Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192), also known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons", are a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
F/A-18E Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more adv ...
fighter squadron stationed at
NAS Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California, United States. Lemoore Station, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders.
NAS Lemoore is the Na ...
.
Squadron Insignia and Nickname
![Vf192 insignia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Vf192_insignia.jpg)
The squadron's first insignia was approved by the
Chief of Naval Operations
The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...
(CNO) 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 ''ready for anything''. 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.
History
1940s
Fighter Squadron 153 (VF-153) was originally established on March 26, 1945 at NAS
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
flying the
F6F-3 Hellcat. The squadron received F6F-5s in April and relocated to
NAAS Oceana in June. The squadron moved to
NAS Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.
NAS Alameda had two runways: 13–31 measuring and 07-25 measuring . Two helicopter pads and a control tower were ...
in August 1946, and was redesignated to Fighter Squadron 15A on 15 November 1946.
![F8Fs on USS Tarawa (CV-40) 1948](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/F8Fs_on_USS_Tarawa_%28CV-40%29_1948.jpg)
The squadron's first deployment was aboard from March–October 1947. Immediately following their return, the squadron transitioned to the
F8F-1 Bearcat in November 1947.
The squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151) on 15 July 1948. In February 1949, half of the squadron's personnel and aircraft deployed aboard for a Pacific Fleet Minor Cold Weather Exercise near
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak (Alutiiq: , russian: Кадьяк), formerly Paul's Harbor, is the main city and one of seven communities on Kodiak Island in Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska. All commercial transportation between the island's communities and the outside wo ...
. They upgraded to the F8F-2 model of the Bearcat in July 1949.
1950s
In January 1950, the squadron sailed from Alameda aboard USS ''Boxer''. It was redesignated Fighter Squadron 192 (
VF-192
Fighter Squadron 192 (VF-192) was used two times in United States Navy Carrier Air Wing NINETEEN (CVG-19)(2nd) which was disestablished in 1977.
*24 Aug 1948-15 Feb 1950 - VF-114 disestablished 1993
*15 Feb 1950-15 Mar 1956 - VFA-192 active
See ...
) on February 15, and returned from the Western Pacific in June. Immediately upon return, VF-192 transitioned to the
F4U-4 Corsair.
The squadron deployed aboard from November 1950 to June 1951 in support of the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
. On 5 December 1950, the squadron flew its first combat missions, providing close air support for U.S. Marines during the
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Battle of Lake Changjin (), was an important battle in the Korean War. The name "Chosin" is derived from the Japanese pronunciation "''Chōshin'', instead of t ...
in
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
. On 1 May 1951, the squadron participated in a special strike in the
Hwacheon Dam Korean War raid with
VF-193
VF-142 ''Ghostriders'' was a US Navy fighter squadron established on 24 August 1948 as VF-193, it was redesignated VF-142 on 15 October 1963, and disestablished on 30 April 1995.
History Late 1940s to the 1970s
Fighter Squadron 193 (VF-193) w ...
and
VA-195. The purpose of the mission was to destroy the flood gates and raise the level of the river to form a natural barrier against the enemy's advance. VF-192 F4U-4s were tasked with flak and small arms suppression.After deployment, the squadron moved to
NAS Moffett Field
Moffett Federal Airfield , also known as Moffett Field, is a joint civil-military airport located in an unincorporated part of Santa Clara County, California, United States, between northern Mountain View and northern Sunnyvale. On November 10, ...
and began to transition to the jet-powered
F9F-2 Panther, receiving several of these aircraft in July 1951. However, all of these aircraft were transferred to VF-191 in October 1951, and VF-192 continued to fly the F4U-4.
![F9F-5 Panthers of VF-192 aboard USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in 1954](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/F9F-5_Panthers_of_VF-192_aboard_USS_Oriskany_%28CVA-34%29_in_1954.jpg)
The squadron deployed for Korea aboard USS ''Princeton'' again from March–November 1952. On 23–24 June, the squadron, along with units from two other carrier air groups, conducted coordinated
air strikes against North Korean hydroelectric plants. In one of the major joint Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war, VF-192's Corsairs struck the Suiho hydroelectric plant on the
Yalu River
The Yalu River, known by Koreans as the Amrok River or Amnok River, is a river on the border between North Korea and China. Together with the Tumen River to its east, and a small portion of Paektu Mountain, the Yalu forms the border between ...
, and the Kyosen and the Fusen hydroelectric plants. In July, VF-192 participated in another joint strike, hitting industrial targets in North Korea's capital city of
Pyongyang
Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populatio ...
.
Early in 1953, the squadron entered the jet age by receiving the
F9F-2/5 Panther fresh off the assembly line.
