VF-124

Fighter Squadron 124
VF-124 squadron patch
Active	August 16, 1948 - September 30, 1994
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Fleet replacement squadron
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	"Gunfighters"
Engagements	Korean War
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F4U-4B Corsair F9F-5 Panther F-8 Crusader F-14 Tomcat

Fighter Squadron 124 or VF-124 Gunfighters was a fleet replacement squadron (FRS) of the United States Navy. Originally established on 16 August 1948 as VF-53 it was redesignated VF-124 at NAS Moffett Field on 11 April 1958 due to a need for an increased number of flight training squadrons, itself necessary because of introduction of swept wing fighters into Navy service. In 1961, the squadron relocated to NAS Miramar, California, which would become the U.S. Pacific Fleet's Master Jet Base for fighter aircraft.

The squadron's task as an FRS was the training of pilots for the F-8 Crusader, and later the training of pilots and radar intercept officers for the F-14 Tomcat. The squadron was disestablished on 30 September 1994 and its F-14 FRS mission consolidated with its U.S. Atlantic Fleet counterpart, VF-101, at NAS Oceana, Virginia.

VF-53 equipped with F4U-4B Corsairs was assigned to Carrier Air Group 5 aboard USS Valley Forge from 1 May to 1 December 1950 and was one of the first navy squadrons deployed to the Korean War. The squadron deployed again on USS Essex from 26 June 1951 to 25 March 1952. Reequipped with the F9F-5 Panther the squadron deployed on USS Valley Forge from 20 November 1952 to 25 June 1953.

When initially established, VF-124 had four missions assigned: