US Navy Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143) Pukin Dogs was the new designation given to VF-821 on April 1st, 1958. The squadron transitioned from the F4U Corsair through the F3H Demon and F-4 Phantom II before upgrading to the F-14 Tomcat in 1974. The Pukin Dogs deployed several times on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Saratoga, USS George Washington and USS John C. Stennis. They deployed with the F-14 for the last time aboard the USS George Washington in 2004 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, VF-143 finally bid farewell to the F-14 and transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, being redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143). Grumman F-14B TomcatDesigned to carry the formidable long range AIM-54 Phoenix missile, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was first flown on December 21st, 1970. Made famous by the Hollywood film Top Gun, the F-14 replaced the F-4 Phantom II as the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter. Its design includes a variable geometry wing that can sweep back for high speed supersonic intercepts and forward for improved positioning in air to air dogfights. Nicknamed "Bombcat," the F-14 spent much of its late career in an air-to-ground role, carrying the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system.© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc. Easy Model Platinum CollectionThe Easy Model "Platinum Collection" range presents highy-affordable, ready-made plastic models of military aircraft. While these models may not have the same "heft" as their diecast siblings, they do offer remarkable value for money. Most importantly, they look perfectly at home alongside diecast modes, allowing collectors to "flesh out" their collection with types and paint-schemes not yet available in diecast.Easy Model "Platinum Collection" display model airplanes feature:
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