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Your cart is empty. VF-124 Gunfighters Squadron Patch - Sew on
Aviators! Are you looking for a high-quality patch you'll proudly wear or display? Look no further than the VF-124 Gunfighters Navy Patch!
4 inch
Embroidered
US Naval Aviator Owned Business
Sew On
Plastic Backing (increases rigidity; the patch lasts longer and stays flat)
Reproduction
VF-124 was established on 16 August 1948 as VF-53 and became VF-124 at NAS Moffett Field on 11 April 1958 due to a need for an increased number of flight training squadrons, itself necessary because of introduction of swept wing fighters into Navy service. VF-124 had four missions assigned. One was fleet readiness evaluation in the early 1950s of the Chance Vaught F7U=3 Cutlass. 124 was assigned to go aboard the USS Hancock to test the British steam catapult system and then deployed on a Pac cruise to Japan. The Cutlass was deemed to be unsatisfactory for fleet use and was stricken from Naval Air inventory in 1955. 124 was used to do initial training of F-8 Crusader pilots, bringing them to a standard where they were ready to join a fleet squadron, refresher training for aviators returning to the Pacific Fleet, and also providing maintenance training for ground personnel on the F-8.
This last mission is often overlooked, but was a crucial part of the training provided by a Fleet Readiness Squadron. In addition to these training roles, VF-124 maintained its instructor crews as combat ready pilots in case of national emergency. Flying the F8U-1, TV-2 and F9F-8T the Gunfighters won the Safety S awards for 1958 and 1959.
After three years at Moffett Field VF-124 moved to Naval Air Station Miramar. In 1953 124 took over the task of evaluating the F7U-3 Cutlass from UT 12 Project Cutlass then assumed the roll of F-8 training continued throughout the years and by 1970 VF-124 became the Pacific Fleet training squadron for the new F-14 Tomcat. VF-124 stopped training F-8 pilots
