VF-143

Fighter Squadron 143
VF-143 squadron insignia
Active	20 July 1950 – 1 April 1958
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Fighter aircraft
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Kingpins
Engagements	Korean War
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F4U-4 Corsair F9F-6 Cougar FJ-3M Fury

Fighter Squadron 143 or VF-143 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy originally established as a Naval Reserve squadron VF-821 on 20 July 1950, it was redesignated VF-143 on 4 February 1953 and disestablished on 1 April 1958.

VF-821 equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs was deployed on USS Princeton to the waters off Korea from 30 May-12 September 1951. The squadron lost 4 F4s and 3 pilots killed during this deployment.

In June 1952 VF-821 now re-equipped with F9F-6 Cougars was again deployed to Korea on USS Essex. The deployment ended on 6 February 1953 without the squadron losing any aircraft.

VF-143 was embarked on the USS Philippine Sea in 1955.

VF-143 was embarked on the USS Hancock for a western Pacific deployment from 6 April to 18 September 1957.