VFA-25
Encyclopedia
Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) is a United States Navy
strike fighter squadron based at NAS Lemoore. Its current tail code is AA, its callsign is Fist, and it flies the F/A-18C Hornet.
A black fist clenching a red lightning bolt on a field of yellow became the squadron’s second insignia and has been in use, with some modifications, since CNO
approval on June 9, 1949. The fist on the Insignia is actually Zeus' fist from Greek Mythology.
On July 24, 1959, CNO approved a modification to the insignia which added a scroll with the designation VA-25.
On January 24, 1974 CNO approved another modification to the insignia, adding three black stars. When the squadron was designated VFA-25 it continued to use the fist and lightning bolt insignia but dropped the three stars. 4 stars were again added (date unknown) representing wars in which VFA-25 has flown aircraft into combat: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and most recently, Iraq.
and is not related to the subject of this article. The second VA-25 has a direct lineage to the current VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet".
The Fist of the Fleet was originally commissioned as Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) on January 1, 1943 at NAS Norfolk flying the Grumman TBF Avenger.
On September 10, 1943 the squadron embarked in USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
, enroute from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor
via the Panama Canal
and San Diego.
On November 11, 1943 the squadron flew its first combat sorties, striking targets in Rabaul
.
The squadron flew numerous combat missions through February 1944, striking targets in Kavieng
, Kwajalein
, Eniwetok, Truk and Tinian
.
In February 1945, the squadron flew numerous combat missions against targets in Japan and the Bonin Islands and provided ground support for the Invasion of Iwo Jima.
In March 1945, VT-17 aircraft struck Japanese ships in the East China Sea
, Inland Sea and around the Ryukyu Islands
and land based targets in and around Okinawa. On April 7, 1945, VT-17, along with other units from the task force, attacked a Japanese naval force composed of the super-battleship Yamato
and her escorts, scoring several torpedo hits on the Yamato and sinking one of her destroyer escorts.
From April–June 1945, combat missions were flown against targets in and around Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of that island, targets in and around Kyushu, Shikoku and ships in the East China Sea.
In March 1946 the squadron transitioned to the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver attack bomber, and was redesignated as VA-6B on November 15, 1946.
On September 23, 1947, the squadron transitioned to the Douglas AD-1 (later A-1) Skyraider, affectionately nicknamed the "Spad," the type it would fly for the next 21 years.
The squadron sailed aboard the USS Coral Sea on its maiden voyage
in early 1948, and was redesignated as VA-65 on July 27, 1948.
From October 27 to November 23, 1949, VA-65 embarked in USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)
, to the Davis Straits area conducting cold weather exercises.
saw the squadron transferred to NAS Moffett Field, California.
On September 15, 1950, embarked aboard the USS Boxer
, squadron aircraft participated in combat strikes against shore defenses in and around Incheon
, Korea, just before the landings at Incheon.
On October 1, 1950, VA-65 aircraft struck the North Korean capital of Pyongyang
, hitting the airfield and scoring a direct hit on a large electrical power plant. On June 23, 1952, VA-65’s Skyraiders hit the Suiho power plant on the Yalu River.
In February 1955, while embarked in USS Essex (CVA-9) and operating in the Formosa Straits, the squadron provided air support during the evacuation of Nationalist Chinese forces from the Tachen Islands which had come under bombardment by the People’s Republic of China.
On July 1, 1959 the squadron was redesignated Attack Squadron Twenty-five (VA-25).
due to the crisis in Laos
.
In 1962, the squadron moved to its current home, the newly-completed NAS Lemoore.
From April 1965 through April 6, 1968, the squadron made three deployments in support of the Vietnam War
, still flying the A-1. During this period, Fist pilots flew over 3,000 combat missions, dropping more than 10 millions pounds of ordnance
on enemy targets. On June 20, 1965, four VA-25 propeller driven "Spads" were engaged by two Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
s deep in North Vietnam
— two of the Fists pilots were credited with a successful guns kill against one of the jet-powered fighters.
When the squadron turned in its A-1 "Spads" in 1968, it was the last tactical propeller driven squadron in the Navy.
In January 1968, squadron aircraft provided close air support for U.S. Marines besieged at Khe Sanh
, South Vietnam.
