US Navy Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143) Pukin Dogs was the new designation given to VF-821 on June 20th, 1962. The squadron had transitioned from the F4U Corsair through the F3H Demon and onto F-4 Phantom II. The squadron deployed its Phantoms to Vietnam several times aboard the USS Constellation from 1964 to 1970. VF-143's last Vietnam deployment was aboard the USS Enterprise in 1972. After returning to the US, the Pukin Dogs upgraded once more to the F-14 Tomcat in 1974 which it flew until 2005 when it transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143).

Designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy, the F-4 Phantom was first flown on May 27, 1958. This twin-engine, long-range all-weather fighter/bomber proved highly adaptable and served in the Marine Corps and the US Air Force as well as in the Navy. During the Vietnam War, it was the principal air superiority fighter for the Navy and the Air Force and was also used for reconnaissance and ground attack. The Phantom continued to serve well into the 1970s and 1980s and even flew missions during the first Gulf War. Finally phased out by the F-14, F-16 and F/A-18, the Phantom was retired in 1996.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-4 Phantom II is highly detailed and very popular among collectors. This model has an intricately crafted fuselage, with rear and forward canopies that open to expose cockpit interior details such as instrument panel dials, control stick and ejector seat handles. The solid metal wing has raised wing-tips and a dog-toothed leading edge that blends seamlessly into the fuselage. Each release includes a full complement of removable ordnance. Variants in this series have notable differences in the nose and/or tail fin and slight variations in the engines' exhaust. Carrier-based variants have elevators with a raised leading edge, and land-based variants have standard leading edges.

Info: F-4B Phantom II - USN VF-143 Pukin Dogs, NK311, USS Constellation, Vietnam, 1967