VF-194

Fighter Squadron 194
VF-194 insignia
Active	26 March 1952 - 1 March 1978
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	fighter squadron
Nickname(s)	"Red Lightnings"
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War

Fighter Squadron 194 (VF-194) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was originally established as VF-91 on 26 March 1952, redesignated VF-194 on 1 August 1963 and disestablished on 1 March 1978. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated VF-194.

The US Navy does not recognize the tradition of squadrons once they have been disestablished. Therefore, even if there is a squadron with the same designation and nickname, it is officially a totally new squadron. Four different squadrons have been designated VF-194 since 1948, VF-194 Main Battery (1950-1955), VF-194 Yellow Devils (1955-1958), VF-194 Red Lightnings (1952-1977) and VF-194 Red Lightnings (1986-8), this page is focussed on the third VF-194.

VF-91 was established on 26 March 1952 and equipped with the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) and made its first deployment on the USS Philippine Sea from December 1952 to August 1953 to Korea and the Western Pacific.

In 1954 the squadron exchanged their Panthers for the swept wing Grumman F9F-6 Cougar. Between 11 May 1954 and 12 December 1954 VF-91 circumnavigated the world aboard the USS Hornet. From February to June 1956 VF-91 made its next deployment on the USS Kearsarge ((CVA-33) as part of CVG-5, this time equipped with the F9F-8 Cougar.

The F9F-8s were replaced by the North American FJ-3 Fury in 1957 and the squadron made a Western Pacific cruise aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) between September 1957 and April 1958.

In 1959 VF-91 transitioned to the Vought F-8C Crusader and made three deployments aboard the USS Ranger between 1960 and 1963.

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