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US Navy - Strike Fighter Squadron 125
(STRKFITRON 125) VFA-125 'Rough Raiders' |
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 F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) near NAS Lemoore, California - February 2021  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - July 2020  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2020  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2020  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over NAS Pensacola, Florida - January 2020  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - July 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada, California - February 2019  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - December 2017  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - October 2017  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - October 2017  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - October 2017  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California - January 2017  F-35C Lightning II (VFA-125) over NAS Lemoore, California - January 2017 > the Hornet years (1980-2010) <  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - July 2010  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - September 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - September 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - September 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - September 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - May 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) - Louisville, Kentucky - April 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - March 2009  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - December 2008  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - August 2006  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - March 2006  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - March 2006  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2006  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2006  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - August 2005  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - June 2005  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - May 2005  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - June 2003  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada - May 2003  F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-125) over the Sierra Nevada - May 2003  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) - February 2003  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - November 2002  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California - May 1994  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California - May 1994  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California - May 1994  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) over NAS Fallon, Nevada - June 1993  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Ranger (CV 61) - September 1991  F/A-18D Hornet (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California - August 1990  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - January 1986  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - April 1984  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - April 1984  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - April 1984  F/A-18B Hornets (VFA-125) - April 1984  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) - April 1984  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - November 1983  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - November 1983  F/A-18B Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - November 1983  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - October 1983  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - October 1983  F/A-18A+B Hornets (VFA-125) over Yuma, Arizona - February 1982  F/A-18A+B Hornets (VFA-125) over Yuma, Arizona - February 1982  F/A-18A+B Hornets (VFA-125) over Yuma, Arizona - February 1982  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) over Lake Tahoe - October 1981  F/A-18A Hornet (VFA-125) over Lake Tahoe - October 1981 |
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There have been three distinct squadrons known as the Rough Raiders.
The first VA-125 was most likely established in 1946 as Naval
Reserve Squadron VA-923. It was activated for service in the Korean
War on 20 July 1959, redesignated VA-125 in February 1953 and was
disestablished on 10 April 1958. The second VA-125 was established
on 30 June 1956 as VA-26 and redesignated
VA-125 Rough Raiders on 11 April 1958, one day after the
first VA-125 disestablished. That second VA-125 was disestablished
on 1 October 1977. The VFA-125 "Rough Raiders" were established on 13 November 1980 at NAS Lemoore, California, becoming the Navy's first F/A-18 squadron. Often, a new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of earlier squadrons, but officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. VFA-125 received its first aircraft in April 1981, and by March 1985, had amassed over 30,000 mishap-free flight hours in the Hornet. On 1 October 2010, VFA-125 was deactivated as an F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron, and its aircraft and personnel were incorporated into VFA-122. - - - The "Rough Raiders" trained F/A-18 pilots for the U.S. Navy, pilots and Naval Flight Officers for the U.S Marine Corps, and pilots and weapon systems officers for various NATO and Allied nations. Flight training was supplemented by the latest state-of-the-art computer flight simulators and computer based academic instruction to enhance understanding and performance in the Hornet. In addition, the squadron routinely conducted strike and fighter detachments to NAF El Centro, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada, as well as aboard aircraft carriers in both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. Every 6 weeks a class of between 8-12 newly winged USN and USMC Naval Aviators began the 9-month training course in which they learned the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Hornet squadrons. In shorter training tracks, they were augmented by a smaller cohort of Lieutenant Commanders and Majors returning for squadron Department Head and Marine squadron XO assignments, command-screened Commanders and Lieutenant Colonels returning for squadron XO/CO (USN) and CO (USMC) assignments, and Captains and Colonels en route to Strike Fighter Wing Commodore, Carrier Air Wing Commander and Marine Aircraft Group Commanding Officer assignments. VFA-125 averaged 1,500 flight hours monthly and trained approximately 120 pilots each year. Pilots from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Air Force, the Canadian Forces (now Royal Canadian Air Force), the Spanish Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force, the Kuwait Air Force, and Finnish Air Force were trained at VFA-125. By May 1996, VFA-125 had amassed over 70,000 mishap-free flight hours in the Hornet, and was recognized for this milestone with the CNO Aviation Safety Award. By January 1998 they were the first Fleet Readiness Squadron to surpass 100,000 mishap free flight hours. VFA-125 was also responsible for transitioning experienced naval aviators from other aircraft, such as the A-6 Intruder, F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking, to the Hornet as those earlier aircraft were retired from the Fleet. Aircrew returning from non-flying assignments also underwent refresher training at VFA-125 prior to returning to the Fleet. Additionally, VFA-125 (with the help from the Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit: CNATTTU) trained maintenance personnel and provided replacement aircraft to Fleet units. VFA-125's East Coast counterpart was VFA-106, initially at NAS Cecil Field until late 1999, and then at NAS Oceana. Additionally, VMFAT-101 at MCAS El Toro and later at MCAS Miramar also trained Navy and Marine Corps Hornet operators. On 1 October 2010, VFA-125 was deactivated and its aircraft and personnel were merged into VFA-122. The merger was intended to cut administrative costs and streamline training in anticipation of the F/A-18A+, F/A-18C, and F/A-18D Hornet being replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II in the coming years. The 'merged' squadron continued operations as the VFA-122 Flying Eagles while the Rough Raiders of VFA-125 were put into "hibernation" until a later date pending reactivation as an F-35 training squadron. The squadron was re-activated at NAS Lemoore on 12 January 2017 as the west coast F-35C Lightning II FRS. It received its first aircraft on 25 January 2017. The aircraft were transferred from VFA-101 which became the first F-35C FRS in May 2012. source: wikipedia |
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