DEPLOYMENTS:
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April 1968 -
December 1968 with CVW-6
aboard USS America
(CVA 66)
September 1969 -
July 1970 with CVW-15
aboard USS Coral
Sea (CVA 43)
July 1971 -
December 1971 with CVW-8
aboard USS America (CVA 66)
June 1972 - March
1973 with CVW-8 aboard USS America (CVA
66)
January 1974 -
August 1974 with CVW-8 aboard USS America
(CVA 66)
September 1974 -
October 1974 with CVW-8 aboard USS America
(CVA 66)
July 1975 -
September 1975 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
July 1976 -
February 1977 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
December 1977 -
July 1978 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
September 1979 -
May 1980 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
August 1980 -
October 1980 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
August 1981 -
February 1982 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
April 1982 - June
1982 with CVW-8 aboard USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
November 1982 -
May 1983 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
March 1985 -
October 1985 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
August 1986 -
October 1986 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
December 1986 -
July 1987 with CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz
(CVN 68)
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A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) - 1986
A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) embarked
on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1986
A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) aboard
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during her shakedown cruise - 1982
A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) embarked
on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980
A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) embarked
on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1980
A-7E Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) embarked
on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - 1979 (NNAM)
A-7C Corsair II (VA-82 / CVW-8) embarked
on USS America (CVA 66) - 1972
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VFA-82's history
dates back to 1 May 1967, when Attack Squadron 82 (VA-82) was established as
a light attack squadron flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II.
The Marauders made their first deployment aboard USS America during her
maiden cruise to North Vietnam in April 1968. They returned to Southeast Asia
in September 1969 aboard the USS Coral Sea.
The Marauders transitioned to the A-7E in August 1970, but in late spring of
1972, VA-82 was forced to transition to the A-7C due to unexpected problems
with the A-7E's TF-41 engines. The Marauders then deployed from Jun 1972 to
Mar 1973 aboard USS America (CV-66) for a ten-month combat cruise.
On that deployment, VA-82 played a role in the attack that destroyed the
Thanh Hoa Bridge, a vital link in the North Vietnamese Army supply lines and
a target that seemed indestructible during the Vietnam War.
Four A-7Cs from VA-82 successfully delivered 16,000 lbs of high explosives
with two planes carrying two 2,000 lb (910 kg) Walleyes, while two other
carried two, 2,000 lb Mk 84 GP bombs. In a simultaneously attack, the centre
piling on the bridge w was hit and broke the span in a half. After this, the
Thanh Hoa bridge was considered permanently destroyed and removed from the
target list.
The squadron made several deployments to the Mediterranean during the 1970s,
and while doing so received many of the Navy’s most prestigious awards
including the ADM McClusky award (Top Naval Attack Squadron)and Battle
"E" in 1976. In 1975 the Marauders deployed aboard the USS Nimitz
on her maiden cruise.
The squadron completed its last cruise with the A-7E Corsair II in June 1987.
On July 13, 1987, VA-82 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 82 (VFA-82).
With the delivery of the first aircraft in November 1987, VFA-82 became the
first F/A-18C squadron.
In 1990, VFA-82 escorted the USS Constellation around the horn of South
America on its way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for modernization. December
1990 found VFA-82 once again aboard the USS America, participating in
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Marauders flew 597
combat sorties, 1308.9 combat hours and delivered over 1.2 million pounds of
ordnance over Iraq.
In December 1993, the Marauders returned to the USS America for a six-month
deployment during which VFA-82 participated in Operation Southern Watch in
Iraq, Operation Deny Flight and Operation Sharp Guard in Bosnia and Operation
Restore Hope in Somalia.
From August 1995 to February 1996, the Marauders joined the USS America for
her last cruise. From October 1997 through April 1998, the squadron deployed
on board the USS George Washington to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf
in support of Operation Southern Watch.
During 1998 the Marauders operated from the decks of three different U.S.
aircraft carriers and visited seven different countries.
In August 1999, the Marauders bid farewell to NAS Cecil Field and relocated
to NAS Jacksonville for the two months prior to deployment. In September
1999, the Marauders deployed on board the USS John F. Kennedy in support of
Operation Southern Watch.
Upon completion of the six-month deployment on board "Big John,"
the Marauders relocated to their new home, MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina in
March 2000.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Marauders deployed on September
18, steaming for the Arabian Sea and Afghanistan.
During four months of combat operations, VFA-82 delivered over 440,000 pounds
of ordnance and totaled over 3000 hours in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
The Marauders returned to Beaufort on March 28, 2002. The squadron had logged
an unprecedented 159 days continuously deployed, the majority of which were
combat operations.
During the latter half of 2002, the squadron trained against F-16 Falcons in
Burlington, Vermont, and at one point were detached to Roosevelt Roads Naval
Station, Puerto Rico; NAS Fallon; and NAS Key West. During the NAS Key West
detachment, Marauders pilots had the opportunity to fly against German
MiG-29s.
VFA-82 was disestablished effective 30 Sept 2005 in accordance with a
directive issued on July 5, 2005.
source:
wikipedia
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