VS-31
Encyclopedia
Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) Topcats was a United States Navy
anti-submarine warfare
squadron, active during World War II
, and later re-established in 1948, serving until 2008.
It was founded as Scouting Squadron 31 in 1942, based at Naval Air Station Squantum
, Massachusetts. It flew the dive bomber
s Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, then the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver in the North Atlantic until decommissioned at the end of the war in 1945.
The squadron was recommissioned as Composite Squadron VC-31 in April 1948 at NAS Atlantic City
, New Jersey, and was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) the following year and moved to NAS Quonset Point
, Rhode Island. Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger, these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S-2 Tracker, and finally in 1954 by the Lockheed S-3 Viking. In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field
, Florida, and eventually to NAS Jacksonville
. On 1 October 1993 the squadron was re-designated Sea Control Squadron VS-31. It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville on 27 March 2008.
The squadron performed carrier operations aboard various aircraft carrier
s. In 1956 it provided ASW support during the Suez Crisis from . In 1958, from , it served during the Lebanon Crisis, and also during the Berlin Crisis in 1962. In May 1963 it was stationed for the recovery of Mercury 9
, and then for the recovery of Gemini 4
in June 1965. In 1990 the squadron participated in "Operation Desert Shield", arriving in the Red Sea
within a few days of the invasion of Kuwait
. In 1998, the squadron was deployed aboard the on its maiden voyage
, during which it spent 131 days in the Persian Gulf
supporting "Operation Southern Watch". The squadron returned from its final deployment aboard the John C. Stennis in August 2007, after supporting Operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom".
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...
anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
squadron, active during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and later re-established in 1948, serving until 2008.
It was founded as Scouting Squadron 31 in 1942, based at Naval Air Station Squantum
Naval Air Station Squantum
Naval Air Station Squantum was an active naval aviation facility during 1917 and from 1923 until 1953. The original civilian airfield that preceded it, the Harvard Aviation Field, dates back to 1910. The base was sited on Squantum Point in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts...
, Massachusetts. It flew the dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
s Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, then the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver in the North Atlantic until decommissioned at the end of the war in 1945.
The squadron was recommissioned as Composite Squadron VC-31 in April 1948 at NAS Atlantic City
Atlantic City International Airport
Atlantic City International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located nine nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey...
, New Jersey, and was re-designated Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) the following year and moved to NAS Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base in Quonset Point, Rhode Island that was deactivated in 1974. Next to NAS Quonset Point was Camp Endicott at Davisville, home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Quonset Point also gave its name to the Quonset hut,...
, Rhode Island. Originally flying the Grumman TBF Avenger, these were later replaced by the Grumman AF Guardian and the Grumman S-2 Tracker, and finally in 1954 by the Lockheed S-3 Viking. In 1973, VS-31 was relocated to NAS Cecil Field
Naval Air Station Cecil Field
Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy base, located in Duval County, Florida. NAS Cecil Field was the largest military base in the Jacksonville, Florida, area....
, Florida, and eventually to NAS Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...
. On 1 October 1993 the squadron was re-designated Sea Control Squadron VS-31. It was finally deactivated at NAS Jacksonville on 27 March 2008.
Operational history
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s. In 1956 it provided ASW support during the Suez Crisis from . In 1958, from , it served during the Lebanon Crisis, and also during the Berlin Crisis in 1962. In May 1963 it was stationed for the recovery of Mercury 9
Mercury-Atlas 9
Mercury-Atlas 9 was the final manned space mission of the U.S. Mercury program, launched on May 15, 1963 from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft, named Faith 7, completed 22 Earth orbits before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, piloted by astronaut Gordon Cooper, then...
, and then for the recovery of Gemini 4
Gemini 4
Gemini 4 was the second manned space flight in NASA's Project Gemini, occurring in June 1965. It was the tenth manned American spaceflight . Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White, II circled the Earth 66 times in four days, making it the first US flight to approach the five-day flight of...
in June 1965. In 1990 the squadron participated in "Operation Desert Shield", arriving in the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
within a few days of the invasion of Kuwait
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
. In 1998, the squadron was deployed aboard the 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....
, during which it spent 131 days 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...
supporting "Operation Southern Watch". The squadron returned from its final deployment aboard the John C. Stennis in August 2007, after supporting Operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom".