Description

4-inch VFA-125 Rough Raiders Squadron Patch – Hook and Loop

• 4 inches
• Hook and Loop backing
• US Veteran-Owned Business
• Pair with a Payback patch from Maverick!

Attack Squadron 125 (VA 125), known as the “Rough Raiders”, was originally established on 11 April 1958 flying the F-9F Cougar from NAS Moffett Field. Its mission then was to provide combat readiness training to fleet replacement pilots and fleet replacement aircraft maintenance personnel. Today, redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA 125), the “Rough Raiders” train pilots to fill F/A-18 billets throughout the Navy and Marine Corps.

In July of 1961, the squadron moved to Reeves Field, NAS Lemoore, California. From that point until the fall of 1969, the squadron flew all models of the A-4 Skyhawk, sending over 2,000 replacement pilots and 12,000 maintenance people to the Pacific Fleet. During this period, the squadron had over 100 A-4’s and 1,400 officers and enlisted personnel assigned, making it the largest aviation squadron in the Navy.

In September of 1969, the “Rough Raiders” received their first A-7 Corsair II, beginning the transition to the newest light attack jet of the time. The squadron trained more than 700 A-7 A/B/C replacement pilots and 5,500 maintenance personnel. These graduates carried the brunt of the Vietnam air war. The end of the war caused a reduction in force which eventually led to the disestablishment of the squadron in 1977.

On 13 November 1980, the “Rough Raiders” again made their mark in Naval Aviation history when they were reestablished as VFA 125, the Navy’s first F/A-18 squadron. Their first aircraft arrived five months later when VX-4 transferred Hornet number F-11, after completing their fleet evaluation process. By March 1985, VFA 125 had amassed over 30,000 mishap-free flight hours in the Hornet.