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US Navy - Strike Fighter Squadron 103
(STRKFITRON 103) VFA-103 'Jolly Rogers' |
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 F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) - September 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - June 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - June 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - May 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - May 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - May 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - May 2024  F/A-18E Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Southern Seas 2024 - May 2024  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - December 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) - December 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) over Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - September 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) refuels over the Mediterranean Sea - February 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - January 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - January 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - January 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - January 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - January 2023  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - December 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - November 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) during Exercise Neptune Strike 22.2 - October 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) during Exercise Neptune Strike 22.2 - October 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - August 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - June 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - June 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - March 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - February 2022  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - September 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - September 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) - September 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - June 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) at Fargo ANGB, North Dakota - June 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) at Fargo ANGB, North Dakota - June 2021  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - December 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Dubai Air Show - November 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - November 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - November 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - October 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - October 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - October 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - September 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - September 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - September 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - August 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - July 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - June 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - May 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - May 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - May 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - February 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - February 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - February 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - January 2019  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) at NAS/JRB Fort Worth, Texas - December 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - August 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - August 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - August 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - August 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - June 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - June 2018  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - May 2018  VFA-103 Jolly Rogers as part of CVW-7 embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - June 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - April 2016  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - December 2015  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - December 2015  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103) during Exercise Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan - August 2014  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103) during Exercise Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan - August 2014  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103) during Exercise Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan - August 2014  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during aerial refueling - May 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - May 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - May 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - April 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2013  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - November 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - October 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - October 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - October 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - September 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - August 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - August 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2012  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - October 2011  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - June 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - May 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - May 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - May 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - April 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - March 2010  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - April 2009  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - January 2009  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - January 2009  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - January 2009  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - April 2007  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - January 2007  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - November 2006  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - July 2006  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2006  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - February 2006  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - July 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103 / CVW-7) - May 2005  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2004  F/A-18F Super Hornet (VFA-103) at NAS Oceana, Virginia - September 2004 |
