VFA-15
Strike Fighter Squadron 15 | |
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A-7 Corsair II F/A-18 Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 15 (VFA-15) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy, based at Naval Air Station Oceana. The squadron was in service from 1 August 1968 to 31 May 2017, although the squadron had adopted the traditions of the first VA-15, which was established on 10 January 1942. The unit's nickname was "Valions" and its call sign was Pride.
History
Two distinct squadrons have been called the "Valions". Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation.[1] Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons. The first VA-15 was established on 10 January 1942 and disestablished on 1 June 1969.
1960s
On 1 June 1969 after the first VA-15 was disestablished, the men and equipment were merged with Attack Squadron 67 (VA-67), which had been established on 1 August 1968. On 2 June 1969, the combined squadron was redesignated VA-15 and adopted the insignia and traditions of the Valions. In August 1968, the squadron began training under
1970s
In October–November 1973 while embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, the squadron operated in the vicinity of Crete in response to the Yom Kippur War.[2] In June–July 1976 following the
1980s
In November 1980, the squadron, embarked on USS Independence were on station when the American hostages were released from Iran.[2]
In May 1981 USS Independence transited the Suez Canal and maintained station in the eastern Mediterranean due to the crisis between Israel and Syria following Israeli raids against Syrian surface-to-air missile sites in Lebanon.
In October–November 1983, VA-15 aircraft flew combat close air support and reconnaissance sorties in support of
On 4 December 1983, in response to hostile fire against U.S. reconnaissance aircraft from Syrian positions in Lebanon, VA-15 aircraft participated in coordinated strikes against Syrian radar, communications and artillery positions overlooking the Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces. One of the squadron's A-7E Corsair IIs, flown by the air wing commander, Commander Edward Andrews, was lost when it was hit by a Syrian surface-to-air missile. Commander Andrews ejected, was rescued and returned to USS Independence.
From December 1985 to June 1986 the squadron was assigned to
In June 1986, the squadron began transition training in the F/A-18 Hornet, and on 1 October 1986, VA-15 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 15 (VFA-15). The squadron accepted their first F/A-18 Hornet in January 1987.
1990s
On 28 December 1990, VFA-15 departed for a six-month deployment to the
In March 1999, VFA-15 departed for a deployment which would involve two theaters of operation. After crossing the Atlantic in record time aboard Theodore Roosevelt, squadron aircraft were launched in support of
2000s
During their 2001 deployment, the squadron took station in the Persian Gulf, patrolling the skies of the southern Iraqi no-fly zone.[3]
Soon after returning through the Strait of Hormuz in early fall 2001 to begin the voyage home, the September 11 attacks unfolded. For the next four weeks VFA-15 took station in the North Indian Ocean and prepared for combat, with flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), including combat air patrols over Pakistan. Missions into Afghanistan began on 7 October, and over the next several weeks the squadron flew four to eight-hour missions deep into Afghanistan.
In 2002, VFA-15 deployed on USS Theodore Roosevelt to the
In September 2005 the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf, returning on 11 March 2006. On 8 September 2008 the squadron deployed again to the Persian Gulf in support of OEF. They returned 18 April 2009.
2010s
On 11 May 2011, the squadrons of CVW-8 embarked on USS George H.W. Bush's maiden deployment, scheduled to conduct operations in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. Upon return from deployment, the squadron was awarded the Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Battle "E" Award as the dominant Strike Fighter Squadron on the East Coast.[4]
In February 2016, plans were announced to deactivate VFA-15 in
See also
- Naval aviation
- Modern US Navy carrier air operations
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
Bibliography
- Thomas, Gerald W. Torpedo Squadron Four: a Cockpit View of World War II. Las Cruces, New Mexico: Rio Grande Historical Collection (New Mexico State University), 1991 (2nd impression, with corrections; first published July 1990).
- [Thomas, Gerald W. Torpedo Squadron Four: a Cockpit View of World War II. Doc45 Publications, 2011 (Revised Edition)][8]
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.
- ^ "Naval Aviation Squadron Lineages". Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ Naval Historical Center. p. 317.
- ^ "VFA-15 :: Command History". Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
- ^ This story was written by Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs. "George H.W. Bush Strike Group to Deploy". Navy.mil. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Navy to disband a carrier air wing in fiscal 2017[dead link] by Meghann Myers, Navy Times, 9 February 2016, retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ VFA-15 facebook site, posting from 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Navy Schedules Shutdown of Air Wing, Three Squadrons". 24 February 2017.
- ^ "Torpedo Squadron Four – A Cockpit View of World War II". Doc45.com. Retrieved 29 August 2016.