spad", after a French World War I fighter...
which it flew through various marks until being equipped with the Grumman A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder
The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...
in 1966. As an attack squadron it was redesignated VA-196 on 4 May 1955. It was finally disestablished on 21 March 1997.
VF-194 Yellow Devils (1955-1958)
On 18 May 1955 a second VF-194 was established, nicknamed the Yellow Devils. It was equipped with the McDonnell F2H-3 BansheeF2H Banshee
The McDonnell F2H Banshee was a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. It was one of the primary American fighters used during the Korean War and was the only jet-powered fighter ever deployed by the Royal...
and made a single deployment to the Western Pacific on the aircraft carrier from August 1957 to April 1958 as part of Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3). Only eight days after the end of this deployment VF-194 and ATG-3 were disestablished on 10 April 1958.
VF-194 Red Lightnings (1952-1977 and 1986-1988)
The U.S. Navy fighter squadron VF-194 was established as VF-91 on 26 March 1952 and equipped with the Grumman F9F-2 PantherF9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) and made its first deployment on the from December 1952 to August 1953 to Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Western Pacific.
In 1954 the squadron exchanged their Panthers for the swept wing Grumman F9F-6 Cougar
F9F Cougar
The Grumman F9F/F-9 Cougar was an aircraft carrier-based fighter aircraft for the United States Navy. Based on the earlier Grumman F9F Panther, the Cougar replaced the Panther's straight wing with a more modern swept wing...
. Between 11 May 1954 and 12 December 1954 VF-91 circumnavigated the world aboard the . From February to June 1956 VF-91 made its next deployment on the , this time equipped with the F9F-8 Cougar.
The F9F-8s were replaced by the North American FJ-3 Fury
FJ Fury
The North American FJ-2/-3 Fury were a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based on the United States Air Force's F-86 Sabre, these aircraft featured folding wings, and a longer nose landing strut designed to both increase angle of attack upon...
in 1957 and the squadron made a Western Pacific cruise aboard the between September 1957 and April 1958.
In 1959 VF-91 transitioned to the Vought F-8C Crusader
F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
and made three deployments aboard the 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
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, two aboard the (1964, 1965/66), two aboard the Ticonderoga (1966/67, 1967/68) and the last four aboard the Oriskany. 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 the Oriskany. VF-194 and its sister squadron VF-191
VF-191
VF-191 or Fighter Squadron 191 of the United States Navy was established in 1943 and disestablished in 1978. A second squadron, bearing the same designation was established for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.-History:...
were the last US Navy fighter squadrons equipped with the F-8 Crusader.
When the Oriskany was retired as the last active Essex-class carrier, 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 the the squadron was disestablished on 1 March 1978.
On 1 December 1986 a new VF-194 was established, which claimed the unit's name and markings. After training with VF-124
VF-124
Fighter Squadron 124 was a fleet replacement squadron of the United States Navy. Known as the Gunfighters, they were active from 1958 through 1994...
the squadron was due to deploy onboard the flying the Grumman F-14A Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
as part of CVW-10. However, VF-194 was disbanded on 30 April 1988, before the cruise could take place.
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons