Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101)
Professional services
UnclaimedA former United States Navy Fleet Replacement Squadron known as the Grim Reapers, operating successively as VF-101 and VFA-101.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Strike Fighter Squadron 101, designated VF-101 during its Tomcat era and VFA-101 after its reactivation, was a United States Navy aviation training unit better known as the Grim Reapers. Unlike a conventional operational squadron, its principal role was to prepare replacement aircrews and maintenance personnel for fleet service. The squadron therefore served as an important link between naval aviation training and front-line carrier squadrons. The VF-101 subject was established at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, on 1 May 1952. It inherited the Grim Reapers nickname and traditions associated with an earlier Navy squadron, although the Navy does not formally treat separately established units with the same designation as having direct lineage. The new VF-101 initially flew the FG-1D Corsair and later converted to the jet-powered F2H-2 Banshee. In the mid-1950s it deployed with Carrier Air Group 1 aboard USS Midway, including a round-the-world cruise. It subsequently transitioned to the F4D-1 Skyray and participated in NATO’s 1957 Operation Strikeback with Carrier Air Group 7 aboard USS Saratoga. Beginning in 1958, VF-101 became increasingly focused on all-weather fighter instruction. It trained crews on the Skyray and F3H-2 Demon before moving into the F-4 Phantom II pipeline. Training responsibilities were divided between locations including Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Air Station Key West, and associated detachments. Instruction covered carrier qualification, aerial refueling, conventional weapons, air-to-air combat, missile employment, and radar interception. In 1967 the squadron received the F-4J, continuing its role as a major East Coast replacement training organization. VF-101 began operating and teaching the F-14 Tomcat in January 1976. Its Tomcat mission expanded as other F-4 training functions were transferred to VF-171 in 1977. During the 1980s the squadron introduced the improved F-14A+ model, later redesignated F-14B, and accumulated repeated safety recognitions. In the 1990s it helped broaden the Tomcat’s employment from a primarily air-to-air fighter into a credible strike platform. Training eventually covered conventional bombs, cluster munitions, laser-guided weapons, air-launched decoys, and JDAM precision weapons. After the disestablishment of West Coast F-14 replacement squadron VF-124 in 1994, VF-101 became the Navy’s sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron. As the Navy transitioned from the F-14 to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, VF-101’s requirement declined. It was deactivated at Naval Air Station Oceana on 30 September 2005. The squadron was reactivated at Eglin Air Force Base on 1 May 2012 and redesignated VFA-101. In this form it trained personnel for the carrier-capable F-35C Lightning II and worked within the joint 33d Fighter Wing while remaining part of the Navy’s strike-fighter training structure. VFA-101 surpassed 1,000 mishap-free F-35C flight hours in November 2014. The Navy announced its deactivation in 2018, and the squadron completed deactivation on 23 May 2019. Its assets and support personnel were consolidated with VFA-125 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, the Navy’s remaining F-35C replacement-training organization.
History
Strike Fighter Squadron 101 was established as VF-101 at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, on 1 May 1952. The unit adopted the Grim Reapers name and traditions associated with an earlier squadron, though the Navy does not officially recognize direct lineage between separately established units sharing a designation or nickname. VF-101 first operated the FG-1D Corsair and received the F2H-2 Banshee later in 1952. It deployed with Carrier Air Group 1 aboard USS Midway during a global cruise from December 1954 to July 1955. The squadron moved through several aircraft and organizational roles during the 1950s and 1960s. It converted to the radar-equipped F4D-1 Skyray in 1956 and participated in NATO’s Operation Strikeback in 1957 aboard USS Saratoga. In 1958 it merged with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic and became principally responsible for all-weather fighter instruction. F-4 Phantom II training was distributed between detachments at Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Air Station Key West. These programs covered carrier qualification, aerial refueling, conventional weapons, air-to-air combat, missile firing, and radar-intercept techniques. The squadron received the F-4J in 1967. After changes to its administrative command in 1970 and 1971, VF-101 operated primarily from Naval Air Station Oceana, retaining a Key West detachment for many years. A detachment also deployed aboard USS America with Carrier Air Wing 8 to the Mediterranean from July to December 1971. In January 1976 VF-101 began its long association with the F-14 Tomcat. Its F-4 training department became the separate VF-171 in August 1977, allowing VF-101 to concentrate on Tomcat replacement training. The unit received safety awards and citations during the 1970s and 1980s, and began receiving the more powerful F-14A+, later called the F-14B, in 1988. During the 1990s VF-101 helped develop the Tomcat’s strike role. After fleet units demonstrated that the aircraft could deliver bombs, VF-101 incorporated increasingly broad air-to-ground instruction, including general-purpose, cluster, laser-guided, decoy, and JDAM weapons. The disestablishment of West Coast F-14 replacement squadron VF-124 in 1994 left VF-101 as the sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron. It trained crews across F-14A, F-14B, and F-14D variants and at one point operated approximately 130 Tomcats, along with a small number of T-34 Mentor aircraft. VF-101 was deactivated on 30 September 2005 as the Navy retired the F-14 and transitioned to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. It was reactivated at Eglin Air Force Base on 1 May 2012 as VFA-101, becoming an F-35C Lightning II Fleet Replacement Squadron. The unit worked with the joint 33d Fighter Wing and supported Navy and Marine Corps carrier aviation training. It exceeded 1,000 mishap-free F-35C flight hours in November 2014. Following a Navy decision to consolidate F-35C replacement training, VFA-101 completed deactivation on 23 May 2019, and its personnel and equipment were transferred to VFA-125 at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- 2019
Final deactivation
[1]VFA-101 was deactivated on 23 May and consolidated into VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore.