In October 1968, the squadron transitioned to the LTV A-7 Corsair II, with which it again deployed to Southeast Asia, after only four months of training, aboard USS Ticonderoga
. It was during this cruise that the Fists set a record — in 33 flying days, Fist pilots flew 1,650 sorties in combat. During this period, each squadron pilot averaged over 92 hours in the air.
, nicknamed "Top Gun." In the following two years, the squadron made two more combat cruises, expending over 15 million pounds of ordnance on targets in Laos
and Vietnam
. On November 21, 1970, squadron aircraft flew in support of Operation Ivory Coast
, the attempt to free American POWs from Son Tay
20 miles west of Hanoi. The squadron made four more deployments aboard Ranger in the '70s.
In December 1972, the squadron participated in Linebacker II Operations, heavy air strikes against targets primarily around Hanoi
and Haiphong
.
On January 15, 1973, the squadron participated in a large laser guided bombing attack against bridge targets in North Vietnam. This coordinated strike used the Grumman A-6 Intruder’s Pave Knife
Laser Designation System to guide laser-guided bombs dropped by A-7 aircraft.
Following the cease fire with North Vietnam on January 27, the squadron concentrated its attention on strikes against lines-of-communication targets in Laos
until an agreement was reached with that country.
In July 1976 following the Israeli raid on Entebbe
, Ranger, with VA-25 embarked, was ordered to transit from the South China Sea
to the western Indian Ocean
and operate off the coast of Kenya
.
during the Iran hostage crisis
.
In May 1983, the Fists began training in the then-new F/A-18A Hornet. The squadron was redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) on July 1, 1983.
Operational air wing training in multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises with the USS Constellation
were conducted for the remainder of 1984 through January 1985.
In February 1985, the Fists departed on the historic first deployment of the F/A-18 Hornet aboard USS Constellation to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
In July 1987 during the Iran–Iraq War, VFA-25 provided air cover for reflagged tankers transiting the Straits of Hormuz during Operation Earnest Will
.
In June 1989, the squadron transitioned to the FA-18C.
invaded Kuwait
on August 2, 1990, the Fists responded aboard the USS Independence
, flying combat patrols in support of Operation Desert Shield from the Gulf of Oman
for three months before being relieved by USS Midway
.
In 1994, aboard the USS Carl Vinson
the squadron operated extensively in the Persian Gulf
, flying missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch
. In 1996, the squadron continued its participation in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Strike
. After being on station for more than three months, the Fists returned from deployment on November 12, 1996. In 1998, the squadron deployed on USS Abraham Lincoln
, where it enforced United Nations
no-fly zones in Iraq.
In July 2002, the Fists left NAS Lemoore for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment aboard Abraham Lincoln. There the Fists saw action in Afghanistan
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as over Iraq, in support of Operation Southern Watch. In the fall and winter of 2002, as the United States moved closer to decisive action in dealing with Iraq, Abraham Lincoln was ordered to stay on station in the Persian Gulf
. After a total of three extensions and approaching the ship's tenth month away from home, war was declared against Iraq.
On March 19, 2003, the squadron began combat sorties in earnest and Operation Southern Watch abruptly turned into Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Fist of the Fleet participated in the first-night air strikes to Baghdad
in what has become known as the Shock and Awe campaign. The squadron sustained an average of 20 daily combat sorties, while striking targets in Basra
, An Nasiriya, Al Kut, Najaf
, Al Hillah and ultimately Baghdad. The squadron’s 272 combat sorties over 18 straight days struck the Iraqi regime’s Medina, Baghdad, and Nebuchadnezzar Armored Divisions, military airfields, facilities and command and control infrastructure. VFA-25 returned to the United States in May 2003.
VFA-25 deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
in May 2004 to the Western Pacific, returning November 1, 2004.
From January to July 6, 2006, VFA-25 deployed with CVW-14 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Valiant Shield
aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
on her maiden voyage
. In January 2007, VFA-25 deployed for a 3-month "surge deployment" to the U.S. Seventh Fleet Area of Operations. VFA-25 deployed again to the WESTPAC from June to November 2008.
On May 28, 2009, VFA-25 and Carrier Air Wing 14 deployed with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on a deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.
In 2010, VFA-25 joined Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
sporting the "AA" tailcode leaving Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
and the "NK" tailcode for the first time in decades.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
strike fighter squadron based at NAS Lemoore. Its current tail code is AA, its callsign is Fist, and it flies the F/A-18C Hornet.
