Attack Squadron 87 (ATKRON 87) VA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’
STATUS:		established as VA-87 on February 1, 1968 VA-87 redesignated VFA-87 on May 1, 1986
AIRCRAFT:		Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II (1968-75) Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1975-86)
DEPLOYMENTS:		February 1969 - September 1969 with CVW-16 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) January 1971 - July 1971 with CVW-6 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) February 1972 - December 1972 with CVW-6 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) September 1973 - March 1974 with CVW-6 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) January 1975 - July 1975 with CVW-6 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) April 1976 - October 1976 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CV 66) September 1977 - April 1978 with CVW-6 aboard USS America (CV 66) June 1979 - December 1979 with CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) November 1980 - June 1981 with CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) June 1982 - December 1982 with CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) October 1983 - April 1984 with CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62) October 1984 - February 1985 with CVW-6 aboard USS Independence (CV 62)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - off Lebanon - 1983 A-7E Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - off Lebanon - 1983 A-7E Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - off Lebanon - 1983 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - 1982 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-87 / CVW-6) assigned to USS Independence (CV 62) - NAS Fallon, Nevada - 1981 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - 1979 A-7E Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Independence (CV 62) - 1979 A-7E Corsair II’s (VA-87 / CVW-6) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - 1977 (NNAM) next 3 photos: thank’s to Tom E. Rostkowski ATN2 (VA-87 "Golden Warriors"/ 1968 to 1970) A-7B Corsair II’s (VA-87 / CVW-16) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1969 A-7B Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-16) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1969 A-7B Corsair II (VA-87 / CVW-16) embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - 1969
history
On 1 Februray 1968, the Golden Warriors were established as Attack Squadron 87, the first to fly the A-7B Corsair II from NAS Cecil Field, Florida. The first combat mission flown by the squadron was on 4 March 1969 from the USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14), striking enemy targets in South Vietnam. In August 1970, VA-87 joined CVW 6 and made twelve deployments aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42), USS America (CV 66) and USS Independence (CV 62). In the fall of 1973, the Golden Warriors embarked aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) to protect U.S. interests during the Arab-Israeli 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 and assisted in the evacuation of U.S. citizens. During the Iranian hostage crises and the Israeli-Syrian disputes of 1981, VA-87 deployed to the region for 195 days. One year later the Golden Warriors were back in the fray, supporting U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon for 172 days. In October 1983, the Golden Warriors participated in Operation URGENT FURY, protecting American citizens from political strife in Grenada. During the same deployment, VA-87 participated in strikes against Syria in ongoing United Nations efforts to stabilize the Middle East. The Golden Warriors began a new era on 24 October 1986 when the venerable Corsair was retired and the squadron was designated Strike Fighter Squadron 87 with the new McDonnell Douglas FA-18A Hornet, the first Naval aircraft designed from conception as a strike fighter. source: VFA-87 website - - - In June 1968, the squadron was reestablished as VA-87, an attack aircraft squadron and the first fleet squadron to fly the LTV 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. In 1973, the squadron protected U.S. interests during the Yom Kippur War. Transitioning to the improved A-7E Corsair II, the squadron returned in October 1976 to the Middle East following the assassination of the American ambassador to Lebanon Francis E. Meloy Jr, assisting in the evacuation of U.S. citizens, while embarked on America. 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 squadron returned, supporting U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon. In October 1983, the squadron 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 in Lebanon. On October 24, 1986, the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet and was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87). source: wikipedia
patches
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