The ‘Challengers’ of VF-43 were established in May 1945 as VF-74A, then went through many name-changes: VF-74 in August 1945, VF-1B in November 1946, VF-21 in September 1948, VA-43 in July 1959, then VF-43 in June 1973. They operated a mix of Douglas A-4Fs and TA-4Fs Skyhawks, Northrop F-5E and F-5F Tigers, General Dynamics F-16N and TF-16Ns, and the North American T-2C Buckeyes, all for the sole purpose of providing air combat training to the Fleet fighter squadrons. This is their ‘KFIR/F-21’ version of their aircraft triangle.