Squadron insignia and nickname
The squadron’s first insignia was approved by CNO on September 28, 1944 and was indicative of its mission as a torpedo squadron, consisting of a four leaf clover, horseshoe and flying torpedo.A black fist clenching a red lightning bolt on a field of yellow became the squadron’s second insignia and has been in use, with some modifications, since CNO
CNO
CNO is a three-letter initialism. It can mean:* "chartay nahi o??" BFSF, abbreviated CNO in the context of the GPS* Chief of Naval Operations* Chief Networking Officer* Chief Nuclear Officer* Chief Nursing Officer* Chino Airport IATA symbol: CNO...
approval on June 9, 1949. The fist on the Insignia is actually Zeus' fist from Greek Mythology.
On July 24, 1959, CNO approved a modification to the insignia which added a scroll with the designation VA-25.
On January 24, 1974 CNO approved another modification to the insignia, adding three black stars. When the squadron was designated VFA-25 it continued to use the fist and lightning bolt insignia but dropped the three stars. 4 stars were again added (date unknown) representing wars in which VFA-25 has flown aircraft into combat: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and most recently, Iraq.
History
Two US Navy squadrons have held the designation VA-25. The first VA-25 would eventually become VA-65VA-65
Attack Squadron 65 , nicknamed The World Famous Fighting Tigers, was an attack squadron of the United States Navy established in 1945 and disbanded in 1993...
and is not related to the subject of this article. The second VA-25 has a direct lineage to the current VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet".
1940s
On September 10, 1943 the squadron embarked in USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
USS Bunker Hill was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the second US Navy ship to bear the name, was named for the Battle of Bunker Hill. Bunker Hill was commissioned in May 1943, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning...
, enroute from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and San Diego.
On November 11, 1943 the squadron flew its first combat sorties, striking targets in Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
.
The squadron flew numerous combat missions through February 1944, striking targets in Kavieng
Kavieng
Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. The town is located at Balgai Bay, on the northern tip of the island. As of 2000, it had a population of 10,600....
, Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
, Eniwetok, Truk and Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
.
In February 1945, the squadron flew numerous combat missions against targets in Japan and the Bonin Islands and provided ground support for the Invasion of Iwo Jima.
In March 1945, VT-17 aircraft struck Japanese ships in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
, Inland Sea and around the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
and land based targets in and around Okinawa. On April 7, 1945, VT-17, along with other units from the task force, attacked a Japanese naval force composed of the super-battleship Yamato
Japanese battleship Yamato
, named after the ancient Japanese Yamato Province, was the lead ship of the Yamato class of battleships that served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She and her sister ship, Musashi, were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed, displacing...
and her escorts, scoring several torpedo hits on the Yamato and sinking one of her destroyer escorts.
From April–June 1945, combat missions were flown against targets in and around Okinawa in preparation for the invasion of that island, targets in and around Kyushu, Shikoku and ships in the East China Sea.
In March 1946 the squadron transitioned to the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver attack bomber, and was redesignated as VA-6B on November 15, 1946.
On September 23, 1947, the squadron transitioned to the Douglas AD-1 (later A-1) Skyraider, affectionately nicknamed the "Spad," the type it would fly for the next 21 years.
The squadron sailed aboard the USS Coral Sea on its maiden voyage
Maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
in early 1948, and was redesignated as VA-65 on July 27, 1948.
From October 27 to November 23, 1949, VA-65 embarked in USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was the second of three Midway class aircraft carriers. To her crew, she was known as the "Swanky Franky," "Foo-De-Roo," or "Rosie," with the last nickname probably the most popular. Roosevelt spent most of her active deployed career operating in the Mediterranean Sea as...
, to the Davis Straits area conducting cold weather exercises.
1950s
The outbreak of hostilities with which would become the Korean warKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
saw the squadron transferred to NAS Moffett Field, California.
On September 15, 1950, embarked aboard the USS Boxer
USS Boxer (CV-21)
USS Boxer was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a British ship captured by the Americans during the War of 1812...
, squadron aircraft participated in combat strikes against shore defenses in and around Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, Korea, just before the landings at Incheon.
On October 1, 1950, VA-65 aircraft struck the North Korean capital of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, hitting the airfield and scoring a direct hit on a large electrical power plant. On June 23, 1952, VA-65’s Skyraiders hit the Suiho power plant on the Yalu River.
