Attack Squadron 27 (ATKRON 27) VA-27 ‘Royal Maces’
STATUS:		established as Attack Squadron (VA-27) on September 1, 1967 VA-27 redesignated VFA-27 on January 24, 1991
AIRCRAFT:		Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (1969-70) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1970-91)
DEPLOYMENTS:		May 1968 - January 1969 with CVW-14 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) June 1969 - May 1970 with CVW-14 aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) June 1971 - February 1972 with CVW-14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) September 1972 - June 1973 with CVW-14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) September 1974 - May 1975 with CVW-14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) July 1976 - March 1977 with CVW-14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) April 1978 - October 1978 with CVW-14 aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) November 1979 - June 1980 with CVW-14 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) May 1981 - June 1981 with CVW-14 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) August 1981 - March 1982 with CVW-14 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) March 1983 - September 1983 with CVW-14 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) May 1984 - July 1984 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) October 1984 - May 1985 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) May 1986 - July 1986 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) August 1986 - February 1987 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) June 1988 - December 1988 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) September 1989 - November 1989 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) February 1990 - July 1990 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1989 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1989 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1989 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - November 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - November 1987 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - circa 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1987 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-27 & VA-97 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1986 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1985 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1985 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 1985 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - circa 1981-82 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - circa 1981-82 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - undated (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - circa 1981-82 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - circa 1981 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1981 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1981 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1981 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) escorting a Sovjet IL-38 aircraft - circa 1981 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) escorting a Sovjet IL-38 aircraft - 1981 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-27 / CVW-14) - circa 1980 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-27 / CVW-14) flying over USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - circa 1980 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - circa 1980 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) makes an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) makes an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) makes an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) makes an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) makes an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) after an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) after an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) after an emergency landing on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1980 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - circa 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) - undated (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) - circa 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) - 1979 A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) flying in formation with other A-7’s - 1979 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - circa 1978 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 1976 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 1975 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 1975 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1973 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - 1972 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - circa 1971 (NNAM) A-7E Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) - circa 1971 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1969 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) dropping bombs - circa 1968 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - Gulf of Tonkin - 1968 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II’s (VA-27 / CVW-14) flying over USS Constellation (CVA 64) - Gulf of Tonkin - 1968 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) during inflight refueling with an EKA-3B Skywarrior - 1968 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) embarked on USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1968 (NNAM) A-7A Corsair II (VA-27 / CVW-14) aboard USS Constellation (CVA 64) - 1968 (NNAM)
history
Chronology of significant events: 28 Jun 1968: The squadron flew its first combat sortie, striking targets in the panhandle region of North Vietnam. 4 Feb–7 Mar 1971: VA-27 embarked in Enterprise (CVAN 65), conducted training flights during the carrier’s transit around Cape Horn to her new home port in California. Dec 1971: With the outbreak of war between India and Pakistan over East Pakistan (later Bangladesh), Enterprise departed Yankee Station and made a quick transit to the Indian Ocean to provide support for the evacuation of foreign civilians from East Pakistan. Oct 1972: Participated in Linebacker I operations, heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies in that country and into South Vietnam. Dec 1972: Participated in Linebacker II operations, an intensified version of Linebacker I operations. Feb 1975: Enterprise, with CVW-14, provided disaster support for the island country of Mauritius following a tropical storm. Apr 1975: Participated in operation Frequent Wind and provided air support for helicopters evacuating personnel from Saigon as it fell to the communists. Feb 1977: During the crisis in Uganda and threats against Americans in that country, Enterprise operated off the coast of Kenya for possible support in the evacuation of Americans. Dec 1979: Coral Sea (CV 43) operated off the coast of South Korea following the assassination of South Korea’s President Park Chung-Hee in late October. Apr 1980: The squadron participated in the Iranian hostage rescue attempt by providing air cover for the forces directly involved in the rescue operation. May 1980: Following civil unrest in South Korea, Coral Sea operated off the coast of that country. Aug 1983: Due to the unsettled conditions in Central America, Coral Sea (CV 43) operated off the coast of Nicaragua. Aug 1986: The squadron participated in the first carrier tactical flight operations in the Bering Sea since the end of World War II. another short-history (from the VFA-27 website): The Royal Maces were commissioned as Attack Squadron 27, originally designated the Chargers, on 1 September 1967 flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II. Early in 1968 the squadron reported to Carrier Air Wing 14 and in May, as the Vietnam conflict raged, the Royal Maces departed for their first combat deployment aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64). During their second combat cruise aboard the Constellation, in 1969, VA-27 flew over 2,500 combat sorties. Transitioning to the newer A-7E in June 1970, they embarked on their third combat cruise a year later aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Squadron pilots amassed over 4,400 combat flight hours from the deck of the Big "E" and participated in over 1,500 air strikes without the loss of a single aircraft. The Royal Maces commenced their fourth combat deployment in September 1972, and completed the year by winning the Admiral C. Wade McClusky Trophy, the Safety Award, and the Battle Efficiency Pennant, making a clean sweep of every award for excellence in the Light Attack Community for 1972. The squadron began its next deployment to the Western Pacific in September 1974. The Chargers flew surveillance missions over Vietnam and flew escort for United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force helicopters during the evacuation of American and Vietnamese personnel during Operation Frequent Wind. In 1979, the Chargers joined USS Coral Sea (CV-43) for two more Western Pacific deployments before joining Carrier Air Wing 15 in 1984. Then aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), they set off for a seven and one half month Western Pacific cruise, which included a 107 day Indian Ocean line period. In 1991, after 23 years in the A-7E, 14 deployments, thousands of combat hours and numerous unit awards, the Royal Maces transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet and were officially re-designated the Chargers of Strike Fighter Squadron Two Seven (VFA-27).
patches
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