Unit Name: | Fighter Squadron 122 |
Dates: | 2 August 1950 – 10 April 1958 |
Country: | United States |
Branch: | United States Navy |
Role: | Fighter aircraft |
Command Structure: | Inactive |
Nickname: | Black Angels |
Battles: | Korean War |
Fighter Squadron 122 or VF-122 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as Reserve Squadron 783 (VF-783) it was called to active duty on 2 August 1950, it was re-designated VF-122 on 4 February 1953 and disestablished on 10 April 1958.[1]
VF-783 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102) aboard the for a deployment to Korea from 10 May to 17 December 1951. During this deployment VF-783 lost 8 F4U-4s and 3 pilots killed.[2]
VF-783/VF-122 was assigned to Carrier Air Group Twelve (CVG-12) aboard, which was deployed to Korea from 15 September 1952 to 18 May 1953. It lost 4 F9F-5s and 2 pilots killed.[2] On 13 April 1953, the engine of an F9F Panther from the squadron flamed out during a photo reconnaissance mission and the pilot Lt(jg) Roy Tailor was killed when he attempted to ditch the plane at sea. On 20 April 1953, pilot Randolph T. Scoggan was killed when his F9F Panther was shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed into the sea.[3]
VF-122 was embarked on for a Western Pacific deployment from 3 March to 11 October 1954.
VF-122 was assigned to Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3) aboard for a Western Pacific deployment from 5 January to 23 June 1956.