Description

VFA-143 Pukin Dogs 2014 F/A-18E Model

A beautifully carved 18 inch solid wood model of the VFA-143 Pukin Dogs 2014 F/A-18E!  Collect all your squadrons with truly artistic craftsmanship of the Navy’s finest symbols.

• Length – 18 inches
• Made from Mahogany
• US Veteran Owned Business
• The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger.

FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE FOUR THREE The World Famous Pukin’ Dogs were originally commissioned in 1949 as VF-871, a reserve squadron known as the “Griffins.” Based out of NAS Alameda, Calif., the Griffins were first called to active duty on July 20, 1950. Once on active duty, the squadron took the F4U-4 Corsair to war in Korea from the decks of the USS Princeton (CV 37) in early 1951 followed by the USS Essex (CVA 9) in 1952.

Over the next eleven years the squadron changed aircraft and designations twice: as VF-123 flying the F9F-2 Panther and F9F-8 Cougar, and then as VF-53, flying the F3H-2 Demon. Finally, on June 20, 1962, the squadron was redesignated VF-143 as they transitioned to the F4H-1 Phantom II (later redesignated the F-4B). The Pukin’ Dogs first cruise as VF-143 was a WESTPAC aboard the USS Constellation (CV 64) in February 1963 . Operating as part of Carrier Air Wing 14 the squadron responded to the Gulf of Tonkin incident by flying in the Pierce Arrow attacks on North Vietnamese naval facilities on August 5, 1964.

In the succeeding years, the Pukin’ Dogs transitioned to the F-4J and recorded seven combat deployments to Vietnam. It was during one of those deployments in 1967 that two Dogs, LTJG Robert P. Hickey JR, USN and his RIO LTJG Jeremy G. Morris, USNR engaged and successfully destroyed a Vietnamese MIG 21 with an AIM 7 Sparrow air to air missile; making them the Pukin’ Dogs first official MIG killers.