VFA-87

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Strike Fighter Squadron 87


caption= VFA-87 Insignia
dates= 1968 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Navy
type= Fighter/Attack
role= Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure=
current_commander= Commander Richard J. Zins
garrison= NAS Oceana
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= War Party
Golden Eagles
patron=
motto= “Excellence attained through the pursuit of perfection”
colors=AJ
colors_label=Tail Code
march=
mascot=
battles= Vietnam War
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
aircraft_attack= A-7 Corsair
aircraft_fighter= F/A-18 Hornet
anniversaries=

The Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana. Nicknamed the "Golden Warriors", their call sign is "War Party" (or simply "Party"), tail code is "AJ", and they fly the F-18 Hornet. The squadron was established in 1968 and has seen combat during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Insignia and Nickname

The squadron’s insignia and nickname were approved by CNO on 29 July 1968 and have remained essentially unchanged.

History

1960s

In June 1968, the "Golden Warriors" were established as VA-87, the first fleet squadron to fly the A-7 Corsair II, at NAS Cecil Field, Florida. In March 1969, the squadron flew its first combat missions from the USS "Ticonderoga", striking targets in South Vietnam. In April 1969 following the shoot down of a Navy EC-121 Constellation aircraft by the North Koreans, "Ticonderoga", with VA-87 embarked, was ordered to the Sea of Japan.

1970s

In the 1970s, VA-87 made 12 deployments aboard three different carriers -- the USS "Franklin D. Roosevelt", the USS "America" and the USS "Independence".

In 1973, the "Golden Warriors" protected U.S. interests during the Yom Kippur War. Transitioning to the improved A-7E Corsair II, the squadron returned in October 1975 to the Middle East following the assassination of the American ambassador to Lebanon, assisting in the evacuation of U.S. citizens.In 1975, the squadron upgraded to the A-7E. VA-87, while embarked on "America" from Jun–Jul 1976, operated in the vicinity of Lebanon in response to the assassination of the American Ambassador to Lebanon.

1980s

During the Iran hostage crisis and the Israeli-Syrian disputes of 1981, VA-87 deployed to the region for 195 days aboard "Independence". One year later the "Golden Warriors" were back, supporting U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.

In October 1983, the "Golden Warriors" participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. During the same deployment, VA-87 participated in strikes against Syria in response to hostile fire against U.S. reconnaissance aircraft from Syrian positions inLebanon. On October 24, 1986, the "Golden Warriors" transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet and were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87).

1990s

On December 28, 1990, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the "Golden Warriors" deployed for Operation Desert Storm, flying 629 sorties over 43 days of intense combat.

The "Golden Warriors", equipped with the newer F/A-18C, deployed to the Adriatic Sea and Red Sea from March to September 1993, flying hundreds of missions in support of United Nations Operation Deny Flight, Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Southern Watch. Embarked for the last time on "Theodore Roosevelt", VFA-87 returned in March 1995 to Southwest Asia for a month to participate in Operation Southern Watch.

Following a hasty transit to the Adriatic, the "Golden Warriors" spent four months flying combat sorties over the increasingly embattled former Yugoslavia. On August 30, 1995, "Golden Warrior" jets were the first to strike Bosnian Serb targets as the Operation Deliberate Force campaign commenced.

VFA-87 again headed to the Adriatic to fly over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Deliberate Guard and again in Operation Southern Watch.

2000s

In April 2001, VFA-87 deployed on a Persian Gulf cruise enforcing the no fly zone over Southern Iraq aboard the USS "Enterprise" when the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred. They, along with the entire "Enterprise" battle group, were held on station to conduct first strike combat missions over Afghanistan against embedded Taliban targets. VFA-87 returned to NAS Oceana in November 2001.

In January 2003, the USS "Theodore Roosevelt" battle group along with VFA-87 conducted combat operations over Iraq, initiating Operation Iraqi Freedom.

VFA-87 deployed again in September 2005 aboard "Theodore Roosevelt", returning in March 2006, and received the Atlantic Fleet "Battle E" award later that year.

In September 2006, the squadron transitioned from the F/A-18C to the F/A-18A+ and were again named the "Battle E" squadron for the Atlantic Fleet in March 2007.

Notable alumni

Timothy J. Keating - 22 May 1987

See also

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

External links

* [http://www.nasoceana.navy.mil/vfa87/home.htm VFA-87's official website]