VFC-111
Encyclopedia
Composite Fighter Squadron 111 (VFC-111) Sundowners is a US Navy Reserve adversary squadron
based at Naval Air Station Key West
, Florida
(USA). Currently, it operates 18 Northrop F-5N/F Tiger-IIs, of which 17 are single-seater F-5Ns and the remainder being a twin-seater F-5F, which was dubbed "FrankenTiger" and is one of only three in service with the USN, being a product of grafting the older front half fuselage of the F-5Fs into the back half fuselage of the newer low-hours F-5Es acquired from the Swiss Air Force.
) Detachment Key West, which was established in January 2006. VFC-13 Det Key West was redesignated as VFC-111 in November 2006.
VFC-111 assumed its 'Sundowner' insignia, callsign, and traditions from the VF-111
Sundowners, a famous U.S. Navy fighter squadron, that was disestablished as a fleet F-14 Tomcat
squadron at then-NAS Miramar, CA in 1995. Officially, in contrast with the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons.
fighter squadrons.
Ostensibly assigned to the Navy Reserve
's Tactical Support Wing, VFC-111 is actually an Active-Reserve Integration (ARI) unit composed of both Regular Navy and Navy Reserve personnel. In this capacity, it has assumed the adversary role of a since deactivated active duty squadron at NAS Key West known as Fighter Squadron 45 (VF-45). VFC-111's unique location at NAS Key West, Florida, home of the Navy's Strike Fighter Air Readiness Program (SFARP), eliminates costly adversary detachments and also provides a significant portion of adversary support to all F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron
s (FRS) in the Navy and Marine Corps, i.e., Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106
) at NAS Oceana, VA; Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122
) at NAS Lemoore, CA; Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101
) at MCAS Miramar, CA; and more recently with Electronic Attack Squadron 129 VAQ-129 at NAS Whidbey Island, WA following that squadron's stand-up of EA-18G Growler
training.
Aggressor squadron
An aggressor squadron or adversary squadron is a squadron that is trained to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat...
based at Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(USA). Currently, it operates 18 Northrop F-5N/F Tiger-IIs, of which 17 are single-seater F-5Ns and the remainder being a twin-seater F-5F, which was dubbed "FrankenTiger" and is one of only three in service with the USN, being a product of grafting the older front half fuselage of the F-5Fs into the back half fuselage of the newer low-hours F-5Es acquired from the Swiss Air Force.
History
VFC-111 was originally known as Fighter Composite Squadron 13 (VFC-13VFC-13
Fighter Squadron Composite Saints is a US Navy fighter squadron that provides adversary training for U.S. Navy air wings at NAS Fallon, Nevada.VFC-13 uses "Bogey" as its main radio callsign.-History:...
) Detachment Key West, which was established in January 2006. VFC-13 Det Key West was redesignated as VFC-111 in November 2006.
VF-111
Fighter Squadron 111 , also known as the Sundowners, was the designation held by two U.S. Navy fighter squadrons from 1942 to 1995. The first squadron, initially designated VF-11, served as an active Pacific Fleet Fighter Squadron until its disestablishment in 1959. At that time, another squadron...
Sundowners, a famous U.S. Navy fighter squadron, that was disestablished as a fleet F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
squadron at then-NAS Miramar, CA in 1995. Officially, in contrast with the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons.
Commanding History
Since established in January 2006, commanding officers of VFC-111 are as follows:- Rick Dewalt
- Mark Brazelton
- James Beasley
Mission
The Sundowners operate as part of the U.S. Navy Reserve's fleet adversary program, providing dissimilar air combat training to fleet strike fighter and Marine fighter attack squadrons, as well as U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National GuardAir National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
fighter squadrons.
Ostensibly assigned to the Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
's Tactical Support Wing, VFC-111 is actually an Active-Reserve Integration (ARI) unit composed of both Regular Navy and Navy Reserve personnel. In this capacity, it has assumed the adversary role of a since deactivated active duty squadron at NAS Key West known as Fighter Squadron 45 (VF-45). VFC-111's unique location at NAS Key West, Florida, home of the Navy's Strike Fighter Air Readiness Program (SFARP), eliminates costly adversary detachments and also provides a significant portion of adversary support to all F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron
Fleet Replacement Squadron
A Fleet Replacement Squadron , is a unit of the United States Navy and Marine Corps that trains Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers on the specific front-line aircraft they have been assigned to fly...
s (FRS) in the Navy and Marine Corps, i.e., Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106
VFA-106
Strike Fighter Squadron 106 , also known as the "Gladiators," is a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.-Mission:...
) at NAS Oceana, VA; Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122
VFA-122
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 , also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet A/B/C/D Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.-History:...
) at NAS Lemoore, CA; Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101
VMFAT-101
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet training squadron. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing .-History:Marine Fighter...
) at MCAS Miramar, CA; and more recently with Electronic Attack Squadron 129 VAQ-129 at NAS Whidbey Island, WA following that squadron's stand-up of EA-18G Growler
EA-18G Growler
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G will replace the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler's electronic warfare capability is...
training.
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons