| Strike Fighter Squadron 115 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-115 Insignia |
|
| Active | October 10, 1942 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname | "Eagles" "Arabs" |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115), also known as the "Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In Military tactics, close air support ( CAS) is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to Air interdiction (AI is the use of aircraft to attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to friendly ground forces Reconnaissance (also scouting) is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base located in Kings County, California. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace The December 1998 bombing of Iraq (code-named Operation Desert Fox) was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16 - December 19 Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base located in Kings County, California. Their tail code is NK.
Contents |
History
World War II
On October 10, 1942, Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT 11) was commissioned by the Navy Department. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30 1798 to provide administrative and technical support and civilian leadership Pilots and crews found themselves "strapping in" the "new" Grumman designed TBM Avenger, a carrier based torpedo bomber known in the fleet as the "Turkey. The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a leading 20th century U WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout "
The squadron's first combat deployment was landbased at Guadalcanal during April-May 1943 as part of Carrier Air Group Eleven (CVG-11). Honiara International Airport, formerly known as Henderson Field, is an Airport located on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 9, 1943, in the In June 1943, VT-11 pilots conducted the first daylight raids on Bougainville and the Solomon Islands from the USS Hornet. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands History Construction 1940 to 1943 The contract to build Kearsarge had been given to Newport News Shipbuilding on 9 September In October 1944, the squadron participated in the first strikes against Okinawa and two weeks later converged on Leyte Gulf to protect the landing and supply ships engaged in the liberation of the Philippines. is one of Japan 's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1000 km long which extends southwest from Kyūshū The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battle for Leyte Gulf" the "Battles for Leyte Gulf" and formerly as the "Second Battle of the Philippine The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Seven Navy Crosses were awarded to VT 11 aircrews during this campaign. The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor.
After the war, NAS San Diego became VT-11's new homeport, and the squadron was redesignated as Attack Squadron Twelve Able (VA-12A) in November 1946. Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of VA-12A, along with its Carrier Air Group (CVAG-11), underwent extensive training and embarked in USS Valley Forge, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier. 1947 – 1950 Following fitting out the new carrier got underway on 24 January 1947 for shakedown training which took her via Norfolk, to Guantanamo In June 1948, VA-12A deployed on a world cruise, which was a first for a Navy Air Group and milestone for the squadron. A symbolic globe later became part of the squadron's official insignia to commemorate the cruise.
On July 15, 1948, VA-12A was redesignated Attack Squadron 115 (VA-115). Walter Elias Disney (December 5 1901 – December 15 1966 was a multiple Academy Award -winning American Film producer, director, Screenwriter Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In addition, the squadron transitioned to the Navy's newest, most powerful, and what was to be its last propeller driven fighter-bomber, the Douglas built A-1 Skyraider. The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American Aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach California. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
The Korean War
In July 1950, VA-115 deployed aboard USS Philippine Sea for nine months conducting strikes in Inchon, South Korea in preparation for landings in September 1950. Korean War With the outbreak of war in Korea, Philippine Sea was ordered to Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Incheon (인천 상륙 작전 Incheon Sangryuk Jakjeon; Code name: Operation Chromite) was an amphibious invasion and battle of South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː During and after the invasion the squadron flew deep support missions and also encountered MIG-15s. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout On December 31, 1951, VA-115 deployed again to the Korean theater and flew combat missions against North Korean rail, transportation, communication, industrial and supply targets. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January VA-115 flew 2,268 combat missions over both Korea deployments. For this outstanding performance, the squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Please see " Presidential Unit Citation " for other nations' versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units In 1960 the squadron adopted the nickname "Arabs" after passage through the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is a Canal in Egypt. Opened in 1869 it allows Water transportation between Europe and Asia without circumnavigation
The Vietnam War
In October 1965, the squadron returned to Southeast Asia with USS Kitty Hawk and Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11). 1961 to 1964 Following a shakedown in the Western Atlantic, Kitty Hawk departed Norfolk on 11 August 1961. While serving "on the line" for six months in the Gulf of Tonkin, VA-115 flew 2,051 sorties, over 8000 hours and delivered 7 millions pounds of ordnance against enemy targets in Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin, in Vietnamese: Vịnh Bắc Bộ or in Chinese: Beibu Wan is an arm of the South China Sea. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially In September 1966, VA-115 joined Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), and was assigned to the Seventh Fleet in January 1967. The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near South Korea In August 1967, the squadron was in an inactive status. This was a transitional period as the squadron awaited the arrival of the A-6 Intruder. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout In January 1970, the squadron resumed active status and was reassigned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington for transition to the Grumman A-6A Intruder. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
As part of CVW-5, on board USS Midway, VA-115 made their first Western Pacific deployment in the Intruder in 1971. Early operations and deployment with the 6th Fleet After shakedown in the Caribbean, Midway joined in the U In April 1972, the Midway and VA-115 departed NAS Alameda, California for "Yankee Station" off the coast of Vietnam. VA-115 earned a fourth Presidential Unit Citation during this tour. In September 1973, Midway and VA-115 changed homeport to Yokosuka, Japan. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across Again Midway and VA-115 would serve off the coast of Vietnam and in 1975, participated in Operation Eagle Pull and Operation Frequent Wind, supporting the evacuation of Saigon. Operation Eagle Pull was the American evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 12 1975. Operation Frequent Wind was the Emergency evacuation by Helicopter from Saigon, South Vietnam, in April 1975 during the last days In the summer of 1977, VA-115 transitioned to the A-6E. The "Arabs" of VA-115 then became the "Eagles," officially changing the nickname in March 1978.
The Gulf War & the 1990s
The "Eagles" deployed again to the Middle East in support of re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the In October 1990, the "Eagles" deployed to the North Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. On January 17, 1991, "Eagle" Intruders launched from the deck of Midway against Iraqi targets to mark the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. In total, the "Eagles" flew 456 combat sorties, 953 hours and delivered 724,000 pounds of ordnance against enemy targets in Iraq and occupied Kuwait. The squadron also led the wing with the confirmed destruction of 12 Iraqi naval vessels. In 1992, the squadron deployed aboard USS Independence, USS Midway's relief as the Navy's forward deployed aircraft carrier. 1960 – 1964 Independence operated off the Virginia Capes for the next year on training maneuvers and departed 4 August 1960 for her
VA-115 again deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch enforcing United Nations resolutions against Iraq. Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The "Eagles" were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their superb performance, flying 115 combat missions over Iraq. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious In 1993, VA-115, with a complete complement of A-6E SWIP aircraft deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch and in 1994, received four aircraft with "night vision" capability.
In 1996 supported contingency operations in the vicinity of Taiwan and still another deployment supporting Operation Southern Watch. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace In October 1996, the "Eagles" began transition to their fifth aircraft, the F/A-18C Hornet and conducted another homeport change returning to NAS Lemoore, California, as well as, redesignation as Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115). WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base located in Kings County, California. The squadron accepted 12 FA-18s in six months and joined CVW-14 on board USS Abraham Lincoln. Ship history Construction Lincoln' s contract was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding on 27 December 1982 her keel was laid 3 November 1984 at In June 1998 the "Eagles" deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.
After only two deployments in the legacy Hornet, the squadron was chosen to be the first Navy squadron to transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout VFA-115 was able to receive its Safe for Flight qualification in less than one hundred days, substantially ahead of timeline. They were also the first fleet squadron to receive the state of the art Advanced Tactical FLIR. A forward looking infrared (FLIR is an imaging device that senses infrared radiation
Global War on Terror
In July 2002, the Eagles embarked on the first ever Super Hornet combat deployment. They flew 214 combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch (OSW) with a 100% combat sortie completion rate. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace The Eagles dropped 22 JDAM on 14 targets in OSW. Overview The JDAM is not a weapon rather it is a "bolt-on" upgrade for unguided gravity bombs installed during build up of the munition by Naval Ordnancemen or Air Force The Eagles took part in the opening salvos of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign Before hostilities ceased on April 9, 2003, the Eagles dropped 380,000 pounds of ordinance and passed three and a half million pounds of fuel in the tanker support role. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. This outstanding wartime performance earned the Eagles and the Lincoln Battle Group the Navy Unit Commendation (the sixth awarded to VFA-115). The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December
In May 2004, the “Eagles” deployed on board the USS John C. Stennis. Mission and capabilities The mission of Stennis and her embarked Air Wing ( CVW-9) is to conduct sustained combat air operations while forward deployed in the In support of the Fleet Response Plan, the Eagles participated in various joint exercises including NORTHERN EDGE, Rim of the Pacific, Joint Air and Sea Exercise and a MIG-29 Passage Exercise. Additionally, VFA-115 authored a comprehensive joint doctrine for Maritime Interdiction. This document was adopted by Commander Pacific Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations as the model for joint employment, and is now the primary training focus for deploying west coast Strike Groups. The Eagle’s professionalism, teamwork and dedication earned the squadron the coveted Commander Naval Air Pacific Battle Efficiency Award for 2004. The Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E" is awarded annually to the small number of U
In January 2006, the Eagles deployed to the Persian Gulf, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign VFA-115 flew hundreds of combat sorties providing Close Air Support for the Army and Marines, tanking for the carrier-based aircraft, and Maritime Interdiction for the USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group. Building christening and commissioning The Ronald Reagan was the first aircraft carrier to be named in honor of a living former president The squadron earned the coveted CVW-14 Strike Fighter Award.
In January 2007, VFA-115 deployed in support of the Fleet Response Plan on board the USS Ronald Reagan. During the three month deployment the squadron participated in exercise FOAL EAGLE. The Eagles returned in April 2007 to resume shore based flight training at Naval Air Station Lemoore. Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base located in Kings County, California.
Aircraft flown
- TBM Avenger — October 1942 - July 1948
- A-1 Skyraider — July 1948 - August 1967
- A-6 Intruder — 1977 - October 1996
- F/A-18C Hornet — October 1996 - June 2001
- F/A-18E Super Hornet — June 2001 - present
External links
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