- VFA-27
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 27
caption= VFA-27 insignia
dates= *September 1 ,1967 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role=Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure=Carrier Air Wing 5
current_commander= Commander Dan Dwyer
garrison=Naval Air Facility Atsugi
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Royal Maces
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Vietnam War Operation Restore Hope Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA-27), also known as the "Royal Maces", are a
United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed atNaval Air Facility Atsugi . They are a part ofCarrier Air Wing 5 and are attached to theUSS George Washington (CVN-73) . Theirtail code is NF.Mission
To conduct carrier based air strike and strike force escort missions, anti-ship operations, battle group anti-air operations, and surveillance/intelligence collection operations in support of Carrier Air Wing 5 tasking and requirements. The squadron is permanently forward deployed with Carrier Air Wing 5, shore based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and embarked on the USS George Washington (CVN-73).
quadron Insignia and Nickname
The squadron’s insignia was approved by the
CNO on 25 March 1968, and consisted of a light blue glove and black mace. They were nicknamed the "Royal Maces".History
1960s
The Royal Maces were commissioned Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) on September 1, 1967 flying the
A-7 Corsair II , and in January 1968, the squadron officially reported toCarrier Air Wing 14 . In May 1968, as theVietnam War continued, the Royal Maces departed for their first combat deployment aboardUSS Constellation (CVA-64) . On 28 Jun 1968, the squadron flew its first combat sortie, striking targets in the panhandle region of NorthVietnam .During a second combat cruise aboard "Constellation" in August 1969, VA-27 flew over 2,500 combat sorties. Attack Squadron 27 transitioned to the newer A-7E on June 20, 1970. From 4 Feb–7 Mar, VA-27 embarked in
USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during the carrier’s transit around Cape Horn to her new home port inNAS Alameda , California, and then deployed on "Enterprise" from 11 Jun 1971 to 12 Feb 1972, the "Royal Maces" third combat cruise. With the outbreak of war betweenIndia andPakistan over East Pakistan (laterBangladesh ) in Dec 1971, Enterprise departedYankee Station and made a quick transit to theIndian Ocean to provide support for the evacuation of foreign civilians. Squadron pilots amassed over 4,400 combat flight hours and participated in over 1,500 air strikes without loss.The "Royal Maces" commenced their fourth combat deployment in September 1972 aboard "Enterprise", participating in
Linebacker I andLinebacker II operations, heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies in that country and into South Vietnam.The squadron began its next deployment to the Western Pacific in September 1974. In Apr 1975, the Royal Maces flew surveillance missions over Vietnam and flew escort forUnited States Marine Corps andUnited States Air Force helicopters during the evacuation of American and Vietnamese personnel as part ofOperation Frequent Wind .1980s
In Apr 1980, VA-27 participated in the Iranian hostage rescue attempt by providing air cover for the forces directly involved in the rescue operation.
In Aug 1986, the "Maces" participated in the first carrier tactical flight operations in the
Bering Sea since the end ofWorld War II .1990s
On 24 January 1991, the Royal Maces transitioned to the
F/A-18 Hornet and were officially re-designated the "Chargers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA-27). In November 1992, while deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), VFA-27 operated off the coast ofSomalia in support ofOperation Restore Hope and augmentedUnited States Central Command ’s multi-national coalition Air Forces supportingOperation Southern Watch . The squadron participated in a coalition night strike againstIraq on 13 January 1993, delivering over 18,000 pounds of ordnance on target. The squadron transitioned to F/A-18C's in 1994, and in 1996 commenced their homeport change toNAF Atsugi , Japan deploying aboardUSS Independence (CV-62) .2000s
In the wake of the
September 11, 2001 attacks , the squadron participated inOperation Enduring Freedom flying missions against theAl Qaida infrastructure andTaliban forces inAfghanistan as well as protecting valued assets inDiego Garcia . When "Kitty Hawk" deployed to thePersian Gulf in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom , VFA-27 was soon heavily involved in combat prior to the war. As part ofCarrier Air Wing 5 , VFA-27 attacked command, control and communications sites, surface-to-surface missile batteries and an air traffic control radar nearBasrah . At the Al Faw peninsula long range artillery guns and 155mmhowitzer s nearAz Zubayr were targeted. The Royal Maces flew hundreds ofclose air support and strike sorties againstIraq i forces in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom . VFA-27 completed their transition to theF/A-18E Super Hornet in October 2004 at NAS Lemoore.External links and reference
* [https://www.atsugi.navy.mil/VFA-27/index.html VFA-27's Official Webpage]
* [http://www.usscoralsea.net/27/index.html Royal Maces' Unofficial Page]
*Tony Holmes (2005). "US Navy Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom Part One", Osprey Publishing Limited.= 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
*United States Marine Corps Aviation
*Military aviation
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
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