Fleet Replacement Squadron
A Fleet Replacement Squadron, is a unit of the United States Navy and Marine Corps that trains Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and enlisted Naval Aircrewman on the specific front-line aircraft they have been assigned to fly. Students, referred to as Replacement Pilots or Replacement Weapon Systems Officers 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 training aircraft mechanics, providing replacement aircraft for fleet squadron attrition, and standardizing maintenance and aircraft operations.
U.S. Navy and Marine personnel are frequently assigned to other services' FRSs. The FRSs were formerly known as Replacement Air Groups, and are thus commonly called "Rags".
Active
US Navy
US Marine Corps
Disestablished, Deactivated, Re-designated or otherwise former Fleet Replacement Squadrons
From 1 April 1958 to June 1970 the Navy organized the Fleet Replacement Squadrons for carrier based fighter and attack type aircraft into Readiness Carrier Air Groups . On 20 December 1963 when all Carrier Air Groups were redesignated Carrier Air Wings the RCVGs were redesignated Readiness Carrier Air Wings . From 30 June 1960 to February 1961 it organized the Fleet Replacement Squadrons for carrier based ASW squadrons into Readiness Carrier Air Anti-Submarine Groups. The RCVSGs were not redesignated as wings in 1963 and they remained Readiness Carrier Air Anti-Submarine Groups until they were disestablished in 1970 and 1971. After disestablishment of the RCVWs and RCVSGs the Fleet Replacement Squadrons were placed under the operational control of the aircraft specific type or functional wings but they all retained their former RCVW or RCVSG tail codes. 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.| Insignia | Squadron Designation | Squadron Lineage | Aircraft | Notes |
| Squadrons of RCVG-4/RCVW-4 | RCVG-4/RCVW-4: 1 Apr 58 - 1 Jun 70 | |||
| VF-101: 1 May 1952 – 1 May 2012 VFA-101: 1 May 2012 – present | F3H Demon F-4 Phantom II F-14 Tomcat | VF FRS from Apr 1958 to deactivation Deactivated then later Reactivated and Redesignated VFA-101 | ||
| 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 | VF FRS from 1 May 1958 to redesignation Redesignated VA-174 1 Jul 1966 | |||
| 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 | VA FRS from redesignation to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Jun 1988 | |||
- 1992 | VF-42: 1 Sep 1950-1 Nov 1953 VA-42: 1 Nov 1953-30 Sep 1994 | A-6 Intruder | FRS from 24 Oct 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | |
| 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 | FRS from 1 Jul 1959 to redesignation Redesignated VF-43 1 Jun 1973 | |||
| VF-44: 1 Sep 1950-1 Jan 1956 VA-44: 1 Jan 1956-1 May 1970 | A4D/A-4 Skyhawk | NAS Cecil Field FRS from 1 Jun 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 May 1970 | ||
| VA-45: 15 Feb 1963-7 Feb 1985 VF-45: 7 Feb 1985-31 Mar 1996 | 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 | |||
RVAH-3 | VAH-3: 14 Jun 1956-1 Jul 1964 RVAH-3: 1 Jul 1964-17 Aug 1979 | A3J/A-5 Vigilante RVAH-3: RA-5C Vigilante | NAS Albany, GA NAS Key West FRS from mid 1958 to disestablishment Distesablished 17 Aug 1979 | |
| RVAW-120: 1 Jul 1967-1 May 1983 VAW-120: 1 May 1983 – present | E-2 Hawkeye | FRS from establishment to present Redesignated VAW-120 | ||
| Squadrons of RCVG-12/RCVW-12 | RCVG-12/RCVW-12: 1 Apr 58 - 30 Jun 70 | |||
| VF-781: 1950-4 Feb 1953 VF-121: 4 Feb 1953-30 Sep 1980 | F11F-1 Tiger F-4 Phantom II | NAS Miramar FRS from Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1980 | ||
| VC-35: 25 May 1950-1 Jul 1956 VA-35: 1 Jul 1956-29 Jun 1959 VA-122: 29 Jun 1959-31 May 1991 | A-7 Corsair II | FRS from 29 Jun 1959 to disestablishment Disestablished 31 May 1991 | ||
| Heavy Attack Training Unit Pacific: 15 Jun 1957-29 Jun 1959 VAH-123: 29 Jun 1959-1 Feb 1971 | A-6 Intruder | FRS from 15 Jun 1957 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Feb 1971 | ||
| VF-53: 16 Aug 1948-11 Apr 1958 VF-124: 11 Apr 1958-30 Sep 1994 | F-14 Tomcat | FRS from 11 Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | ||
| VA-26: 30 Jun 1956-11 Apr 1958 VA-125: 11 Apr 1958-1 Oct 1977 | A-7 Corsair II | FRS from 11 Apr 1958 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Oct 1977 | ||
