Fighter Squadron 143 or VF-143, also known as the World Famous Pukin' Dogs, is an aviation unit of the United States Navy originally established as a Naval Reserve squadron VF-821 on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VF-143 on 4 February 1953 and deactivated on 1 April 1958. In June 1962, the squadron was reactivated, and currently is flying the F/A-18E as part of Carrier Air Wing 7 at Naval Air Station Oceana.

Operational history

VF-821 equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs was deployed on USS Princeton (CV-37) to the waters off Korea from 30 May-12 September 1951. The squadron lost 4 F4Us and 3 pilots killed during this deployment. In June 1952 VF-821 now re-equipped with F9F-6 Cougars was again deployed to Korea on USS Essex (CV-9) under the command of Damon W. Cooper. The deployment ended on 6 February 1953 without the squadron losing any aircraft. VF-143 was embarked on the USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) in 1955. VF-143 was embarked on the USS Hancock (CV-19) for a western Pacific deployment from 6 April to 18 September 1957. VF-143 was reactivated in June, 1962 at Naval Air Station Miramar, and embarked aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) later that year. The squadron insignia changed to the 'Griffin' and they were called the 'Pukin Dogs'.

Home port assignments

Aircraft assignment