VFA-83

Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83), also known as the "Rampagers", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 7, their tailcode is AG and their radio callsign is Ram.

Insignia and nickname

The squadron was first known as the Roaring Bulls and the first insignia was approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 16 May 1950, consisting of a black bull with machine gun barrels for horns. The squadron was renamed and the first Rampager insignia was approved on 12 April 1957.

History

1950s

VFA-83 was originally formed as Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron 916 at NAS Squantum in Massachusetts in April 1950. VF-916 was called to active duty in NAS Jacksonville on 11 February 1951 and moved to NAS Oceana, Virginia in September 1951. The squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) and was equipped with the Vought F4U-4 Corsair. CVG-8 was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa to the Mediterranean Sea from November 1951 to June 1952. Afterwards VF-916 transitioned to the Grumman F9F-5 Panther. They also flew the F8F Bearcat for a short time in 1952. On 4 February 1953, the squadron was redesignated fighter squadron VF-83. In the same year VF-83 made a deployment aboard the USS Coral Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. In August 1954, VF-83 transitioned to the Vought F7U-3M Cutlass equipped with the Sparrow I air-to-air missile, and on 1 July 1955 was re-designated as attack squadron VA-83. VA-83 made another deployment to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Intrepid in 1956, this being the first overseas deployment of a naval missile squadron.