The squadron deployed aboard in September 1953, and during that cruise to the Orient, the pilots participated in the filming of ''
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'' is a 1954 American war film about the Korean War and stars William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney, and Robert Strauss. The film, which was directed by Mark Robson, was produced by Paramount Pictur ...
''. It was the debut of this film that earned the squadron the name “World Famous Golden Dragons.”
On January 19, 1956, the squadron upgraded to the swept-wing
F9F-6 Cougar and their mission changed to include the aircraft's ground weapons delivery capability. On March 15, 1956, the official designation of the squadron was changed from Fighter Squadron to Attack Squadron 192 (VA-192). The squadron received its first F9F-8s in June 1956.
VA-192, now known as the ''Golden Dragons'', transitioned to the
FJ-4B Fury in December 1957, and following an exchange of aircraft, maintainers and support equipment with
VA-216, transitioned again to the
A4D-2 Skyhawk in July 1959.
1960s
In December 1962, the squadron moved from Moffett Field to
NAS Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California, United States. Lemoore Station, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders.
NAS Lemoore is the Na ...
, California, and on November 21, 1964, after completing almost ten months in the Western Pacific, the squadron returned from their fourth consecutive cruise aboard . After a four-month turnaround, they deployed aboard the USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' in April 1965 for a ten-month cruise in support of the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
. The new and more powerful A-4E Skyhawk with the ability to carry a greater bomb load, was received in June 1966.
![A-4F Skyhawks of VA-192 parked 1967](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/A-4F_Skyhawks_of_VA-192_parked_1967.jpeg)
The squadron deployed again to
Yankee Station
Yankee Station (officially Point Yankee) was a fixed coordinate off the coast of Vietnam where U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and support ships operated in open waters over a nine-year period during the Vietnam War. The location was used primari ...
in October 1966 aboard . During this deployment, squadron pilot LCDR
Michael J. Estocin
Michael John Estocin (April 27, 1931 – April 26, 1967 (presumed)) was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Biography
Estoci ...
distinguished himself posthumously earning the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
for his gallantry and courage while flying two separate
missile suppression missions to
Haiphong
Haiphong ( vi, Hải Phòng, ), or Hải Phòng, is a major industrial city and the third-largest in Vietnam. Hai Phong is also the center of technology, economy, culture, medicine, education, science and trade in the Red River delta.
Haiphong wa ...
. On the second mission, Commander Estocin's A-4 was shot down and he was listed as MIA; on 10 November 1977 his MIA status was changed to presumed KIA. In his memory, the Navy's award for the best F/A-18 Hornet squadron is called the Michael J. Estocin Award.
In July 1967, VA-192 became the first operational fleet squadron to receive the new A-4F Skyhawk, and in December of that year they again deployed aboard USS ''Ticonderoga''. In March 1968, VA-192, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from USS ''Ticonderoga'' in the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it h ...
as part of Operation Formation Star - a continuing show of American forces in the area following the capture of
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS ''Pueblo'' (AGER-2) is a , attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what was later known as the "''Pueblo'' incident" or alternatively, as the "''Pueblo'' cris ...
by
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
.
In April 1969, the squadron made their last deployment with the A-4F aboard . During this cruise the squadron was recognized for its safety record over 55 accident-free months, 30,477 flight hours and 11,580 carrier landings. No other carrier jet squadron had ever achieved such a safety record up to that time.
1970s
![A-7E Corsair VA-192 1971](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/A-7E_Corsair_VA-192_1971.jpg)
VA-192 took delivery of their first
A-7E Corsair II
The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV).
The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was ...
in February 1970. On 6 November 1970, the squadron deployed aboard . During this cruise, VA-192's “Laotian Highway Patrol” set an all-time record for ordnance dropped on a single cruise, over 15 million pounds, while flying more than 6,600 flight hours and amassing 2,901 arrested landings. The squadron delivered this record amount of ordnance on enemy supply routes both day and night, in all kinds of weather, without losing a single man or aircraft. After returning to NAS Lemoore in July 1971, the squadron immediately began preparing for another combat cruise to Southeast Asia. On 17 February 1972, VA-192 departed on their sixth Vietnam combat cruise, flying their first combat sorties on 5 March 1972.
In May 1972, squadron aircraft participated in the
mining of North Vietnamese harbours and
Operation Linebacker
Operation Linebacker was the codename of a U.S. Seventh Air Force and U.S. Navy Task Force 77 air interdiction campaign conducted against North Vietnam from 9 May to 23 October 1972, during the Vietnam War.
Its purpose was to halt or slow the ...
, concentrated air strikes against targets in North Vietnam. The squadron flew over 3,600 combat strikes while participating in seven combat line periods over a record 192 days.
