VFA-31
VFA-31 or Strike Fighter Squadron 31 is known as the Tomcatters, callsign "Felix", a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The Tomcatters are the second oldest Navy Fighter Attack squadron operating today.
Squadron insignia and nickname
The squadron was originally known as the Shooting Stars. The original "Felix the Cat" squadron was VF-3. After the battle of Midway, VF-3 and VF-6 swapped designations on 15 July 1943, resulting in a three year controversy as to which squadron owned the Felix name and emblem until VF-3 was re-designated VF-3A on 15 November 1946, and awarded the official approval to adopt Felix the Cat by the Chief of Naval Operations. VF-3A was then re-designated VF-31 on August 7, 1948.
The emblem and mascot is the famous cartoon character Felix the Cat, running with a large spherical bomb with a lit fuse. The yellow field and outline were omitted from the aircraft and four stars at the end of a pair of sweeps were added. This emblem can be seen on the fuselage of the aircraft above the wing.
VFA
VFA may refer to:
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.
VFA-192
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192), also known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons", are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore.
Squadron Insignia and Nickname
The squadron’s first insignia was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations on 11 October 1945 and consisted of a reddish brown kangaroo with crimson boxing gloves on a white cloud. The squadron was known as the Fightin' Kangaroos. Following the squadron’s redesignation to VF-15A, the squadron changed its name to the Black Knights and a new insignia was approved on 24 November 1947. It was a black helmet with gold markings and a gold shield. When the squadron was redesignated VF-151, the helmet/shield insignia was modified and the Latin inscription In Omnia Paratus was added, meaning ever ready. A new squadron insignia was approved on 8 August 1950, consisting of a silver dragon and grey/black aircraft carrier. This design was modified with a yellow dragon, white nuclear symbol and white cloud with a red rising center when the squadron became VA-192 on 21 June 1956. The squadron took on the nickname Golden Dragons at this time.
