- VFA-86
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 86
caption= VFA-86 insignia
dates= February 1951 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch= USN
type= Fighter/Attack
role=Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure=Marine Aircraft Group 31 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
current_commander= Commander Paul Spedero
garrison=Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Sidewinders
patron=
motto=
colors=AB
colors_label=Tail Code
march=
mascot=
battles=Vietnam War *Operation Linebacker *Operation Linebacker II Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom
aircraft_attack= A4D-1 Skyhawk A-7A Corsair II
aircraft_fighter= F8F-2 Bearcat F9F-5 Panther F7U-3M CutlassF/A-18 Hornet
anniversaries=Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86) is a
United States Navy strike fighter squadron based atMarine Corps Air Station Beaufort ,South Carolina . Known as the "Sidewinders", they fall under the command ofMarine Aircraft Group 31 and the2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . Their call sign is "Winder", tail code is "AB", and they fly theF/A-18C Hornet .Mission
To conduct prompt and sustained combat operations in support of the
National Command Authority .cite web|accessdate=2008-04-20
url=http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG31/VFA86/vfa86info/mission.asp
title=VFA-86 Mission]History
1950s
Reserve Fighter Squadron 921 (VF-921) was called to active duty from NAS
St Louis on 1 Feb 1951 for theKorean War flying theF4U Corsair . On 4 Feb1953 , the squadron was redesignated VF-84, while deployed toGuantanamo Bay , Cuba aboardUSS Antietam . In June 1953, the squadron briefly flew the F8F-2 Bearcat in preparation for transition to the F9F-5 Panther in November 1953. The squadron's current Sidewinder name and insignia were adopted in April 1954.On 1 Jul
1955 the squadron began flying the F7U-3M Cutlass, was redesignated VA-86, and conducted extensive evaluation of theAIM-7 Sparrow missile .From May
1957 until 1967, the squadron flew the DouglasA4D Skyhawk .1960s
In April 1961 the squadron operated from
USS Independence (CVA 62) nearGuantanamo Bay, Cuba , during theBay of Pigs invasion.In Nov 1962, the squadron embarked in
USS Lexington (CV-16) during theCuban Missile Crisis operating off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.In Apr–May 1963, VA-86 provided A-4C detachments aboard
USS Randolph (CVS-15) ,USS Essex (CVS-9) andUSS Wasp (CVS-18) . The aircraft were equipped withAIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to provide the carriers with anti-air warfare capability.On 1 Jul 1965, the squadron conducted its first combat missions, flying from "Independence" against targets in South
Vietnam .On 1 June 1967, VA-86 became the Navy's first operational fleet squadron to fly the Vought
A-7 Corsair II , and in September 1969, VA-86 transitioned to the E model of the A-7.The squadron conducted it's second South East Asia combat deployment aboard
USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from September 1969 to July 1970.1970s
In late spring of 1971, VA-86 was forced to transition to the A-7C due to unexpected problems with the A-7E's TF-41 engines. The "Sidewinders" then deployed from Jun 1972 to Mar 1973 aboard
USS America (CV-66) for a ten-month combat cruise, it's third to Southeast Asia, participating in several intense and lengthy bombing campaigns, includingOperation Linebacker and Linebacker II in late-1972. The squadron remained on station until the Paris Peace Accord was signed in late January 1973. This was the squadron’s fourth combat deployment to Southeast Asia, more than any other East Coast attack squadron and resulted in the receipt of theMeritorious Unit Commendation .The squadron transitioned to the A-7E in 1974 and early 1975 and made numerous deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic flying from
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) during the 1970s and 1980s.1980s
In Jan 1980, after the seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran VA-86 departed
Naples, Italy embarked in "Nimitz", en route to theIndian Ocean via theCape of Good Hope , beginning of 144 consecutive days at sea.In 1981 while aboard "Nimitz", the squadron participated in a Freedom of Navigation Exercise in the Gulf of Sidra incident. During this tense period, VA-86 flew
Aerial refuelling and reconnaissance missions over potentially hostile Libyan ships.The "Sidewinders" were awarded the 1982 COMNAVAIRLANT
Battle "E" , as the best East Coast A-7 squadron.In Jun- July 1985 while aboard "Nimitz", VA-86 operated off the coast of Lebanon due to the hijacking of
TWA flight 847 by Arab radicals, and later that year the Sidewinders were awarded the AdmiralWade McClusky Award, signifying the best attack squadron in the Navy.Jan–Feb 1987 while embarked in "Nimitz", VA-86 operated off the coast of Lebanon after three U.S. citizens were taken hostage from the American University in Beirut.
On
July 15 ,1987 , VA-86 was officially redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86), and began flying theFA-18 Hornet . They were the first East Coast squadron to receive the C model (Lot 10) of the FA-18.In 1988 during an eight month deployment aboard "America", VFA-86 provided air cover for the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in
Beirut, Lebanon .1990s
In 1991, the squadron flew combat missions in support of
Operation Desert Storm from "America" operating in both theRed Sea and thePersian Gulf .In 1992, the "Sidewinders" accomplished the first East Coast FA-18
Standoff Land Attack Missile shoot to a target onSan Nicolas Island , California.In 1993 the "Sidewinders" deployed aboard "America" in support of
Operation Deny Flight . In October, "America" was ordered to theIndian Ocean off the coast ofSomalia in support of United Nations relief efforts. After conductingNATO Operation Deliberate Force missions overBosnia-Herzegovina from theAdriatic Sea , they returned to Cecil Field in February 1994.The "Sidewinders" received the CNO's Safety "S" Award for 1995.
On 3 October 1997, the "Sidewinders" deployed to the Mediterranean Sea/Persian Gulf aboard
USS George Washington (CVN-73) . The "Sidewinders" remained on station in the Gulf through mid-March 1998 during the crisis involving Iraq's non-compliance with UN sanctions, flying Operation Southern Watch contingency missions.VFA-86 was awarded the 1997 Battle E recognizing it as the best East Coast FA-18 Hornet squadron. On September 22, 1998 the "Sidewinders" deployed to the Mediterranean Sea/Arabian aboard
USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) , participating Freedom of Navigation Operations off the coast of Libya.Following the decommissioning of
NAS Cecil Field in 1999, the squadron relocated toMCAS Beaufort ,South Carolina .2000s
On 19 September 2001, the "Sidewinders" deployed aboard
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) , in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom (OEF) overAfghanistan againstTaliban andAl Qaeda military targets. When they departed the area on 2 March 2002, the squadron had flown over 3500 hours and expended over 213 tons of ordnance. During this period, the "Sidewinders" were at sea for 160 continuous days.From August 2003 to July 2004, VFA-86 deployed in
USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and OEF.In July 2007, VFA-86 deployed again aboard "Enterprise" in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, returning MCAS Beaufort in December of 2007.
References
External links
* [http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG31/VFA86/default.asp Official website of VFA-86]
* [http://www.skyhawk.org/3e/va86/va86.htm VFA-86 Sidewinders page on Skyhawk.org]= 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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