From late 1973 to 1978, the squadron made several WestPac deployments aboard the USS ''Kitty Hawk''. In November 1973, VA-192 deployed with CVW-11 and ''Kitty Hawk'' as part of the first CV concept air wing deployment on the West Coast. This concept employed all aspects of carrier aviation warfare into one air wing deployed on a single deck. On 3 March 1979 the squadron embarked aboard at
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
, for their first
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
cruise.
1980s
The squadron deployed for a second Mediterranean cruise aboard USS ''America'' on from April to November 1981, spending 202 of 220 days at sea. In November 1982, the squadron joined
Carrier Air Wing 9
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to ...
and became a part of the
team. From July to August 1983, USS ''Ranger'', with VA-912 embarked, was ordered to operate off the coast of
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
in response to an unstable situation in Central America. From October 1983 to January 1984, USS ''Ranger'', with VA-192 embarked, was extended on station in the
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea ( ar, اَلْبَحرْ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Bahr al-ˁArabī) is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel ...
due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
.
![VA-192 personnel Maple Flag Cold Lake NAN2-83](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/VA-192_personnel_Maple_Flag_Cold_Lake_NAN2-83.jpg)
By early 1985, the squadron began to prepare for transition to the
F/A-18A Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, twinjet, twin-engine, supersonic aircraft, supersonic, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, ...
. About half of the A-7E's and personnel who maintained them had been transferred from the squadron when the squadron was ordered to
MCAS Iwakuni
is a United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The Japanese government bought a large portion of what is today MCAS ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
under the
Marine Corps
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
Unit Deployment Program The Unit Deployment Program (UDP) is a system for assigning deployments of the United States Marine Corps. To reduce the number of unaccompanied tours and improve unit continuity, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, (CMC) established it to provide ...
. In less than three months, the squadron was fully manned and equipped with 12 A-7E's, and on June 3, 1985 launched for a three-day transpacific flight to Iwakuni. Upon arrival, the squadron became part of
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing fighter and assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), itself an integral part of t ...
under the
1st Marine Air Wing
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activ ...
.
The squadron returned to NAS Lemoore for Christmas and on January 10, 1986 VA-192 was re-designated Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Two (VFA-192) and began F/A-18 Hornet transition training under
VFA-125
Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), also known as the "Rough Raiders", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Rough Raiders" are a Fleet Replacement Squadron flying the F-35C L ...
. The squadron received their first F/A-18A on 5 May 1986. This new beginning also included notification that the squadron would be changing homeport to join CVW-5 and
USS ''Midway'' out of
Yokosuka
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
, the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region.
The city ...
, Japan. This change became official on 1 July 1986, and in November VFA-192 executed their second trans-Pacific movement in eighteen months in new F/A-18A Hornets to
NAF Atsugi
is a joint Japan-US naval air base located in the cities of Yamato and Ayase in Kanagawa, Japan. It is the largest United States Navy (USN) air base in the Pacific Ocean and once housed the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), which dep ...
, Japan.
1987 began with VFA-192's first deployment embarked on USS ''Midway'' as a member of the restructured CVW-5. The next twelve months included 261 days of embarked operations in the
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Phil ...
,
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...
, and
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea ( ar, اَلْبَحرْ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Bahr al-ˁArabī) is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel ...
. During November and December, the squadron participated in
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will (24 July 1987 – 26 September 1988) was the American military protection of Kuwaiti-owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest nav ...
, providing air cover for the escort of reflagged Kuwait oil tankers in the
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz ( fa, تنگه هرمز ''Tangeh-ye Hormoz'' ar, مَضيق هُرمُز ''Maḍīq Hurmuz'') is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the ...
and
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
.
1990s
On October 2, 1990, the squadron set sail aboard USS ''Midway'' for the Persian Gulf in support of
Operation Desert Shield
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
. When
Operation Desert Storm
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
began on the night of January 17, 1991, the squadron attacked
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
i
missile batteries. Over the next 43 days, the Golden Dragons flew 576 combat sorties, dropping over 730,000 pounds of ordnance. In March, VFA-192 and the ''Midway'' Battle Group departed the Persian Gulf, returning home to Yokosuka following seven months of deployment.
On August 21, 1991, VFA-192 and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard USS ''Midway'' prior to her retirement and replacement as the forward deployed carrier by
USS ''Independence''. During the turnover at
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
,
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, the squadron also traded their F/A-18A aircraft for newer F/A-18Cs.
![VFA-192insignia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/VFA-192insignia.PNG)
On April 15, 1992, the squadron made their first combat deployment aboard the ''Independence'', participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the
Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the battl ...
in
Sydney, Australia
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...
