U.S. NAVY VF-124 Gunfighters Patch by COMMANDO

The COMMANDO U.S. Navy VF-124 Gunfighters Patch commemorates Fighter Squadron 124, a renowned US Navy unit responsible for preparing generations of naval aviators to operate some of America's most advanced carrier-based fighters. Known as the "Gunfighters", VF-124 played an important role in the introduction of the F-8 Crusader and F-14 Tomcat into US Navy service.

The History Behind VF-124

The squadron was originally established as Fighter Squadron 53 (VF-53) on 16 August 1948. It operated several generations of Navy fighters during its early years, including the F4U Corsair and F9F Panther. On 11 April 1958, it was redesignated VF-124 as the US Navy expanded its training capability to support the introduction of faster, swept-wing jet fighters.

The squadron initially specialised in training pilots to fly the Vought F-8 Crusader. Based at Naval Air Station Miramar in California from 1961, VF-124 became an important part of the Pacific Fleet's fighter training organisation. Its instructors prepared pilots for the demanding requirements of carrier-based jet operations, including high-speed approaches, carrier landings, air combat manoeuvres and weapons employment.

The F-8 Crusader earned a particularly distinctive place in naval aviation history. Nicknamed the "Last of the Gunfighters", it retained four 20 mm cannon as its primary armament at a time when many contemporary fighters were increasingly relying on guided missiles. Crusaders served extensively during the Vietnam War, where their pilots achieved notable success in aerial combat. VF-124 trained many of the pilots who subsequently flew these missions.

The F-14 Tomcat Era

In the early 1970s, VF-124 took on an even more significant training responsibility with the arrival of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. The Tomcat was designed as a long-range fleet defence fighter, featuring variable-sweep wings and the powerful AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missile system.

VF-124 became the Pacific Fleet's F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron, responsible for training pilots and radar intercept officers before they joined operational Tomcat squadrons. The first F-14s arrived in 1972, and the squadron began training crews in the new aircraft as the Navy prepared its frontline units for the transition.

An important part of this programme involved training Iranian military personnel to operate the F-14A. Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, VF-124 trained pilots and crews for the Imperial Iranian Air Force's Tomcat fleet. The squadron also developed expertise in the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS), which gave the F-14 an additional reconnaissance role.

VF-124 continued training Tomcat crews through the 1980s and early 1990s, including instruction on the later F-14B and F-14D variants. The squadron was disestablished on 30 September 1994, with its F-14 training responsibilities consolidated with the East Coast replacement squadron, VF-101.

The Gunfighters Patch

The Gunfighters name reflects the squadron's long association with fighter aviation and its role in preparing naval aircrews for demanding operational duties. Fleet replacement squadrons occupied an important position in carrier aviation: they maintained the skills and standards required to transition pilots and radar intercept officers onto new aircraft and into frontline units.

This morale patch recognises the history of VF-124 and its association with the Crusader and Tomcat eras of US Navy aviation. It is a fitting collectible for enthusiasts of carrier-based fighters, naval aviation training and the history of the F-14 Tomcat.

Features

• Commemorates US Navy Fighter Squadron VF-124
• Recognises the squadron's Gunfighters identity
• Celebrates its F-8 Crusader training heritage
• Highlights its role in introducing crews to the F-14 Tomcat
• Recognises the squadron's contribution to naval aviation training
• Woven cloth patch construction
• Suitable for US Navy and military aviation memorabilia collections

Specifications
Brand: COMMANDO
Product Code: BD0053
Design: U.S. Navy VF-124 Gunfighters
Unit: Fighter Squadron 124
Construction: Woven cloth
Attachment: Sew-on
Dimensions: 100 x 110 mm
Barcode / GTIN: 9357994008712

The COMMANDO VF-124 Gunfighters Patch is a tribute to a distinguished naval aviation training squadron and the pilots and aircrew who carried its fighter traditions into the skies.