In February 1955, while embarked in USS Essex (CVA-9) and operating in the Formosa Straits, the squadron provided air support during the evacuation of Nationalist Chinese forces from the Tachen Islands which had come under bombardment by the People’s Republic of China.
On July 1, 1959 the squadron was redesignated Attack Squadron Twenty-five (VA-25).
1960s
In March 1961, the squadron, while embarked in Midway, operated in the South China SeaSouth China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
due to the crisis in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
.
In 1962, the squadron moved to its current home, the newly-completed NAS Lemoore.
From April 1965 through April 6, 1968, the squadron made three deployments in support of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, still flying the A-1. During this period, Fist pilots flew over 3,000 combat missions, dropping more than 10 millions pounds of ordnance
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
on enemy targets. On June 20, 1965, four VA-25 propeller driven "Spads" were engaged by two Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. Most MiG-17 variants cannot carry air-to-air missiles, but shot down many aircraft with its cannons...
s deep in North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
— two of the Fists pilots were credited with a successful guns kill against one of the jet-powered fighters.
When the squadron turned in its A-1 "Spads" in 1968, it was the last tactical propeller driven squadron in the Navy.
In January 1968, squadron aircraft provided close air support for U.S. Marines besieged at Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà.Khe Sanh Combat Base was a United States Marine Corps outpost in South Vietnam used during the Vietnam War. The airstrip was built in September 1962...
, South Vietnam.
In October 1968, the squadron transitioned to the LTV A-7 Corsair II, with which it again deployed to Southeast Asia, after only four months of training, aboard USS Ticonderoga
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)
USS Ticonderoga was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for historic Fort Ticonderoga, which played a role in the American Revolutionary War...
. It was during this cruise that the Fists set a record — in 33 flying days, Fist pilots flew 1,650 sorties in combat. During this period, each squadron pilot averaged over 92 hours in the air.
1970s
In October 1970, the Fists began a long and successful relationship with the USS RangerUSS Ranger (CV-61)
The seventh USS Ranger is one of four Forrestal-class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Commissioned in 1957, she served extensively in the Pacific, especially the Vietnam War, for which she earned 13 battle stars. Near the end of her career she also served in the Indian Ocean and...
, nicknamed "Top Gun." In the following two years, the squadron made two more combat cruises, expending over 15 million pounds of ordnance on targets in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. On November 21, 1970, squadron aircraft flew in support of Operation Ivory Coast
Operation Ivory Coast
Operation Ivory Coast was a failed rescue mission conducted in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War by United States Special Operations Forces and other elements of the U.S. Military....
, the attempt to free American POWs from Son Tay
Son Tay
Sơn Tây is an urban district and city in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It was the capital of Son Tay province before merging with Ha Dong province in 1965...
20 miles west of Hanoi. The squadron made four more deployments aboard Ranger in the '70s.
In December 1972, the squadron participated in Linebacker II Operations, heavy air strikes against targets primarily around Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and Haiphong
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
.
On January 15, 1973, the squadron participated in a large laser guided bombing attack against bridge targets in North Vietnam. This coordinated strike used the Grumman A-6 Intruder’s Pave Knife
Pave Knife
The Ford Aerospace AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife was an early targeting pod developed by the USAF to designate and guide laser-guided bombs.Pave Knife was developed in 1969 to replace the original, essentially improvised Airborne Laser Designator . ALD was not a pod, but a hand-held laser operated by the...
Laser Designation System to guide laser-guided bombs dropped by A-7 aircraft.
Following the cease fire with North Vietnam on January 27, the squadron concentrated its attention on strikes against lines-of-communication targets in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
until an agreement was reached with that country.
In July 1976 following the Israeli raid on Entebbe
Operation Entebbe
Operation Entebbe was a counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Special Forces of the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976. A week earlier, on 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists and...
, Ranger, with VA-25 embarked, was ordered to transit from the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the western Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and operate off the coast of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
1980s
VA-25 was on station in the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
during the Iran hostage crisis
Iran hostage crisis
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian...
.
In May 1983, the Fists began training in the then-new F/A-18A Hornet. The squadron was redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) on July 1, 1983.
Operational air wing training in multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises with the USS Constellation
USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
were conducted for the remainder of 1984 through January 1985.
In February 1985, the Fists departed on the historic first deployment of the F/A-18 Hornet aboard USS Constellation to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
In July 1987 during the Iran–Iraq War, VFA-25 provided air cover for reflagged tankers transiting the Straits of Hormuz during Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military protection of Kuwaiti owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of...
