Attack Squadron 37 (ATKRON 37)

VA-37 ‘Bulls’

 

va-37 bulls insignia crest patch badge attack squadron atkron us navy

va-37 bulls attack squadron atkron a-7 corsair us navy

 

STATUS:

established as Attack Squadron 37 (VA-37) on July 1, 1967
VA-37 redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 37 (VFA-37) on November 28, 1990

AIRCRAFT:

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II (1967-1973)

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II (1973-1990)

 

 

DEPLOYMENTS:

December 1968 - September 1969 with CVW-11 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63)

June 1970 - November 1970 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60)

June 1971 - October 1971 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60)

April 1972 - February 1973 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60)

September 1974 - March 1975 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CVA 60)

January 1976 - July 1976 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60)

July 1977 - December 1977 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60)

October 1978 - April 1979 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60)

March 1980 - August 1980 with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60)

January 1982 - July 1982 with CVW-3 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

March 1983 - October 1983 with CVW-15 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

June 1986 - November 1986 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59)

August 1987 - October 1987 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59)

April 1988 - October 1988 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59)

November 1989 - April 1990 with CVW-6 aboard USS Forrestal (CV 59)

 

images

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1990 (courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair ii cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - undated - late 1980’s (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1989 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair desert camouflage cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) in desert camouflage - circa 1989 (NNAM)

 

a-7e corsair ii va-37 cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1988

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - August 1988

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) - 1987

 

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) - 1987

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii carrier air wing cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1987 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1987 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1987 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-6 uss forrestal cv 59 atkron

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-6) embarked on USS Forrestal (CV 59) - 1985 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-15 uss carl vinson cvn 70

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-15) embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - circa 1983 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair cvw-15 uss carl vinson cvn 70

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-15) flying over USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - circa 1983 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - undated (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss john f. kennedy cv 67

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - 1981 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss john f. kennedy cv 67

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) - circa 1981 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair ii cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

a-7e corsair ii va-37 cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60 1980

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60 atkron

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) landing on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair ii cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) was launched from USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7e corsair cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii carrier air wing cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1980 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - 1978 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1976

 

va-37 bulls a-7e corsair ii cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1976 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair carrier air wing cvw-3

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1976 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - embarked on USS Saratoga (CV 60) - 1970’s (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7e corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) flying over USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1976 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7e corsair ii carrier air wing cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7E Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) flying over USS Saratoga (CV 60) - circa 1976 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7a corsair cvw-3

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - 1973 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7a corsair carrier air wing cvw-3

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - circa 1971 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7a corsair cvw-3

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - circa 1971 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7a corsair carrier air wing cvw-3

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) - circa 1971 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls atkron a-7a corsair cvw-3 uss saratoga cv 60

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-3) embarked on USS Saratoga (CVA 60) - early 1970’s (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7a corsair carrier air wing cvw-11 uss kitty hawk cva 63

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) landing on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) off Vietnam - 1969 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7a corsair cvw-11 uss kitty hawk cva 63

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7a corsair cvw-11 uss kitty hawk cva 63 atkron

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7a corsair cvw-11 attack squadron

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7a corsair cvw-11

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls a-7a corsair cvw-11

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls carrier air wing cvw-11

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) - 1968/69 (NNAM)

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron a-7a corsair cvw-11 uss kitty hawk cva 63 over laos

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) flying over Laos - circa 1968 (NNAM)

 

attack squadron va-37 bulls a-7a corsair carrier air wing cvw-11 uss kitty hawk cva 63 over laos

A-7A Corsair II (VA-37 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) flying over Laos - circa 1968 (NNAM)

 

 

history

Chronology of Significant Events:

 

Jul–Nov 1967: Squadron personnel were trained by VA-174 in the operation of the A-7A Corsair II.

 

Sep 1970: Fighting erupted between Palestinian forces and the Jordanian Army as a result of the Palestinian hijacking of several civilian airliners to Jordan. Saratoga (CVA 60) with its embarked air wing, including VA-37, was directed to operate in the eastern Mediterranean in response to this crisis. The conflict intensified when Syria invaded Jordan and VA-37 remained on station until the latter part of September when the Jordanian Army had successfully repulsed the Syrians and the crisis had abated.

 

29 Sep 1970: VA-37 participated in an air power demonstration for President Nixon during his two day visit to Saratoga while she steamed in the Med.

