- VFA-136
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Six
caption=VFA-136 Insignia
dates=1 July 1985 - Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=US Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role=
size=
command_structure=Carrier Air Wing One
garrison=NAS Oceana USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
garrison_label=
equipment= F/A-18E Super Hornet
equipment_label=
nickname= "Knighthawks"
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Desert ShieldOperation Desert Storm Operation Deny Flight Operation Vigilant Warrior Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136) also known as the "Knighthawks" is a
United States Navy strike fighter squadron based atNaval Air Station Oceana ,Virginia . The "Knighthawks" are an operational fleet squadron flying theF/A-18 Hornet . They are attached toCarrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) and homeported atNAS Oceana . Their tailcode "AB" and thier radio callsign is "Hawk".cite web
title = Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Six
work = US Navy
publisher = Global Security.org
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vfa-136.htm
accessdate = 2007-01-01 ]quadron Insignia and Nickname
The squadron’s Knighthawk insignia and nickname were approved by
CNO on 23 May 1985 and have remained unchanged.History
1980s
Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Six was established on 1 July
1985 atNaval Air Station Lemoore ,California under the instruction ofVFA-125 . The Knighthawks received their first F/A-18A on 7 Jan 1986, and a month later they moved to their new homeport ofNaval Air Station Cecil Field , Florida. VFA-136 first deployed in September 1987 withCarrier Air Wing Thirteen on board theUSS Coral Sea (CV-43) . One year later, the Knighthawks joinedCarrier Air Wing Seven on theUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) .1990s
During the "Ike’s" "Centennial Cruise" in 1990, the Knighthawks participated in exercises with French, British, Italian and
Tunis ian forces. The cruise took a serious turn afterIraq invadedKuwait on 2 August 1990. In support of Operation Desert Shield, the Ike was on station in theRed Sea within 36 hours, becoming the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the area. After returning from deployment in Nov 1990, the "Knighthawks" upgraded to the new Lot XIII Night Attack F/A-18C. The Knighthawks became the first fully operational night strike Hornet squadron in the Navy.In October
1991 , the "Knighthawks" and "Ike" were back in thePersian Gulf enforcing the peace accords set afterOperation Desert Storm . Upon completion of those operations, the team transitioned to the North Atlantic to participate in theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Exercise "TEAMWORK '92". This would be the largest NATO exercise in over three years. The "Knighthawks" next deployed aboard the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier,USS George Washington (CVN-73) for her maiden cruise in May 1994. "George Washington" was theflagship for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary ofD-Day , hosting PresidentBill Clinton . During the cruise, the "Knighthawks" participated in NATO Operations Deny Flight (over Bosnia-Herzegovina), Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior (both in the Persian Gulf). In addition to supporting NATO, the "Knighthawks" also participated in exercises in England, France, Sicily, Jordan, Tunisia, Bahrain and Oman. The squadron returned from deployment in November 1994. The "Knighthawks" deployed again aboard "George Washington" in January1996 in support ofOperation Decisive Endeavor overBosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch.In February
1998 , the "Knighthawks" embarked on the maiden deployment ofUSS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) . This "world cruise" included a tour of duty in the Persian Gulf in support ofOperation Southern Watch and culminated in the arrival ofUSS John C. Stennis in their new homeport ofSan Diego ,California .Immediately following this deployment, the "Knighthawks" relocated to
Naval Air Station Oceana in December 1998 as mandated by theBase Realignment and Closure decision.2000s
In February
2000 , the "Knighthawks" embarked aboardUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) to the Mediterranean. In March2000 , the "Knighthawks" flew in support of theDayton Accords governing the peace between the former warring factions in Bosnia and other parts of the Balkans. "Eisenhower" then proceeded to the Persian Gulf, in support ofOperation Southern Watch , returning to Norfolk on 18 August 2000.VFA-136 is currently transitioning to the F/A-18E Super Hornet under the instruction of
VFA-106 .See also
*
List of United States Navy Carrier air wings
*List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
*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 Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons References
External links
* [http://www.vfa136.navy.mil Official VFA-136 Knighthawks web site]
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