VFA-213
Strike Fighter Squadron 213 | |
---|---|
Commanders | |
Current commander | CDR Christopher Keen |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | F2H Banshee F4D Skyray F3H Demon F-4 Phantom II F-14 Tomcat F/A-18F Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213), also known as the "Black Lions", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.It was established in 1955 and is currently equipped with the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The squadron is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight and uses the radio callsign Lion.
History
1950s
Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213) was established on 22 June 1955 at
1960s
In June 1961, VF-213 moved to
Vietnam War
In November 1965, VFA-213 joined Attack Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) and made 9 deployments to Vietnam and the Western Pacific aboard USS Kitty Hawk as follows:[1]
- From 17 October 1963 to 20 July 1964, equipped with F-4Bs.
- From 19 October 1965 to 13 June 1966. On 28 April F-4B #150645 was hit by antiaircraft fire over
- From 5 November 1966 to 19 June 1967. On 20 December a squadron aircraft and one from VF-114 shot down two Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) Antonov An-2 with AIM-7 Sparrow missiles.[3] On 4 February F-4B #153007 was hit by antiaircraft fire over North Vietnam, both crewmen LT Donald Thompson and LT Allan Collamore were killed, their remains were identified in February 2001.[2][3][4]
- From 18 November 1967 to 28 June 1968.
- From 30 December 1968 to 4 September 1969. On 3 July F-4B #153015 was lost, both crewmen ejected successfully and were rescued.[2]
- From 6 November 1970 to 17 July 1971, reequipped with F-4Js.
- From 17 February to 20 November 1972. On 18 June F-4J #157273 was hit by antiaircraft fire, both crewmen ejected successfully and were rescued.[2][3]
- From 23 November 1973 to 9 July 1974.
- From 21 May to 15 December 1975.
1970s
In September 1976, VF-213 began the transition to the
1980s
In December 1981, VF-213 added a new mission as they began training with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (
In 1985, they were mobilized filming Top Gun on USS Enterprise (CVN-65) for takeoffs&landings and AIM-9 Sidewinder&AIM-7 Sparrow firing scenes
On 24 January 1986 they were deployed with
1988 saw VF-213 flying cover over
The squadron won the "BOOLA BOOLA" award in March 1989 for their professional completion of all missile test firings. In late 1989, VF-213 and CVW-11 went around the world on USS Enterprise for a WESTPAC deployment ending at NAS Norfolk for refurbishment.
1990s
The squadron deployed to WestPac on USS Abraham Lincoln in May 1991 in support of UN
The 1995 WestPac cruise again saw the squadron flying over the skies of southern Iraq. In 1996, VF-213 moved to USS Kitty Hawk for the 1996–1997 WESTPAC deployment. During this deployment VF-213 fired twenty six AIM-54 Phoenix and six AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, including one event where six planes launched twelve Phoenix missiles. These mass firings were conducted to reduce the numbers of older Phoenix missiles in inventory, as they were being removed from service.
After the 1997 cruise, VF-213 moved from
In 1998 they moved to
On 5 January 1999, two F-14Ds on patrol over Iraq were directed to intercept two Iraqi MiG-25s south of the "no fly zone". The Tomcats fired two AIM-54 missiles, the first ever Phoenix combat-launch by the US Navy. The Iraqi jets turned north and the missiles fell short of their targets.[8] VF-213/CVW-11 returned home in the spring of 1999.
2000s
After the
After the 2001 cruise ended in 2002, VF-213 changed air wings from CVW-11 to CVW-8. On 22 March 2003, VF-213 deployed aboard
VF-213 was paired up with VF-31 for the 2005–2006 final F-14 Tomcat cruise on board USS Theodore Roosevelt. During the cruise, VF-213 and VF-31 received ROVER upgrades to their aircraft, enabling them to transmit real-time images from their LANTIRN sensor to ground operators. VF-31 and 213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of OIF.
On 10 March 2006, VF-213 returned to NAS Oceana after the final F-14 cruise. All 22 Tomcats flew together in a wedge formation over NAS Oceana.
VF-213 began their transition/downgrade to the
On 13 May 2008 an F/A-18F from the squadron operating from USS Theodore Roosevelt accidentally dropped a 500-pound laser-guided bomb three miles (4.8 km) outside of the Pinecastle bombing range near the Ocala National Forest. The bomb explosion started a wildfire which burned 257 acres (1.04 km2) of vegetation. No one was injured in the blaze, but the emergency response cost $342,946. A Navy investigation determined that technical misunderstandings and crew fatigue contributed to the mishap. The two crew members of the jet were later returned to flying status after a board review.[15]
VFA-213, along with CVW-8 and USS Theodore Roosevelt, participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 Operation Brimstone off the coast of North Carolina between 21 and 31 July 2008. The British carrier HMS Ark Royal, the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima with associated units, the Brazilian Navy frigate Greenhalgh, and the French submarine Améthyste also participated in the event.[16]
On 8 September 2008, VFA-213 and the rest of CVW-8 deployed on board USS Theodore Roosevelt on a regularly scheduled deployment.[17] On 4 October the Roosevelt Carrier Group arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, the first visit by a US aircraft carrier since 1967 and three days later the carrier left Cape Town.[18] CVW-8 and CVN-71 supported Operation Enduring Freedom and flew more than 3,100 sorties and dropped more than 59,500 pounds of ordnance while providing close air support for ISAF-forces in Afghanistan.
