VA-125

• Establishment: VA-125, originally designated as VA-26, was established on 30 June 1956 and redesignated as VA-125 on 11 April 1958. • Nickname: The squadron was known as the “Rough Riders.” • Mission: VA-125 served primarily as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), tasked with training U.S. Navy pilots and maintenance personnel in attack aircraft operations. • Aircraft Flown: Over its history, VA-125 operated several aircraft types, including the AD Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk, and later the A-7 Corsair II. • Location: The squadron was based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Moffett Field, California, before moving to NAS Lemoore, California, in July 1961, which remains a significant Navy air station today. • Vietnam War Role: VA-125 played a crucial role in preparing pilots and crews for combat deployments to Vietnam, especially in the A-4 Skyhawk and A-7 Corsair II. • Training Legacy: The squadron’s rigorous training program contributed to the readiness and effectiveness of multiple front-line attack squadrons during the Cold War and Vietnam era. • Female Aviator Milestone: VA-125 was one of the first squadrons to train female naval aviators in the A-7 Corsair II after the Navy opened combat aircraft to women in the 1970s. • Disestablishment: The squadron was disestablished on 1 October 1977, as part of a restructuring of Navy training commands. • Legacy Units: The lineage and traditions of VA-125 continue in various training and operational units within naval aviation, reflecting the squadron's impact on U.S. Navy airpower.