Fleet Replacement Squadron
A Fleet Replacement Squadron is a unit of the United States Navy or Marine Corps that trains Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, enlisted Naval Aircrewmen and maintenance personnel on the specific front-line aircraft they have been assigned to fly or maintain. Students, referred to as Replacement Pilots, Replacement Flight Officers or Replacement Aircrew are either newly winged aviators, aviators transitioning from one type aircraft to another, or aviators returning to the cockpit after a period of non-flying. After completing the training regimen, graduates are assigned to fleet squadrons. Additionally, FRSs are responsible for providing replacement aircraft for fleet squadron attrition, and for standardizing maintenance and aircraft operations.
The U.S. Navy and U.S Marine Corps sometimes share FRSs. For example, up until the recent establishment of an FRS for the Navy's new CMV-22 Osprey aircraft USN personnel were trained by the USMC's VMMT-204, and all USMC F-35C pilots and maintenance personnel are trained by the USN's VFA-125. In the past, USN H-53 students were once trained at the USMC H-53 FRS and F/A-18C/D students of both service were trained in either the USMC F/A-18C/D FRS or by one of the USN's F/A-18C/D FRSs. An FRS which trains students of both services will be staffed with instructors of both services as well.
From 1958 to 1970 the FRSs for carrier based aircraft were organized under Readiness Carrier Air Group FOUR or Readiness Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group FIFTY in the Atlantic Fleet and Readiness Carrier Air Group TWELVE or Readiness Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group FIFTY ONE in the Pacific Fleet. These Readiness Carrier Air Groups were colloquially called "Readiness Air Groups" or "RAGs" for short. In 1963 RCVG-4 and RCVG-12 were redesignated Readiness Carrier Air Wings RCVW-4 and RCVW-12 which had no affect on the use of the term "RAG" and in 1970 they and RCVSG-50 and 51 were disestablished which also had no affect on the use of the term "RAG" and to this day Fleet Replacement Squadrons are still referred to as "RAGs". When RCVW-4 and 12 and RCVSG-50 and 51 were disestablished in 1970 the Atlantic Fleet Fleet Replacement Squadrons were all realigned under the respective type wings and in the Pacific Fleet under the respective functional wings as they were all established from 1970 through 1973.
Note: The parenthetical or appended to some squadron designations in the tables below are not a part of that squadron's designation. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than one time during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and to specify which use of the designation is indicated.
Currently Active USN and USMC Fleet Replacement Squadrons
Since the disestablishment of RCVW-4, RCVW-12, RCVSG-50 and RCVSG-51 in 1970 all U.S Navy Fleet Replacement Squadrons s are placed organizationally under the Type Wing commander for the respective aircraft type/model. U.S Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadrons are organizationally aligned under a Marine Aircraft Group which operates that type/model aircraft.US Navy
US Marine Corps
Disestablished, Deactivated, Re-designated or otherwise former Fleet Replacement Squadrons
Beginning 1 April 1958 the Navy organized the training squadrons for its carrier based aircraft into Readiness Carrier Air Groups or Readiness Anti-Submarine Carrier Air Groups . The training squadrons for non-carrier based aircraft operated separately from the RCVGs/RCVWs and RCVSGs. While most squadrons listed below were dedicated Fleet Replacement Squadrons, some such as VAQ-33, VAQ-130, HC-1, HC-2 and HC-16 operated a department which performed as an FRS while the remainder of the squadron performed operational or other fleet support functions. The tables below list the former Fleet Replacement Squadrons of the U.S Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.Squadrons of former Readiness Carrier Air Group FOUR (RCVG-4)/Readiness Carrier Air Wing FOUR (RCVW-4)
On 1 April 1958 Carrier Air Group FOUR was re-tasked as the Atlantic Fleet's training air group and it was redesignated Readiness Carrier Air Group FOUR. On 20 December 1963 all Carrier Air Groups were redesignated as Carrier Air Wings and RCVG-4 became Readiness Carrier Air Wing FOUR. RCVW-4 was disestablished on 1 June 1970 and its squadrons were placed under the control of the respective Type Wing for each squadron's aircraft. The squadrons of the disestablished RCVW-4 retained the AD tail code after their realignment to their Type Wings.| Insignia | Squadron Designation | Squadron Lineage | Aircraft | Notes |
