VFA-101

Strike Fighter Squadron 101
VFA-101 Insignia
Active	1952–2005, 2012–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Strike Fighter Squadron
Role	training
Garrison/HQ	Eglin Air Force Base
Engagements	Korean War
Aircraft flown
Fighter	FG-1D Corsair F2H Banshee F4D Skyray F3H Demon F-4 Phantom II F-14 Tomcat F-35C Lightning II

Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101), also known as the "Grim Reapers", was a United States Navy Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) based at NAS Oceana in Virginia. After the West Coast FRS for the F-14 Tomcat, VF-124, was disestablished in the mid-1990s, VF-101 became the sole F-14 FRS. With the retirement of the F-14, VF-101 was deactivated in 2005. In 2012 a new unit, designated Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101), was established, and is currently the sole single-site F-35C Lightning II, FRS as a subordinate unit of the joint 33d Fighter Wing (33 FW) at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Two distinct squadrons have been called the Grim Reapers, VF-10 and later VF-101, which is the main subject of this article. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation or nickname. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.

On 1 May 1952, VF-101 was commissioned at NAS Cecil Field, Florida. This new squadron assumed the nickname and traditions of the previous Grim Reapers and flew the FG-1D Corsair in the Korean War. Later in 1952, VF-101 received the jet-powered F2H-2 Banshee. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 1 aboard the USS Midway and circumnavigated the globe between 27 December 1954 and 14 July 1955.

In 1956, VF-101 transitioned to the F4D-1 Skyray, their first radar-equipped aircraft. The squadron was only once deployed for a short time during NATO Operation Strikeback from 3 September to 22 October 1957, this time being assigned to Carrier Air Group 7 aboard the USS Saratoga. In April 1958, VF-101 was merged with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic and began to train all weather fighter pilots on both the F4D-1 and the F3H-2 Demon. In becoming part of the training structure, VF-101 became part of Readiness Attack Carrier Air Wing 4 and ceased to be a deployable unit.

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