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.[19]
On 27 January 2017, VFA-213 departed on a combat deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), embarked on board USS George H. W. Bush. From 10 February 2017 to 9 March 2017, the command conducted OIR combat operations from the Mediterranean Sea. VFA-213 resumed combat operations on 23 March 2017 from the Persian Gulf until 22 May 2017.
In January 2018, VFA-213 participated in the initial flight deck certification for the US Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford.
On 14 March 2018, a Super Hornet from VFA-213 crashed near Key West killing the pilot and naval flight officer.[20]
During April and May 2018, the squadrons of CVW-8 conducted joint operations with French Naval Forces out of NAS Oceana. Following those operations, the air wing and French aircraft embarked on USS George H. W. Bush, conducting strike missions.
In September 2018, VFA-213 attended the Naval Weapons Systems Evaluation Program (NWSEP) out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, with a five aircraft detachment. During the detachment, VFA-213 employed 19 air-to-air missiles, including nine AIM-7 Sparrows, seven AIM-9M Sidewinders, one AIM-9X Sidewinder, and two AIM-9X Block II Sidewinders. Subsequently, the command earned the 2018 Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Grand Slam award for demonstrating the highest capability to maintain and utilize air-to-air missile weapons systems.
In popular culture
VF-213 is prominently featured and referenced in the movie Top Gun, which opens with footage of F-14s from VF-213 and VF-114 taking off on the USS Enterprise. A fictional depiction of VF-213 appears in the movie as the squadron of characters Tom "Iceman" Kazansky and Ron "Slider" Kerner (played by Val Kilmer and Rick Rossovich respectively). Despite the fictional squadron's designation, it uses the insignia design of VFA-25, a squadron which never flew the F-14 in real life.[21][22]
See also
- Naval aviation
- Modern United States Navy carrier air operations
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
References
Citations
- ^ "Carrier, Carrier Based Squadrons and Non-Carrier Based Squadron Deployments to Vietnam" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 1995. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 Ejections & Losses". EjectionHistory.org. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Evans, Mark L. (13 December 2018). "Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63) 1961-2009". Naval History and Heritage Command.
- ^ "U.S. Accounted-For from the Vietnam War (Sorted by Name) Prisoners of War, Escapees, Returnees and Remains Recovered" (PDF). Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 10 August 2018.
- OCLC 1285625547.
- ^ a b "VF-213 History". nasoceana.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 28 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
- ^ Rausa, Rosario "Zip" (Summer 1999). "Wings of Gold: Vinson/CVW-11 report". BNET. p. 1. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010.
- ^ Rausa, Rosario "Zip" (Summer 1999). "Wings of Gold: Vinson/CVW-11 report". BNET. p. 4. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009.
- ^ Holmes 2008, p. 27.
- ^ Redditt, Amy (Summer 2003). "Wings of Gold: VF-213: The Black Lions". BNET. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010.
- ^ Holmes 2008, p. 66.
- ^ Holmes 2008, pp. 56–57.
- ^ Boeing F/A-18E/F Block 2 Super Hornets Flying at Naval Air Station Oceana Archived 2007-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Boeing Dual-Cockpit Cueing System Introduced to U.S. Navy Squadron
- Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the originalon 3 May 2009.
- ^ "JTFEX 08-4 "Operation Brimstone" Flexes Allied Force Training". navy.mil. 15 July 2008. NNS080715-21. Archived from the original on 17 July 2008.
- ^ "USS Theodore Roosevelt Deploys in Support of Maritime Security Operations". navy.mil. 26 September 2008. NNS080926-19. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009.
- ^ "TR Completes South African Port Visit". navy.mil. 7 October 2008. NNS081007-12. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009.
- ^ "George H.W. Bush Strike Group to Deploy". navy.mil. 10 May 2011. NNS110510-09. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
- ^ Baldor, Lolita C. (14 March 2018). "Navy jet crashes off Key West, killing 2 crew members". Navy Times. Associated Press.
- ^ "Top Gun (1986) - Goofs - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ "Top Gun Movie (1986) Bloopers & Goofs". The 80s Movies Rewind.
Bibliography
General references
- "VF-213 Squadron History". Tomcat Alley. Archived from the original on 20 December 2002.
- "TR Traps Last Tomcat from Combat Mission". news.navy.mil. 15 February 2006. NNS060215-15. Archived from the original on 22 November 2006.
- Anft, Torsten. "F-14 Combat Records". Home of the M.A.T.S. Strike missions against terror.
- "U.S. Navy Retires 'Top Gun' Jets". Fox News. Associated Press. 10 March 2006. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006.
- "Strike Fighter Squadron TWO ONE THREE [VFA-213] "Blacklions"". GlobalSecurity.org. 7 May 2011.
- "VFA-213 Blacklions". vfa213.navy.mil. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010.
External links
- Official website
- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) at NavySite.de