Navy
Fighter Weapons School
"TOP GUN"
The Squadron Duty Officer
(SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help
old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit
information. The
SDO List.
The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related
information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all
eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.
Patch
Handle
Heritage
- ABOUT TOP GUN
Sometimes confused with the VF-126 Fighting Seahawks / Bandits. NFWS
(TOP GUN) and VF-126 are two different entities.
Navy Attack Squadron 126 (VA-126) was established 1958 with the Grumman
TF-9 Cougar for fleet instrument training. When the Skyhawk was being
replaced as the fleet attack aircraft in 1967, "126", now VF-126, was
already providing aircraft for aggressor training. The Skyhawk was
chosen as the bandit aircraft because of its small size,
maneuverability and smokeless trail, similiar to a MiG-17. VF-126
started providing the adversary mission from Miramar in April 1967.
VF-126 continued the bandit mission until they were disestablished in
April 1994.
The Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOP GUN) was originally established
as a "school" within VF-121, a F-4 Phantom Replacement Air Group (RAG)
at NAS Miramar. NFWS was tasked with providing graduate level Air
Combat Maneuvering (ACM) training and utilized VF-126 A-4 assests for
the aggressor role. The first class started 03 MAR 1969.
NFWS evolved in January 1972 into a separate VF-121 detachment,
continuing to use VF-126 A-4’s and maintenance support personnel.
The NFWS instructors flew the A-4’s, and each crew going through as
students brought with them their own squadron maintenance personnel and
own squadron aircraft.
In July 1972 NFWS was given full squadron status as the Naval Fighter
Weapons School. NFWS handled the graduate courses for Navy pilots,
while VF-126 continued as the "day to day" adversary unit, supporting
the F-4's & F-14's at Miramar.
- 03 MAR 1969: VF-121, a F-4 RAG unit starts first NFWS
class.
- JAN 1972: NFWS becomes a separate detachment of
VF-126.
- 07 JUL 1972: NFWS awarded status as a separate
squadron.
- 1996: NFWS is integrated into the NSAWC (Naval Strike
and Air Warfare Center) at NAS Fallon.
- Back to Table of Contents
Home Ports
Air Wings
Deployments
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Events
- DEC 1960: VF-121 receives F-4A Phantom II for
training fleet replacement pilots. Original these Phantoms was
designated F4H-1, then F4H-1F, and finally the F-4A.
- 1961: VF-121 receives the F-4B Phantom II.
- 03 MAR 1969: VF-121, the existing F-4 RAG
(Replacement Air Group) stationed at NAS Mirmar begins to instruct
pilots in Dissimiliar Air Combat Maneuvering. Initial aircraft included
the A-4 Skyhawk to replicate the MiG-17 and borrowed T-38 Talons to
replicate the MiG-21. Later the F-5 replaced the T-38.
- 197x - 8x: F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets become the
primary fleet aircraft but NWFS Instructors retain the A-4s and F-5s.
The USAF F-16 is added to simulate the MiG-29 and Su-27. The F-16s were
ultimately grounded due to flight related stress cracks.
- 199x: Instruction now includes air-to-ground strike,
and the A-4s and F-5s are retired in favor of F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft.
- 1996: Due to the transfer of NAS Miramar to the
Marines, NFWS moves to NAS Fallon and is integrated into the NSAWC
(Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center). This consolidation includes
NFWS, the Naval Strike Warfare Center and the Carrier Airborne Eary
Warning Weapons School.
- Back to Table of Contents
Awards
Sources
- David A. Weber
- John Chesire
Return To
The "Skyhawks Around the World" Page
Return To
The Navy Page
|