| VA-126: 6 Apr 1956-15 Oct 1965 VF-126: 15 Oct 1965-1 Apr 1994 | A4D/A-4 Skyhawk | FRS from 6 Apr 1956 to redesignation Redesignated VF-126 15 Oct 1963 | ||
| VA-127: 15 Jun 1962-1 Mar 1987 VFA-127: 1 Mar 1987-23 Mar 1996 | TA-4 Skyhawk | FRS from 15 Jun 1962 to 1975 Redesignated VFA-127 1 Mar 1987 | ||
| VA-128: 1 Sep 1967-29 Sep 1995 | FRS from 1 Sep 1967 to disestablishment Disestablished Sep 1995 | |||
VAW-110 | RVAW-110: 20 Apr 1967-May 1983 VAW-110: May 1983-1 Sep 1994 | E-2 Hawkeye | FRS from 20 Apr 1967 to disestablishment Disestablished Sep 1994 | |
| Squadrons of RCVSG-50 | RCVSG-50: 30 Jun 60 - 17 Feb 71 | |||
| HS-1: 3 Oct 1951-30 Jun 1997 | HSS-2/SH-3 Sea King SH-60F Seahawk | FRS from 30 Sep 1960 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Jun 1997 | ||
| VS-801: 9 Apr 1951-4 Feb 1953 VS-30: 4 Feb 1953–present | FRS from Jun 1960 to Apr 1976 Deactivated 20 Apr 2007 Deactivation ceremony was 9 Dec 2005 | |||
| Squadrons of RCVSG-51 | RCVG-51: 30 Jun 60 - 30 Jun 70 | |||
- 1990s | HS-10: 1 July 1960 – present | HSS-2/SH-3 Sea King SH-60F Seahawk | FRS from 1 Jul 1960 to deactivation Deactivated 12 Jun 2012 | |
| VS-41: 30 June 1960 – present | S-3 Viking | FRS from 30 Jun 1960 to deactivation Deactivated 30 Sep 2006 | ||
| Other USN FRSs | ||||
| VF-101: 1 May 1952 – 1 May 2012 VFA-101: 1 May 2012 – present | Established 1 May 1952 as VF-101, became an FRS in 1958. Deactivated on 30 Sep 2005 as a Tomcat FRS and reactivated as a F-35C FRS on 1 May 2012. Deactivated a second time on 1 Jul 2019 | |||
| VF-171: 8 Aug 1977-1 Jun 1984 | VF FRS from Aug 1977 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Jun 1984 | |||
- 1971 | VP-31: 30 Jun 1960-1 Nov 1993 | P5M/P-5 Marlin R5D/C-54 Skymaster R7V/C-121 Constellation UF-1/U-16 Albatross P-3 Orion | FRS from 30 Jun 1960 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Nov 1993 | |
| VAW-13: 1 Sep 1959-1 Oct 1968 VAQ-130: 1 Oct 1968–present | FRS from 1971 to 1974 Assumed A-3 FRS responsibilities from VAH-123 upon its disestablishment until VAQ-130's transition to the EA-6B Still exists, however not as an FRS | |||
- 1970 | VC-33: 31 May 1949-2 Jul 1956 VA-33: 2 Jul 1956-30 Jan 1959 VAW-33: 30 Jan 1959-1 Feb 1968 VAQ-33: 1 Feb 1968-1 Oct 1993 | NAS Oceana NAS Key West FRS from 1977 to 1991 Distesablished 1 Oct 1993 | ||
| VS-27: 22 Jan 1987-30 Sep 1994 | FRS from 22 Jan 1987 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | |||
| HU-4: 1 July 1960 – 4 July 1965 HC-4: 4 July 1965-Mar 1972 HSL-30: Mar 1972-30 Sep 1993 | SH-2 Seasprite | FRS from Mar 1972 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1993 | ||
| HC-5: 1 Sep 1967-Mar 1972 HSL-31: Mar 1972-31 July 1992 | SH-2 Seasprite | FRS from Mar 1972 to disestablishment Disestablished 31 Jul 1992 | ||
| HSL-40: 4 Oct 1985-1 Nov 2009 HSM-40: 1 Nov 2009–present | SH-60B FRS from 4 Oct 1985 to redesignation Redesignated HSM-40 | |||
| HSL-41: 21 Jan 1983-8 Dec 2005 HSM-41: 8 Dec 2005–present | SH-60B FRS from 1 Jan 1983 to redesignation Redesignated HSM-41 | |||
| HM-12: 1 Apr 1971-30 Sep 1994 | CH-53E Super Stallion, MH-53E Sea Dragon | FRS from Apr 1971 to disestablishment Disestablished 30 Sep 1994 | ||
| Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapon Systems Training School : 1 Oct 1994-1 Oct 2015 HM-12: 1 Oct 2015–present | A "FRS" from 1 Oct 1994 to redesignation Conducted classroom and simulator training for replacement aircrew after their on aircraft training at HMT-302 Redesignated HM-12 1 Oct 2015 | |||
| HU-1: 1 Apr 1948-4 Jul 1965 HC-1: 4 Jul 1965-29 Apr 1994 | H-3 FRS from Jun 1989 to Mar 1993 Disestablished 29 Apr 1994 | |||
| HC-2: 1 Apr 1987-1 Jan 2006 HSC-2: 1 Jan 2006–present | H-3 FRS from 1997 to redesignation Redesignated HSC-2 | |||
| HC-3: 1 Sep 1967-1 Apr 2005 HSC-3: 1 Apr 2005–present | H-46 FRS from Feb 1982 to redesignation Redesignated HSC-3 | |||
| HCT-16: 1 Nov 1974-May 1977 HC-16: May 1977-1 Apr 1994 | H-1N Huey | FRS Jun 1977 to disestablishment Disestablished 1 Apr 1994 | ||
| USMC FRSs | ||||
FRS from 1 Oct 1986 to deactivation Deactivated 14 Sep 2006 | ||||
FRS from 2013 to deactivation Deactivated Apr 2016 | ||||
FRS from Feb 1999 to redesignation Redesignated VMM-164 | ||||