Navy Fighter Weapons School
"TOP GUN"
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- ABOUT TOP GUN
Sometimes confused with the VF-126 Fighting Seahawks / Bandits. NFWS (TOP GUN) and VF-126 are two different entities.
Navy Attack Squadron 126 (VA-126) was established 1958 with the Grumman
TF-9 Cougar for fleet instrument training. When the Skyhawk was being replaced as the fleet attack aircraft in 1967, "126", now VF-126, was already providing aircraft for aggressor training. The Skyhawk was chosen as the bandit aircraft because of
its small size, maneuverability and smokeless trail, similiar to a MiG-17. VF-126
started providing the adversary mission from Miramar in April 1967. VF-126 continued
the bandit mission until they were disestablished in April 1994.
The Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOP GUN) was originally established as a "school" within VF-121, a F-4 Phantom Replacement Air Group (RAG) at NAS Miramar.
NFWS was tasked with providing graduate level Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) training and utilized VF-126 A-4 assests for the aggressor role. The first class started 03 MAR 1969.
NFWS evolved in January 1972 into a separate VF-121 detachment, continuing to use VF-126 A-4’s and maintenance support personnel.
The NFWS instructors flew the A-4’s, and each crew going through as students brought with them their own squadron maintenance personnel and own squadron aircraft.
In July 1972 NFWS was given full squadron status as the Naval
Fighter Weapons School. NFWS handled the graduate
courses for Navy pilots, while VF-126 continued as the "day to day" adversary unit,
supporting the F-4's & F-14's at Miramar.
- 03 MAR 1969: VF-121, a F-4 RAG unit starts first NFWS class.
- JAN 1972: NFWS becomes a separate detachment of VF-126.
- 07 JUL 1972: NFWS awarded status as a separate squadron.
- 1996: NFWS is integrated into the NSAWC (Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center) at NAS Fallon.
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Home Ports
Air Wings
Deployments
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Events
- DEC 1960: VF-121 receives F-4A Phantom II for training fleet replacement pilots. Original these Phantoms was designated F4H-1, then F4H-1F, and finally the F-4A.
- 1961: VF-121 receives the F-4B Phantom II.
- 03 MAR 1969: VF-121, the existing F-4 RAG (Replacement Air Group) stationed at NAS Mirmar begins to instruct pilots in Dissimiliar Air Combat Maneuvering. Initial aircraft included the A-4 Skyhawk to replicate the MiG-17 and borrowed T-38 Talons to replicate the MiG-21. Later the F-5 replaced the T-38.
- 197x - 8x: F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets become the primary fleet aircraft but NWFS Instructors retain the A-4s and F-5s. The USAF F-16 is added to simulate the MiG-29 and Su-27. The F-16s were ultimately grounded due to flight related stress cracks.
- 199x: Instruction now includes air-to-ground strike, and the A-4s and F-5s are retired in favor of F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft.
- 1996: Due to the transfer of NAS Miramar to the Marines, NFWS moves to NAS Fallon and is integrated into the NSAWC (Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center). This consolidation includes NFWS, the Naval Strike Warfare Center and the Carrier Airborne Eary Warning Weapons School.
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Awards
Sources
- David A. Weber
- John Chesire
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