 

Jun–Oct 1971: VA-37 participated in the test and evaluation of the new CV concept during the Saratoga’s deployment to the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. The CV concept involved combining the capabilities of the attack and antisubmarine carriers (CVA and CVS) into a single ship.

 

1 Aug 1972: While on a combat mission near the island of Hon Nieu, off the coast of North Vietnam, a squadron’s A-7A Corsair II was used to establish a sonobuoy field in an anchorage area. This was the first time an A-7 had ever been used to drop sonobuoys.

 

Jun 1982: John F. Kennedy, with VA-37 embarked, took station off the coast of Lebanon after Israel invaded that country.

 

Jun 1984: The primary mission of the squadron was changed to close air support in preparation for its deployment to MCAS Iwakuni as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. VA-37’s deployment was scheduled as a replacement for a Marine Corps A-4M squadron. Two Navy A-7 squadrons had been selected for the program because the A-7 Corsair II was very similar in size and make-up to a Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk squadron. The deployment of the two Navy attack squadrons was designed to test the interoperational abilities of the Marine Corps and Navy.

 

Dec 1984: VA-37 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni and relieved VA-105. VA-105 was the first Navy squadron to participate in the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program and it was also the first time a Navy squadron came under the operational control of the Marine Corps since World War II.

 

Mar 1985: While deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, the squadron was detached to Yechon, Korea, to participate in exercise Team Spirit 85. This was the first time a Navy carrier-based squadron had deployed in field conditions since World War II.

 

 

 

another VA-37 history (from the official VFA-37 website):

 

Attack Squadron Three Seven was established as an A-7A squadron in July 1966. The Bulls became operational in December 1967, first deploying aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in 1969. VFA-37 has deployed 24 times on the decks of nine different aircraft carriers during their 42-year history. The Bulls have carried out the light attack mission in the Indian Ocean, twice in Vietnam, once in Iwakuni, Japan, and made one "Around-the World" cruise aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

During the squadron's second tour to Vietnam, aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60), the Bulls arrived on Yankee Station in May 1972 and commenced nine consecutive months of combat operations, flying nearly 2,800 missions and dropping over 3,100 tons of ordnance.

In April 1973, the Bulls received their first A-7E, an advanced version of the A-7A. It incorporated improved navigation and weapons systems, state of the art avionics, and greater aircraft performance. The Bulls made seven cruises with the A-7E during the latter part of the 1970s and early 1980s. During this time, VA-37 responded to several regional crises in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

In 1984, the Bulls deployed to Iwakuni, Japan to operate alongside the U.S. Marine Corps. During this deployment, the Bulls detached to Yechon, Korea, thus becoming the first Navy aircraft squadron to deploy in field conditions since World War II.

After returning from Japan, the Bulls made three deployments aboard the USS Forrestal (CV 59) to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean with the 1989-90 Mediterranean cruise being the last in the A-7E Corsair II. The cruise was culminated by the Bulls winning the Safety "S", Atlantic Fleet Battle "E", and the Golden Tailhook Award (for achieving the highest overall landing grades within Carrier Air Wing Six).

In August 1990, the Bulls were detached from Carrier Air Wing Six and attached to Commander Light Attack Wing One. Following the invasion of Kuwait, five Bull jets were transferred to VA-72 for a short-notice deployment in support of Operation Desert Shield.

During the next three months, the Bulls provided a cadre of fleet-ready A-7E pilots, aircraft, and maintenance personnel to support the deployed light attack squadrons preparing for combat. On Oct. 31 1990, Team Bull flew the last official sortie in the A-7E Corsair II. This event ended a 25-year association with the "Harley of the Fleet" in which over 115,000 flight hours and 25,000 arrestments were amassed.

On Nov. 15, 1990 Attack Squadron Three Seven was officially redesignated Strike-Fighter Squadron Three Seven, receiving its first FA-18 Hornet on Dec. 13, 1990. On Sept. 01, 1991 Team Bull, attached to Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3), embarked on the USS John F Kennedy (CV 67).

 

patches

 

va-37 bulls patch crest insignia badge attack squadron atkron   attack squadron va-37 bulls crest insignia badge patch us navy atkron

later VA-37 Bulls insignia

 

 

 

va-37 bulls attack squadron insignia badge patch crest us navy atkron   attack squadron va-37 bulls badge patch crest insignia

 

va-37 bulls patch crest insignia badge attack squadron atkron   attack squadron va-37 bulls crest insignia patch badge atkron us navy

earlier VA-37 Bulls insignia

 

 

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