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History: Flying over nine different types of fighter aircraft in the past 63 years, the Skull and Crossbones have become the most recognized and feared insignia in the world. The Skull and Crossbones first flew in January 1943 on the F4U Corsairs assigned to VF-17, the most lethal Navy fighter squadron of World War II. By the end of the war, the original Jolly Rogers had racked up 154.5 kills in the skies over the Pacific. In 1946, VF-17 was redesignated VF-5B and then again in 1948 to VF-61, as the Jolly Rogers transitioned from the F4U to the F-8 Bearcat. VF-61 subsequently transitioned to the Navy's first jet fighters, the F-9 Panther, then the FJ-3 Fury and finally the F-3H Demon, prior to the squadron's decommissioning in March 1959. Flying F-8 Crusaders at the time, the VF-84 Vegabonds were redesignated as the Jolly Rogers in June 1959 to preserve the tradition and history of "The Bones." Eventually the VF-84 Jolly Rogers transitioned from the F-8 Crusader to the F-4 Phantom and finally to the F-14A Tomcat in 1975. Following VF-84's decommissioning in October 1995, the decision was made to retire the "Club and Cloverleaf" insignia of the VF-103 "Sluggers" and have Fighting 103 adopt the Jolly Roger insignia and the Tactical callsign, "Victory," on October 1st, 1995. Prior to assuming the Jolly Rogers name and insignia, VF-103, commissioned in 1952, had consistently proven ready and willing to accomplish all assigned missions while flying successively more complex and more capable aircraft. VF-103 flew numerous sorties in the moonless skies over Vietnam and achieved the only night MiG kill of the entire conflict. The Skull and Crossbones had now moved on to its fifth home in order to preserve the rich history and multiple achievements of all Jolly Rogers, spanning four generations and four fighter squadrons. VF-103 made it's last deployment flying the F-14B Tomcat in 2004 aboard the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY, conducting missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Horne in February of 2005, becoming re-designated VFA-103. In October 2006, VFA-103 deployed with CVW-7 aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) to the CENTCOM AOR in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, and Horn of Africa Operations off the coast of Somalia. Returning in May 2007, the squadron completed and eight month surge period. In 2008, the Jolly Rogers transited the Straits of Magellan aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) during the Partnership of the Americas deployment before beginning workups in June. The Jolly Rogers deployed again in February 2009 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During five months of supporting coalition ground forces engaged in close combat with the enemy, the squadron led the air wing in kinetic effects. Less than six months later, the Jolly Rogers returned to sea for a seven month surge deployment beginning in January 2010 aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. VFA-103 continued their role as Carrier Air Wing SEVEN's (CVW-7's) go-to squadron for the most demanding combat and combat support missions. While deployed, the Jolly Rogers led the air wing in combat operations, flying over 1850 sorties and nearly 5900 hours. The squadron's relentless effort to prepare for operations on the tip of the spear culminated in the successful delivery of 14 precision weapons, over 600 rounds of 20mm, and more than 80 non-kinetic shows of force/presence in direct support of coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan. The Jolly Rogers most recently completed a cruise for the ages, embarked upon the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. During this deployment the Jolly Rogers once again proved to be the most lethal squadron in the Air Wing (CVW-7), which saw them employ more Precision Guided Munitions (490 pieces of ordnance) than any other single squadron in Naval History. VFA-103 website - - - another History: After a last deployment on John F. Kennedy with CVW-17 and returning to NAS Oceana in December 2004, VF-103 gave up their F-14B Tomcats and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and transfer to Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7). Following their transition to the F/A-18F, the squadron was officially re-designated as VFA-103 in February 2005. The first deployment with the F/A-18F commenced in 2006 and ended in the spring of 2007. During the cruise with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, VFA-103 and VFA-143 supported Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and operations off the Somali coast, and combined with VFA-131 and VFA-83, they dropped 140 precision guided weapons and performed nearly 70 strafing runs.[5] For their outstanding performance on this deployment, VFA-103 was awarded the AIRLANT Battle "E" for both 2006 & 2007, as well as the Wade McClusky Award as the best Attack Squadron in the US Navy for 2007. VFA-103 temporarily embarked with CVW-17 in 2008 as USS George Washington sailed to the Pacific Ocean to replace USS Kitty Hawk in Japan. On 21 February 2009 VFA-103 and CVW-7 embarked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower for a deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. On 30 July 2009, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Naval Station Norfolk after almost a six-month deployment. VFA-103 and the rest of CVW-7 embarked on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on 2 January 2010 for a six-month deployment in support of 5th and 6th Fleet operations. On 27 July 2010, the squadron returned home to NAS Oceana after completion of their latest deployment. After a successful maintenance and workup cycle, VFA-103 embarked with CVW-7 onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on 22 June 2012 for a scheduled nine-month deployment in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. However, due to changes in operational requirements, VFA-103, CVW-7 and the Eisenhower returned to NAS Oceana on 21 December 2012, to perform maintenance in preparation of returning to sea shortly thereafter. VFA-103 returned to sea on 21 February 2013 after the short turnaround, and along with the rest of CVW-7 and Carrier Strike Group Eight, supported operations in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. After a combined eleven months at sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Persian Gulf presence operations, the squadron returned to NAS Oceana on 3 July 2013. In honor of the Jolly Rogers' 70th anniversary, the squadron undertook a massive redesign of the immensely recognizable skull and crossbones insignia, choosing to feature the original VF-17 patches, colors, and tail fin. The Jolly Rogers' F/A-18E and F/A-18F Block II's were seen launching from the USS Harry Truman in June 2016 participating in Operation Inherent Resolve, striking Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria, with multiple aircraft exhibiting signs of heavy combat, with multiple aircrafts' front fuselages being covered with air strike kill markings. wikipedia |
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