VFA-2

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron Two


caption= VFA-2 Insignia
dates= 1972-present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= US Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role= Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= Carrier Air Wing 2
garrison= Naval Air Station Lemoore
equipment= F/A-18F Super Hornet
current_commander= Commander S. F. Guimond
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname= "Bounty Hunters"
callsign= Bullet
motto=
colors=Red, white, blue
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Frequent Wind
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Unified Assistance
anniversaries=
decorations= Battle Efficiency "E"
battle_honours=

Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2) also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet". The Bounty Hunters are attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions. The squadron is currently deployed aboard the USS "Abraham Lincoln" (CVN-72).

History

Four distinct squadrons have been designated VF-2. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq6-1.htm] . Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.

1920s - 1930s

The First VF-2

The first VF-2 was originally established as Combat Squadron Four on 23 Sep 1921, home-based at Naval Air Station San Diego, California. The squadron was re-designated Fighter Squadron 2 on 1 Jul 1922, flying the Chance-Vought VE-7 biplane. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Chiefs," operated from USS "Langley" (CV-1), the US Navy's first aircraft carrier. Between 1922 and 1925, VF-2/VF-2B experimented with carrier operations from "Langley" off the coast of California. Air activity was initially limited to scouting, but the Commander-in-Chief, US Fleet saw the potential of Naval Aviation and recommended that USS "Lexington" (CV-2) and USS "Saratoga" (CV-3) be completed as soon as possible.

Flying F6C Hawks in 1926, VF-2B was the first squadron to demonstrate the concept of dive-bombing, carrying out mock-attacks on Pacific Fleet ships. Commanders of the surface ships had expected standard, low-altitude, level bombing, but were surprised when the VF-2B aircraft attacked, unseen, from twelve thousand feet making simulated drops before the ships defenses could be manned.

On January 4, 1927, VF-2B was re-designated VF-6. The squadron flew VE-7s, followed, by the Curtis F6C and FC-1. In 1927, the squadron was tasked to provide one aircraft to each fleet battleship, with the remaining planes shore-based at North Island. The squadron's FU-1s were launched from the ship's catapults, landed as seaplanes and then hoisted back aboard by the ship's crane. In 1928 the squadron transferred to the USS "Langley" and was redesignated VF-2B. Over the course of the next 15 years, the squadron was variously called VF-6B, VF-3, and VF-6 based on their ship assignment ("B" appended meaning the squadron was attached to the Battle Fleet, and "S" indicating that it belonged to the Scouting Fleet). In 1937, the last letter of Navy squadron designations were removed.

VF-6B made two "Langley" deployments in 1930 and 1931 flying F2Bs. They later transitioned to Boeing F3B high altitude fighters. VF-6 was disestablished on 1 Oct 1945.

The Second VF-2

The second squadron to be designated VF-2 was established on 1 Jan 1927. Over the next ten years, it was referred to as VF-2B, BF-2S, VF-2B and VF-2. At the time of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, VF-2 was flying the F2A Brewster Buffalo but soon transitioned to the Grumman F4F Wildcat.

The squadron’s first combat occurred during the two-day Battle of the Coral Sea, the world’s first engagement between aircraft carriers. On May 7, 1942, VF-2's commanding officer led the escort of USS Lexington (CV-2)’s strike aircraft against the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō. VF-2 claimed six confirmed aerial kills and three probable kills. The next day, Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku exchanged air strikes with the US force, and VF-2 lost five aircraft while claiming 11 kills. "Lexington" succumbed to torpedo damage and was sunk. Without an aircraft carrier, VF-2 was disestablished on July 1, 1942.

1940s - The Third VF-2

The third distinct squadron to be designated VF-2 was established on June 1, 1943, at Naval Air Station Atlantic City. VF-2, known now as the "Rippers," became the first World War II fighting squadron to bear the same designation as a previous unit in the war. Several pilots came from VF-6 and VF-10. The squadron initially deployed eight FM-1s but soon received the Grumman F6F Hellcat. VF-2 trained on the east-coast until October 1943 when the squadron headed west to San Francisco and then Hawaii. In Hawaii, VF-2 participated in a Marine landing exercise and so impressed the influential “Butch” O’Hare that he requested that VF-2 replace VF-6 in his Air Group aboard USS "Enterprise" (CV-6). From November 1943 to January 1944, VF-2 saw action during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, Makin Atoll and Tarawa Atoll. They also participated in raids against the Marshall Islands of Kwajalein, Ebeye and Roi-Namur. VF-2 participated in O’Hare-designed “bat teams” of one TBF Avenger and two F6F’s for night interceptions.

In March 1944, VF-2 deployed aboard USS "Hornet" (CV-12).

From "Hornet", VF-2 participated in strikes against the Marianas on the afternoon June 11, 1944. Over 200 "Hellcats" were launched from American carriers convert|200|mi|km from their targets of Guam and Rota (island). VF-2 claimed 23 victories during the attack over the Guam airfield, while squadron aircraft closer to "Hornet" destroyed 3 "Betty" medium bombers. A second strike on Guam claimed another 10 Japanese aircraft. VF-2 scored 37 victories and only lost one plane. The next day VF-2 attacked the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima with intent to destroy Japanese aircraft. Only pilots which had not previously scored aerial kills were sent on this mission, claiming 17 kills.

