VFA-83

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 83


caption= VFA-83 Insignia
dates= April, 1950 - 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 7
current_commander=
garrison= Naval Air Station Oceana
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Rampagers
patron=
motto= Ram On!
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Desert Storm
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=

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 CNO 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 Sep 1951. They flew the F4U Corsair until December 1951, then transitioning to the F9F Panther. They also flew the F8F Bearcat for a short time in 1952. On 4 February 1953, the squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTY THREE (VF-83). In Aug 1954, they transitioned to the F7U Cutlass, and on 1 July 1955, they were re-designated as Light Attack Squadron 83.

On 12 Mar 1956, VA-83 flying the "Cutlass" equipped with the AIM-7 Sparrow I missiles, they embarked in "Intrepid" for the first overseas deployment of a naval missile squadron.

The squadron received the A-4 Skyhawk in Mar 1957 and then in Dec 1957, was the first fleet squadron to receive the A4D-2 version, which was the first to be equipped with an aerial refueling capability.

From July to August 1958 following continued civil violence in Lebanon, VA-83 flew sorties during the U.S. Marine Corps landings in Lebanon, and two of its aircraft were hit by hostile small arms fire receiving minor damage.

In September 1958 the squadron conducted flight operations while operating in the Taiwan Straits in response to the People’s Republic of China shelling of the Quemoy Islands.

During the '50s, the squadron deployed aboard the aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Intrepid (CVA-11), and USS Essex (CV-9).

1960s

During the '60s, they operated from the carriers USS Essex (CV-9), USS Forrestal (CV-59), USS Saratoga (CV-60), USS Shangri-La (CV-38) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). In 1961 and 1962 they won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E”. In Aug 1962, a squadron A4D-2N Skyhawk crossdecked aboard the British carrier HMS Hermes.On 15 Jun 1966 they re-located to NAS Cecil Field in Florida.

1970s

In Jun 1970, VA-83 transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II. In January 1971, VA-83 deployed with CVW-17 on "Forrestal". In 1973, the squadron won its third CNO Aviation Safety Award and in March 1974 they began their 14th Mediterranean Sea deployment. From Jul–Aug 1974, the squadron operated in the vicinity of Cyprus following a coup in that country and its invasion by Turkish forces.In 1975 they completed their 25th year as an active squadron, 20, 000 accident free flight hours which earned them another CNO Safety Award.

Between 1975 and 1982 they made three deployments, including training operations with NATO allies in the North Atlantic.

1980s

From May–Jun 1981 while embarked in "Forrestal", VA-83 operated in the eastern Mediterranean following IsraelI reprisal raids against Syrian missile batteries located in southern Lebanon.In Aug 1981, the squadron participated in a Freedom of Navigation Exercise in the Gulf of Sidra. During this exercise two F-14 Tomcats from "Nimitz" shot down two Libyan SU-22 Fitters on 18 August. Tensions escalated and VA-83 flew reconnaissance missions over potentially hostile Libyan ships.In 1982 they deployed to support peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. During the 1985-1986 cruise they supported operations in the Indian Ocean as well as operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya. Squadron aircraft fired AGM-88 HARMs against a Libyan missile radar site, marking the first use of that missile in combat.

1987 marked their final deployment with the Corsair, and in November they began the transition to the F/A-18C Hornet. On March 1, 1988 they were re-designated to Strike Fighter Squadron 83.

1990s

In the summer of 1990 they made their first Hornet deployment aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. For 43 days they flew 237 combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait, they were awarded the 1990 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E” and the 1991 CNO Aviation Safety Award.

In 1992 they deployed to the Adriatic Sea supporting United Nations operations in former Yugoslavia. In 1994 they made a second deployment to the area, which also marked the first ever detachment to Jordan. They were awarded their sixth CNO Aviation Safety Award in 1994. In 1996 the Rampagers deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1996 they were awarded the Battle “E” and Michael J. Estocin Award, as the best F/A-18 squadron in the US Navy.

VFA-83 executed a homeport change to NAS Oceana, VA in April 1998.

2000s

= 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

External links

* [http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/vfa83/ VFA-83's official website]
* [http://www.whileyouweredeployed.com/squadron_histories_vfa_83.php Squadron history - VFA-83 Rampagers]