Attack Squadron 43 (ATKRON 43)

VA-43 ‘Challengers’

 

va-43 challengers insignia crest patch badge attack squadron atkron

attack squadron va-43 challengers atkron us navy skyhawk

 

STATUS:

established as Fighter Squadron 74A (VF-74A) on May 1, 1945

VF-74A redesignated Fighter Squadron 74 (VF-74) on August 1, 1945

VF-74 redesignated Fighter Squadron 1B (VF-1B) on November 15, 1946

VF-1B redesignated Fighter Squadron 21 (VF-21) on September 1, 1948

VF-21 redesignated Attack Squadron 43 (VA-43) on July 1, 1959

VA-43 redesignated Fighter Squadron 43 (VF-43) on June 1, 1973

 

Nickname: Mach Busters (1950-61) / Challengers (1961-73)

AIRCRAFT:

Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk

Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk

Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk

Douglas A-4E Skyhawk

Grumman F9F-8T (TF-9J) Cougar

Douglas A-4F Skyhawk

Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk

Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

> no deployments because the primary mission of VA-43 was the training of fleet replacement pilots <

 

images

 

va-43 challengers attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk over mount rushmore

TA-4J Skyhawks of VA-43 flying over Mount Rushmore - undated (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers ta-4j skyhawk atkron

TA-4J Skyhawks of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers attack squadron ta-4j skyhawk atkron us navy

TA-4J Skyhawks of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers attack squadron ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers ta-4f skyhawk

TA-4F Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers grumman tf-9j cougar

Grumman TF-9J Cougar of VA-43 - 1965-67 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers a-4c skyhawk atkron

A-4C Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers a-4b skyhawk attack squadron atkron

A-4B Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers a4d-1 skyhawk

A4D-1 Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers a4d-1 skyhawk atkron us navy

A4D-1 Skyhawk of VA-43 - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers a4d skyhawk

A4D Skyhawks of VA-43 in flight - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers a4d a-4 skyhawk attack squadron atkron

A4D Skyhawks of VA-43 in flight - undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers attack squadron a4d skyhawk atkron

A4D Skyhawks of VA-43 in flight - undated (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-43 challengers a4d-1 a-4a skyhawk uss antietam cvs 36

A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk of VA-43 aboard USS Antietam (CVS 36) undated (NNAM)

 

va-43 challengers a4d-1 a-4a skyhawk attack squadron atkron uss antietam cvs 36 us navy

A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk of VA-43 aboard USS Antietam (CVS 36) undated (NNAM)

 

 

history

1960:

the unit received A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk aircraft.

 

1965/65:

VA-43 mission changed to instrument training;  the unit received TF-9J Cougar training aircraft - VA-43’s Skyhawks were transferred to VA-44.

 

1967:

VA-43 began receiving TA-4J Skyhawks as replacement for their TF-9J Cougars

 

June 1, 1973:

VA-43 was redesignated VF-43 - the Atlantic Fleet adversary squadron.

 

patches

 

 

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