Second VA-125 (U.S. Navy)

This VA-125 was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, and was the second squadron to bear the VA-125 designation. It was established as VA-26 on 30 June 1956, and redesignated VA-125 on 11 April 1958. The squadron was disestablished on 1 October 1977. Its nickname was Skylanchers from 1956-1958, and Rough Raiders thereafter.

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.

Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAS Miramar – 30 Jun 1956
 * NAS Moffett Field – Aug 1956
 * NAS Lemoore – 24 Jul 1961

Aircraft Assignment
The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:
 * F9F-8B Cougar – Jul 1956
 * F9F-8 Cougar – Oct 1956
 * A4D-1 Skyhawk – 10 Jun 1958
 * A4D-2/A-4B Skyhawk – Aug 1958
 * A4D-2N/A-4C Skyhawk – 03 Mar 1960
 * AD-5/A-1E Skyraider – Sep 1960
 * A-4E Skyhawk – Dec 1962
 * TA-4F Skyhawk – 19 May 1966
 * A-4F Skyhawk – Feb 1968
 * A-7B Corsair II – 25 Sep 1969
 * A-7A Corsair II – Oct 1969
 * A-7C Corsair II – Aug 1975