- 2012
VFA-101 reactivated for F-35C training
[1]The unit was reactivated at Eglin Air Force Base and redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 101.
- 2005
VF-101 deactivated
[1]The Tomcat-era squadron was deactivated at NAS Oceana on 30 September.
- 1994
Becomes sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron
[1]Following VF-124’s disestablishment, VF-101 became the Navy’s only F-14 replacement-training squadron.
- 1976
F-14 Tomcat training begins
[1]VF-101 began training Tomcat aircrews and maintenance personnel.
- 1967
F-4J received
[1]The squadron received the F-4J Phantom II for its fighter and interceptor training programs.
- 1958
All-weather fighter training role begins
[1]VF-101 merged with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic and shifted toward a dedicated training mission.
- 1955
Global cruise with USS Midway
[1]The squadron completed a circumnavigation deployment with Carrier Air Group 1 aboard USS Midway.
- 1952
VF-101 established
[1]The squadron was established at NAS Cecil Field on 1 May and began flying the FG-1D Corsair before transitioning to the F2H-2 Banshee.
Products and positioning
A specialized U.S. Navy training and transition unit that prepared carrier aviation personnel for successive generations of fighter and strike-fighter aircraft.
Military aviation training · 1976
F-14 Tomcat Fleet Replacement Training
VF-101’s principal late-Cold War and post-Cold War mission was to train replacement F-14 aircrews and maintenance personnel. The program covered multiple Tomcat variants and expanded beyond interception to include carrier operations, aerial refueling, air combat, radar work, and a broad suite of air-to-ground weapons. The squadron became the Navy’s sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron after VF-124 was disestablished in 1994.
Military aviation training · 2012
F-35C Lightning II Fleet Replacement Training
After its 2012 reactivation and redesignation as VFA-101, the Grim Reapers prepared Navy and Marine Corps personnel for the carrier-capable F-35C Lightning II. The unit operated from Eglin Air Force Base within the joint 33d Fighter Wing and served as one of the Navy’s F-35C replacement-training organizations until its consolidation with VFA-125 in 2019.
Marketing campaigns
- 1971Mediterranean deployment
Mediterranean Sea
VF-101 Detachment 66 deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard USS America from July through December.
Outcome. The detachment supported a carrier deployment while the parent unit continued its training responsibilities.
- 1957Operation Strikeback
North Atlantic · NATO
VF-101 participated in the NATO exercise from 3 September to 22 October with Carrier Air Group 7 aboard USS Saratoga.
Outcome. The deployment provided operational experience with the F4D-1 Skyray in a major multinational naval exercise.
Brand decisions
2019
Consolidation of F-35C replacement trainingStrategyBackground
The Navy decided to consolidate the remaining F-35C replacement-training capability.
Action taken
VFA-101 was deactivated and its personnel and assets were moved to VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore.
Aftermath
VFA-125 became the continuing F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron associated with the consolidated mission.
2012
Reactivation for the F-35CGeneration changeBackground
The Navy and Marine Corps needed replacement training for the carrier-capable F-35C Lightning II.
Action taken
The unit was reactivated at Eglin Air Force Base and redesignated VFA-101.
Aftermath
It served as an F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron until its 2019 consolidation into VFA-125.
2005
Deactivation after F-14 retirementStrategyBackground
Fleet squadrons were transitioning from the F-14 to newer F/A-18 aircraft, reducing the need for a dedicated F-14 replacement unit.
Action taken
VF-101 was deactivated at NAS Oceana on 30 September.
Aftermath
The Grim Reapers returned in 2012 with a new F-35C training mission.
1976
Transition to the F-14 TomcatGeneration changeBackground
The Navy required a replacement-training organization for the F-14, its advanced carrier fighter.
Action taken
VF-101 began operating and instructing aircrews and maintainers on the Tomcat.
Aftermath
The squadron became the Navy’s principal and eventually sole F-14 Fleet Replacement Squadron.
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