.
In June 1989, the squadron transitioned to the FA-18C.
1990s
When IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
invaded Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
on August 2, 1990, the Fists responded aboard the USS Independence
USS Independence (CV-62)
The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...
, flying combat patrols in support of Operation Desert Shield from the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
for three months before being relieved by USS Midway
USS Midway (CV-41)
USS Midway was an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class, and the first to be commissioned after the end of World War II...
.
In 1994, aboard the USS Carl Vinson
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
The USS Carl Vinson is the third United States Navy Nimitz class supercarrier and is named after Carl Vinson, a Congressman from Georgia. Carl Vinson's callsign is "Gold Eagle". It played host to the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on 11/11/11 between the University of North...
the squadron operated extensively in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, flying missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
. In 1996, the squadron continued its participation in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Strike
Operation Desert Strike
The 1996 cruise missile strikes on Iraq occurred in September 1996 during the Kurdish Civil War. On August 31, 1996, the Iraqi military launched its biggest offensive since 1991 against the city of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. This attack stoked American fears that Saddam intended to launch a...
. After being on station for more than three months, the Fists returned from deployment on November 12, 1996. In 1998, the squadron deployed on USS Abraham Lincoln
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Abraham Lincoln , is the fifth Nimitz-class supercarrier in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after former president Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is Everett, Washington.-Construction:...
, where it enforced United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
no-fly zones in Iraq.
2000s
In 2000, the Fists dropped several bombs on selected tactical targets in southern Iraq, and continued to patrol the skies in the Persian Gulf.In July 2002, the Fists left NAS Lemoore for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment aboard Abraham Lincoln. There the Fists saw action in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as over Iraq, in support of Operation Southern Watch. In the fall and winter of 2002, as the United States moved closer to decisive action in dealing with Iraq, Abraham Lincoln was ordered to stay on station in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. After a total of three extensions and approaching the ship's tenth month away from home, war was declared against Iraq.
On March 19, 2003, the squadron began combat sorties in earnest and Operation Southern Watch abruptly turned into Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Fist of the Fleet participated in the first-night air strikes to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in what has become known as the Shock and Awe campaign. The squadron sustained an average of 20 daily combat sorties, while striking targets in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, An Nasiriya, Al Kut, Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
, Al Hillah and ultimately Baghdad. The squadron’s 272 combat sorties over 18 straight days struck the Iraqi regime’s Medina, Baghdad, and Nebuchadnezzar Armored Divisions, military airfields, facilities and command and control infrastructure. VFA-25 returned to the United States in May 2003.
VFA-25 deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
USS John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995...
in May 2004 to the Western Pacific, returning November 1, 2004.
From January to July 6, 2006, VFA-25 deployed with CVW-14 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Valiant Shield
Valiant Shield
Valiant Shield was a large United States military war game held 19-24 June 2006 in the Pacific Ocean. According to the Navy, Valiant Shield focused on cooperation between military branches and on the detection, tracking, and engagement of units at sea, in the air, and on land in response to a wide...
aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989...
on her maiden voyage
Maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
. In January 2007, VFA-25 deployed for a 3-month "surge deployment" to the U.S. Seventh Fleet Area of Operations. VFA-25 deployed again to the WESTPAC from June to November 2008.
On May 28, 2009, VFA-25 and Carrier Air Wing 14 deployed with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on a deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.
In 2010, VFA-25 joined Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.-Mission:...
deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
The USS Carl Vinson is the third United States Navy Nimitz class supercarrier and is named after Carl Vinson, a Congressman from Georgia. Carl Vinson's callsign is "Gold Eagle". It played host to the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on 11/11/11 between the University of North...
sporting the "AA" tailcode leaving Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.-Mission:...
and the "NK" tailcode for the first time in decades.
External links
- VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet Website
- Squadron History Page
- Fist of the Fleet Association
- Fist of the Fleet History
- VT-17 crew member web site VT17.COM
See also
- Naval aviationNaval aviationNaval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
*Modern US Navy carrier air operationsModern US Navy carrier air operationsModern United States Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or non-combat missions. Modern United States Navy aircraft carrier flight operations are highly evolved, based on experiences... - List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
- United States Naval AviatorUnited States Naval AviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
*United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures.... - Military aviationMilitary aviationMilitary aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons