VFA-97

Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) is a naval aviation squadron of the United States Navy. It is equipped with the F-35C Lightning II and is stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The squadron is nicknamed "Warhawks" and it is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two, tail code "NE”. The squadron was originally established as Attack Squadron 97 (VA-97) on 1 June 1967 and redesignated VFA-97 on 24 January 1991.

Squadron insignia and nickname

The original VA-97 squadron insignia was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations on 6 March 1968 and they have been called the ''Warhawks'' since establishment. According to the US Navy History and Heritage Command, "The squadron continued to use its old insignia approved for VA-97. The squadron did not request a designation change to its banner following its redesignation to VFA-97." However, newer VFA-97 insignia appears to be in use.

History

1960s

VA-97 was established on 1 June 1967 and assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW 14). On 28 May 1968, they departed San Diego embarked on for the squadron's first WESTPAC deployment. On 28 June 1968, the squadron conducted its first combat missions, flying the A-7A Corsair II, against targets in Vietnam.

1970s

On 4 February 1971, the squadron embarked on at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA), for her transit around South America to her new home port of Alameda, California. The squadron's third deployment began in June 1971, embarked on USS ''Enterprise''. In December of that year following the outbreak of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, USS ''Enterprise'' was ordered to leave Yankee Station for the Indian Ocean. The carrier, with VA-97 embarked, operated in the Bay of Bengal until the cessation of hostilities in the latter part of December. After returning to Alameda and a short turn-around period, the squadron again returned to WESTPAC in September 1972, there they participated in Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker II in October and December, respectively. In April 1975, the squadron participated in Operation Frequent Wind and provided air support for the evacuation of American and Vietnamese personnel during the Fall of Saigon.

In March 1976, VA-97 achieved the "Triple Crown" of Naval Aviation awards, earning the Wade McClusky Award as the U.S. Navy's top Attack Squadron, the CNO Aviation Safety Award (also known as the Safety "S”), and the Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award (also known as the Battle "E"). The squadron began their sixth deployment in July 1976 once again embarked on ''Enterprise'' with CVW-14. The squadron's return to NAS Lemoore in May 1977 marked the completion of five years and over 25,000 hours of mishap-free flying in the A-7, making VA-97 the first squadron to achieve that mark. Their seventh deployment began in April 1978 aboard ''Enterprise''. In May of that year the squadron surpassed six years and over 30,000 hours of mishap-free flying.

The eighth deployment began in November 1979, embarked on , with most of the deployment spent on "Gonzo Station" off the southern coast of Iran.

1980s

In April 1980 while embarked on ''Coral Sea'', VA-97 was part of the task force involved in supporting Operation Eagle Claw, the Iranian hostage rescue attempt. ''Coral Sea'' was the squadron's home for deployment nine in August 1981, and again for deployment ten in March 1983, when they sailed around the world. In 1984, VA-97 was reassigned to CVW-15. The squadron's eleventh deployment departed NAS Alameda in October 1984 on , then the U.S. Navy's newest carrier. The squadron participated in FLEETEX 85, involving five carrier battle groups and sixty-five ships from various countries. The 12th deployment began in August 1986 operating from USS ''Carl Vinson'' above the Aleutian Islands Chain in the Bering Sea, both on the way to WESTPAC and on the return trip. The squadron returned home in February 1987.
The 13th deployment began in June 1988 and included support of Operation Earnest Will convoys in the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz. In July 1988 during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, USS ''Carl Vinson'' operated off the coast of Korea. The deployment ended with the squadron winning the Battle Efficiency Award. In 1989, the squadron earned the LTJG Bruce Carrier Memorial Award for Maintenance Excellence and the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety "S" award.

1990s

Throughout the 1990s, the squadron supported United Nations coalition forces by participating in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. They also flew in support of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. In 1990 the squadron completed their 15th and last WESTPAC deployment in the A-7 Corsair. On 24 January 1991, VA-97 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) and transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet. That summer, the squadron flew to NAS Norfolk and embarked for her transit around Cape Horn. In late 1992, the squadron deployed to the WESTPAC in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) over Iraq as well as Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. The squadron returned to NAS Lemoore in May 1993.

In June 1994, the squadron began their 17th cruise. This was their last cruise as a member of CVW-15. During the cruise on the 18th of November, BuNo 162827, one of the F/A-18As, crashed on take off from the Kitty Hawk, the pilot ejecting. The cruise also saw VFA-97 as well as the rest of CVW-15 provide contingency operations during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis.

In October 1995 the squadron joined CVW-11

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