Attack Squadron 125 (ATKRON 125) VA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’
STATUS:		First VA-125: established as VA-55E in 1946 (Reserve Squadron) VA-55E redesignated VA-923 in January 1950 (Reserve Squadron) VA-923 activated on July 20, 1950 VA-923 redesignated VA-125 on February 4, 1953 VA-125 disestablished on April 10, 1958 Second VA-125: established as VA-26 on June 30, 1956 VA-26 redesignated VA-125 on April 11, 1958 VA-125 disestablished on October 1, 1977
AIRCRAFT:		First VA-125: Douglas AD-3/4/5/6/7 Skyraider (1953-58) Second VA-125: (year received the aircraft) Douglas AD-5 (A-1E) Skyraider (1960) Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk (1958) Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk (1958) Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk (1960) Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (1962) Douglas A-4F Skyhawk (1968) Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk (1966) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (1969) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II (1969) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7C Corsair II (1975)
DEPLOYMENTS:		First VA-125: May 1951 - December 1951 with CVG-102 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV 31) September 1952 - May 1953 with CVG-102 aboard USS Oriskany (CV 34) March 1954 - October 1954 with CVG-12 aboard USS Boxer (CVA 21) August 1955 - March 1956 with CVG-12 aboard USS Hancock (CVA 19) April 1957 - October 1957 with CVG-12 aboard USS Lexington (CVA 16) Second VA-125: no combat deployments because VA-125 was a Fleet Replacement Squadron (training unit)
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T-28B Trojan shared by VA-122 and VA-125 - circa 1975 (NNAM) a formation of five different models of the A-4 Skyhawk (VA-125) A-4B, A-4C, A-4E, A-4F and TA-4F - 1969
history
First VA-125: VA-125 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as Reserve Attack Squadron VA-55E, most likely during the activation of the Naval Air Reserve in 1946. It remained in an inactive status until January 1950, when it was redesignated VA-923. The squadron was called to active duty on 20 July 1950. It was redesignated VA-125 on 4 February 1953, and disestablished on 10 April 1958. Its nickname was the Rough Raiders from 1952 onward. February 1, 1953: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander J. C. Micheel, was killed in action in Korea. The Squadron was homeported at NAS Miramar, California. Second VA-125: Significant events: 11 Apr 1958: The squadron’s mission was changed from air-to-ground/surface attack to the indoctrination and training of pilots and enlisted personnel in attack aircraft for assignment to combat carrier squadrons. 11 Dec 1958: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander J. E. Thomas, was killed in an aircraft accident. Mar 1960: With the addition of the A4D-2N Skyhawk, the squadron added radar and inflight refueling training to its flight syllabus. 19 May 1966: VA-125 was the first squadron in the Navy to receive the TA-4F Skyhawk. Jun 1966: The first of several groups of Australians arrived for training by the squadron on the A-4 Skyhawk. The pilots were to form the nucleus of Australia’s first A-4 squadron scheduled for assignment to HMAS Melborne (R-21). 13 Mar 1967: The squadron’s commanding officer, Commander J. D. Shaw, was killed in an aircraft accident during a routine carrier qualification exercise on the Kearsarge (CVS 33). 31 Mar 1969: The last A-4 Fleet Replacement Pilot class began. 30 Jun 1969: The last A-4 Fleet Replacement Enlisted Maintenance training program was completed. Nov 1969: The squadron began to develop the required training program for the Light Attack Weapons School. In December 1969 the squadron, in conjunction with VA-122, inaugurated a graduate level course for the Light Attack Weapons School that involved all phases of attack aviation. Jan 1970: The first A-7 Fleet Replacement Enlisted Maintenance and Fleet Replacement Pilot classes began. Homeport assignments: NAS Moffett Field, California: 1958-61 NAS Lemoore, California: 1977
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