Between June 19 and June 20, 1944, VF-2 was credited with 47 victories with only one airplane damaged beyond repair. On the afternoon of June 20, the Japanese carriers were located approximately convert|200|mi|km to the west. A strike was ordered with bombs and torpedoes. After the strike, only six VF-2 aircraft returned to "Hornet", the remaining having landed on other carriers. Five aircraft were lost at sea. Five days later, VF-2 claimed 67 kills in one day during a sweep of Iwo Jima, losing only one F6F (an additional one was damaged beyond repair). On September 22, 1944, the Rippers closed their victory log when “Spider” Webb downed an enemy aircraft over Manila. During the 1943-44 period, VF-2 had conducted 184 strikes and 2050 sorties, destroying 50, 000 tons of ships and 216 airborne airplanes and 245 airplanes on the ground. Losses totaled 3 airplanes in aerial combat and 4 to anti-aircraft fire. VF-2 was disestablished on 9 Nov 1945.

1970s – The current VF-2

27 years after disestablishment, a new VF-2 now known as the "Bounty Hunters," was established on October 14, 1972 flying the F-14 Tomcat.

VF-2 completed aircrew training and received its first F-14s in July 1973, attaining full strength of 12 F-14s in the spring of 1974. The "Bounty Hunters" was the first Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) unit for both CVW-14 and later CVW-2.

VF-2's first deployment was in 1974 with her sister squadron VF-1 aboard USS "Enterprise" (CVN-65). The squadron flew over Saigon in support of Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of US personnel in April, 1975.

1980s

VF-2 was assigned to USS "Ranger" (CVA-61) for the September 1980 deployment, four months of which were spent in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf during the Iran hostage crisis.

They deployed aboard USS "Kitty Hawk" (CV-63) in 1984 and returned for multiple "Ranger" deployments throughout the '80's.

On June 2, 1984, VF-2 became the first squadron to launch an F-14 from an aircraft carrier while towing an air-to-air gunnery target. In 1987 the squadron logged "Ranger"’s 260,000th landing.

1990s

The unit participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying over 500 combat mission from "Ranger" operating in the Persian Gulf. VF-2 performed escort, reconnaissance and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions. After the 1992-1993 cruise, "Ranger" was decommissioned (along with VF-2’s sister squadron VF-1), and VF-2 was switched to the USS "Constellation" (CV-64). At the same time, VF-2 transitioned to the F-14D Tomcat. A few months after the 1995 cruise, VF-2 was relocated from NAS Miramar to NAS Oceana due to a BRAC decision to make Miramar a Marine Corps Air Station. In April 1996, VF-2 F-14s were modified to carry the LANTIRN infrared targeting pod, giving them precision strike capabilities.

During their 1999 cruise, VF-2 supported Operation Southern Watch and on September 9, attacked Surface-to-Air Missile sites and anti-aircraft guns around Basra. The same day a VF-2 Tomcat engaged two Iraqi MiG-23’s that were heading south into the No-Fly Zone from Al Taqaddum airbase, west of Baghdad with AIM-54 Phoenix. The missile did not score as the MiGs turned north once they detected the Phoenix launch.

2000s

In the summer of 2001, VF-2 deployed aboard USS|Constellation|CV-64 in support of Operation Southern Watch.

During the 2002-2003 deployment, the final cruise with the F-14 Tomcat, VF-2 participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom flying a wide range of missions including, reconnaissance, Close Air Support, Combat Air Patrol and strike missions. On February 28, 2003, during Operation Southern Watch, a VF-2 aircraft delivered the first F-14D JDAM in combat. VF-2 flew 483 sorties and dropped 294 Laser-guided bomb's/JDAM/MK-82 bombs with a 98% sortie completion rate during the war.

On July 1, 2003, VF-2 was redesignated VFA-2, and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. On October 6, 2003, VFA-2 took delivery of its first Super Hornet.

VFA-2 deployed to the Western Pacific aboard USS "Abraham Lincoln" (CVN-72) with CVW-2 in October, 2004. They returned in March 2005 after supporting Operation Unified Assistance which provided humanitarian support to Southeast Asia after the tsunami.

In March 2006, VFA-2 embarked on "Abraham Lincoln".

On March 13, 2008, VFA-2 embarked with CVW-2 a "Abraham Lincoln" on a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf.

= See also =
*Naval aviation
*Modern US Navy carrier air operations
*List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
*United States Naval Aviator
*Military aviation
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons

=References=cite web
title = Official Website: Strike Fighter Squadron 2
url= http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/vfa-2/
accessdate = 2008-08-08

cite web
title = Global Security.org: Strike Fighter Squadron 2
url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vfa-2.htm
accessdate = 2006-10-31

=External links=
* [http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/vfa-2/ Strike Fighter Squadron 2] (official site)