| VF-101 | VF-101: 1 May 1952 – 1 May 2012 VFA-101: 1 May 2012 – 1 Jul 2019 | F4D Skyray F3H Demon F-4 Phantom II F-14 Tomcat | NAS Oceana VF FRS from Apr 1958 to deactivation Deactivated then later Reactivated and Redesignated VFA-101 | |
| VF-174 | VB-81: 1 Mar 1944-15 Nov 1946 VA-13A: 15 Nov 1946-2 Aug 1948 VA-134: 2 Aug 1948-15 Feb 1950 VF-174: 15 Feb 1950 – 1 Jul 1966 VA-174: 1 Jul 1966 – 30 Jun 1988 | F8U/F-8 Crusader | NAS Cecil Field VF FRS from 1 May 1958 to redesignation Redesignated VA-174 1 Jul 1966 | |
| VA-174 | VB-81: 1 Mar 1944-15 Nov 1946 VA-13A: 15 Nov 1946-2 Aug 1948 VA-134: 2 Aug 1948-15 Feb 1950 VF-174: 15 Feb 1950-1 Jul 1966 VA-174: 1 Jul 1966 – 30 Jun 1988 | A-7 Corsair II | NAS Cecil Field VA FRS from redesignation to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Jun 1988 | |
| VA-42 - 1992 | VF-42: 1 Sep 1950-1 Nov 1953 VA-42: 1 Nov 1953 – 30 Sep 1994 | AD/A-1 Skyraider A-6 Intruder | NAS Oceana FRS from 24 Oct 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | |
| VA-43 | VF-74A: 1 May 1945-1 Aug 1945 VF-74: 1 Aug 1945-15 Nov 1946 VF-1B: 15 Nov 1946-1 Sep 1948 VF-21: 1 Sep 1948-1 Jul 1959 VA-43: 1 Jul 1959 – 1 Jun 1973 VF-43: 1 Jun 1973 – 1 Jul 1994 | A4D/A-4 Skyhawk | NAS Oceana FRS from 1 Jul 1959 to redesignation Redesignated VF-43 1 Jun 1973 | |
| VA-44 | VF-44: 1 Sep 1950-1 Jan 1956 VA-44: 1 Jan 1956 – 1 May 1970 | AD/A-1 Skyraider A4D/A-4 Skyhawk | NAS Jacksonville NAS Cecil Field FRS from 1 Jun 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 May 1970 | |
| VA-45 | VA-45: 15 Feb 1963 – 7 Feb 1985 VF-45: 7 Feb 1985 – 31 Mar 1996 | A-1 Skyraider | NAS Cecil Field FRS from Feb 1963 to retirement of the A-1 . Flew the A-4 as an adversary squadron after retirement of the A-1 until redesignation Redesignated VF-45 7 Feb 1985 | |
| VAH-3 RVAH-3 | VAH-3: 14 Jun 1956 – 1 Jul 1964 RVAH-3: 1 Jul 1964 – 17 Aug 1979 | VAH-3: A3D/A-3 Skywarrior A3J/A-5 Vigilante RVAH-3: RA-5C Vigilante | NAS Sanford, FL NAS Albany, GA NAS Key West FRS from mid 1958 to disestablishment Distesablished 17 Aug 1979 | |
| RVAW-120 Grey Hawks | RVAW-120: 1 Jul 1967 – 1 May 1983 VAW-120: 1 May 1983 – present | E-1 Tracer E-2 Hawkeye | NAS Norfolk FRS from establishment to present Redesignated VAW-120 |
Squadrons of former Readiness Carrier Air Group TWELVE (RCVG-12)/Readiness Carrier Air Wing TWELVE (RCVW-12)
On 1 April 1958 Carrier Air Group TWELVE was re-tasked as the Pacific Fleet's training air group and it was redesignated Readiness Carrier Air Group TWELVE. On 20 December 1963 all Carrier Air Groups were redesignated as Carrier Air Wings and RCVG-12 became Readiness Carrier Air Wing TWELVE. RCVW-12 was disestablished on 30 June 1970 and its squadrons were placed under the control of the respective Type Wing for each squadron's aircraft. The squadrons of the disestablished RCVW-12 retained the NJ tail code after their realignment to their Type Wings.| Insignia | Squadron Designation | Squadron Lineage | Aircraft | Notes |
| VF-121 | VF-781: 1950-4 Feb 1953 VF-121: 4 Feb 1953 – 30 Sep 1980 | F3H-2N Demon F11F-1 Tiger F-4 Phantom II | NAS North Island NAS Miramar FRS from Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1980 | |
| VA-122 | VC-35: 25 May 1950-1 Jul 1956 VA-35: 1 Jul 1956-29 Jun 1959 VA-122: 29 Jun 1959 – 31 May 1991 | AD/A-1 Skyraider A-7 Corsair II | NAS Lemoore FRS from 29 Jun 1959 to disestablishment Disestablished 31 May 1991 | |
| VAH-123 | Heavy Attack Training Unit Pacific: 15 Jun 1957-29 Jun 1959 VAH-123: 29 Jun 1959 – 1 Feb 1971 | A3D/A-3 Skywarrior A-6 Intruder | NAS Whidbey Island FRS from 15 Jun 1957 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Feb 1971 | |
| VF-124 | VF-53: 16 Aug 1948-11 Apr 1958 VF-124: 11 Apr 1958 – 30 Sep 1994 | F8U/F-8 Crusader F-14 Tomcat | NAS Miramar FRS from 11 Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | |
| VA-125 | VA-26: 30 Jun 1956-11 Apr 1958 VA-125: 11 Apr 1958 – 1 Oct 1977 | A4D/A-4 Skyhawk A-7 Corsair II | NAS Lemoore FRS from 11 Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Oct 1977 | |
| VA-126 | VA-126: 6 Apr 1956 – 15 Oct 1965 VF-126: 15 Oct 1965 – 1 Apr 1994 | F9F-8T/TF-9J Cougar A4D/A-4 Skyhawk | NAS Miramar FRS from 6 Apr 1956 to redesignation Redesignated VF-126 15 Oct 1963 | |
| VA-127 | VA-127: 15 Jun 1962 – 1 Mar 1987 VFA-127: 1 Mar 1987 – 23 Mar 1996 | F9F-8T/TF-9J Cougar TA-4 Skyhawk | NAS Lemoore FRS from 15 Jun 1962 to 1975 Redesignated VFA-127 1 Mar 1987 | |
| VA-128 | VA-128: 1 Sep 1967 – 29 Sep 1995 | A-6 Intruder | NAS Whidbey Island FRS from 1 Sep 1967 to disestablishment Disestablished Sep 1995 | |
| RVAW-110 VAW-110 | RVAW-110: 20 Apr 1967-May 1983 VAW-110: May 1983-1 Sep 1994 | E-1 Tracer E-2 Hawkeye | NAS Miramar FRS from 20 Apr 1967 to disestablishment Disestablished Sep 1994 |