. They were also a part of the battle group that began and spearheaded
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
(OSW), establishing the
Iraqi no-fly zone
The Iraqi no-fly zones conflict was a low-level conflict in the two no-fly zones (NFZs) in Iraq that were proclaimed by the United States, United Kingdom, and France after the Gulf War of 1991. The United States stated that the NFZs were intende ...
south of the
32nd parallel north
The 32nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 32 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the United States, the parallel defines part of th ...
. In late 1993, mid 1995, and again in late 1998, the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW. In 1996, as part of CVW-5, they were deployed as part of the
1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis
The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the waters surrounding Taiwan ...
.
On July 7, 1998, the squadron and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard USS ''Independence''. In Hawaii, the squadron moved to and upgraded aircraft to Lot 17 F/A-18C Night Attack Hornets. The squadron deployed again on March 2, 1999 for the South Pacific and to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW.
2000s
After the
September 11 attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
, the squadron began preparations for an emergency deployment and began training at
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high.
...
while USS ''Kitty Hawk'' sortied from Yokosuka. Within a week the squadron was again carrier qualified and ready to sail. Instead, CVW-5 was divided to fill urgent requirements elsewhere in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
.
![An F-A-18C Hornet launches from the flight deck of the conventionally powered aircraft carrier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/An_F-A-18C_Hornet_launches_from_the_flight_deck_of_the_conventionally_powered_aircraft_carrier.jpg)
CVW-5 Detachment A, comprised F/A-18Cs from VFA-192 and
VFA-195
Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and their ...
,
S-3Bs from
VS-21
Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It served from 1945 to 2005 and was mainly tasked with anti-submarine warfare while operating from aircraft carriers.
History
VS-21 was previously designated Air Anti- ...
and
HH-60's from
HS-14
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 (HSC-14) "Chargers" is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station North Island, California (USA). HSC-14 was established as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) in 1984 and w ...
, sailed aboard USS ''Kitty Hawk'' to the
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...
with a large Special Operations contingent embarked. The Special Operations force moved from USS ''Kitty Hawk'' into
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
while the aircraft provided
close air support
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...
(CAS) until November 2001. Detachment B, comprised F/A-18Cs from VFA-27 and manned with pilots from all three CVW-5 Hornet squadrons, deployed to the U.S. Navy Support Facility
Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia is an island of the British Indian Ocean Territory, a disputed overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is a militarised atoll just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, and the largest of the 60 small islands o ...
to provide
air defense
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
of the
Maritime Pre-positioned Fleet and USAF bomber force deployed there.
In January 2003, VFA-192 deployed aboard USS ''Kitty Hawk'' to the Persian Gulf in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
. The squadron flew 339 combat missions and dropped 224,000 pounds of ordnance including 283
JDAM
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Pos ...
and LGB bombs. After 100 consecutive days at sea, the squadron returned to Japan in May 2003.On December 15, 2009, VFA-192 departed NAF Atsugi and CVW-5 as part of a homeport change to
NAS Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California, United States. Lemoore Station, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders.
NAS Lemoore is the Na ...
and
CVW-9
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier Carrier air wing, air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircr ...
. Likewise,
VFA-115
Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115) is known as the "Eagles", callsign "Talon", a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Their tail code is ''NF''. It was established as Tor ...
arrived in NAF Atsugi on December 13, 2009 to be the replacement squadron for VFA-192. Upon arrival at NAS Lemoore, VFA-192 joined CVW-9.
2010s
In March 2014, VFA-192 transitioned to F/A-18E Super Hornet and was assigned to
CVW-2
Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier .
Subordinate units
CVW-2 consists of 9 Squadrons
History
1940s-50s
Origi ...
.
Awards
From 1966 to 1969, the squadron received four consecutive CNO Safety Awards. They are six time recipients of the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award, most recently for 2009. They have twice been awarded the Michael J. Estocin award for being the top Strike Fighter Squadron in the Navy. In 1979, the Golden Dragons were awarded the Bruce Carrier Award for excellence in aviation maintenance. The Golden Dragons earned the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Safety-S award consecutively for 1999 and 2000, 2005 and 2006, and in 2011.
See also
*
List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
This is a list of active United States Navy aircraft squadrons. ''Deactivated'' or ''disestablished'' squadrons are listed in the List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons.
Navy aircraft squadron (aviation), squadrons are composed of ...
*
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
*
Modern US Navy carrier air operations
Modern United States Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or noncombat missions. The flight operations are highly evolved, bas ...
*
List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
There are hundreds of US Navy aircraft squadrons which are not currently active dating back to before World War II (the U.S. Navy operated aircraft prior to World War I, but it did not organize them in squadrons until after that war). To be mo ...
References
:''This article incorporates text in the
public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work
A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...
from the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
.''
External links
VFA-192's Official Webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfa-192
Strike fighter squadrons of the United States Navy
FS0192