VFA-192
Encyclopedia
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192), also known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons", are a United States Navy
F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 9, their tailcode is NG, and their radio callsign is Dragon.
The squadron’s first insignia was approved by CNO
on 11 October 1945 and consisted of a reddish brown kangaroo with crimson boxing gloves on a white cloud. The squadron was known as the Fightin' Kangaroos. Following the squadron’s redesignation to VF-15A, the squadron changed its name to the Black Knights and a new insignia was approved on 24 November 1947. It was a black helmet with gold markings and a gold shield. When the squadron was redesignated VF-151, the helmet/shield insignia was modified and the Latin inscription In Omnia Paratus was added, meaning ever ready. A new squadron insignia was approved on 8 August 1950, consisting of a silver dragon and grey/black aircraft carrier. This design was modified with a yellow dragon, white nuclear symbol and white cloud with a red rising center when the squadron became VA-192 on 21 June 1956. The squadron took on the nickname Golden Dragons at this time.
. The squadron received F6F-5s in April, and relocated to NAAS Oceana in June. The squadron moved to NAS Alameda in Aug 1946, and was redesignated to Fighter Squadron 15A on 15 November 1946.
The squadron’s first deployment was aboard from March-October 1947. Immediately following their return, the squadron transitioned to the F8F-1 Bearcat
in Nov 1947. The squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151) on 15 July 1948. In February 1949, half of the squadron’s personnel and aircraft deployed aboard USS Boxer (CV-21)
for a Pacific Fleet Minor Cold Weather Exercise near Kodiak, Alaska
. They upgraded to the F8F-2 model of the Bearcat in July 1949.
In January of 1950, the squadron sailed from Alameda aboard . It was redesignated Fighter Squadron 192 on February 15, and returned from the Western Pacific in June. Immediately upon return, VF-192 transitioned to the F4U-4 Corsair
.
The squadron deployed aboard from Nov 1950 to June 1951 in support of the Korean War
. On 5 Dec 1950, the squadron flew its first combat missions, providing close air support for U.S. Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
in North Korea
. On 1 May 1951, the squadron participated in a special strike against the Hwachon Dam with VF-193 and VA-195
. The purpose of the mission was to destroy the flood gates and raise the level of the river to form a natural barrier against the enemy’s advance. VF-192 F4U-4s were tasked with flak and small arms suppression.
After deployment, the squadron the squadron moved to NAS Moffett Field and began to transition to the jet-powered F9F-2 Panther
, receiving several of these aircraft in Jul 1951. However, all of these aircraft were transferred to VF-191 in October 1951, and VF-192 continued to fly the F4U-4.
The squadron deployed for Korea aboard Princeton again from Mar-Nov 1952. On 23–24 Jun, the squadron, along with units from two other carrier air groups, conducted coordinated air strikes against North Korean hydroelectric plants. Squadron aircraft struck the Suiho hydroelectric plant on the Yalu River
, the Kyosen hydroelectric plant and the Fusen hydroelectric plant. In July, VF-192 participated in one of the major joint Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war, hitting industrial targets in North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang
.
Early in 1953, the Black Knights entered the jet age by receiving the F9F-2 and F9F-5 Panther
fresh off the assembly line.
The squadron deployed aboard in September 1953, and during that cruise to the Orient, the pilots participated in the filming of The Bridges at Toko-Ri
. It was the debut of this film that earned the squadron the name “World Famous Golden Dragons.”
On January 19, 1956, the squadron upgraded to the swept-wing F9F-6 Cougar and their mission changed to include the aircraft's ground weapons delivery capability. On March 15, 1956, the official designation of the squadron was changed from Fighter Squadron to Attack Squadron 192 (VA-192). The squadron received its first F9F-8s in Jun 1956.
VA-192, now known as the Golden Dragons, transitioned to the FJ-4B Fury
in Dec 1957, and following an exchange of aircraft, maintainers and support equipment with VA-216, transitioned again to the A4D-2 Skyhawk
in July 1959.
In December 1962, the squadron moved from Moffet Field to NAS Lemoore, California, and on November 21, 1964, after completing almost ten months in the Western Pacific, the Dragons returned from their fourth consecutive cruise aboard . After a four-month turnaround, they deployed aboard the “Bonnie Dick” in April 1965 for a ten-month cruise in support of the Vietnam War
. A new and more powerful A-4E “Skyhawk,” with the ability to carry a greater bomb load, was received in June 1966.
The squadron deployed again to Yankee Station
in Oct 1966 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)
. During this deployment, Golden Dragon LCDR Michael J. Estocin
greatly distinguished himself in the air arena, posthumously earning the Medal of Honor
for his gallantry and courage while flying two separate missile suppression
missions to Haiphong
. On the second mission, Commander Estocin's A-4 was shot down and he was listed as MIA; on 10 November 1977 his MIA status was changed to presumed KIA. In his memory, the Navy’s award for the best F/A-18 Hornet squadron is called the Michael J. Estocin Award.
In July 1967, the Golden Dragons became the first operational fleet squadron to receive the new A-4F Skyhawk, and in December of that year the Dragons again deployed aboard Ticonderoga. In March 1968, VA-192, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from Tico in the Sea of Japan
as part of Operation Formation Star - a continuing show of American forces in the area following the capture of USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
by North Korea
.
In April 1969, the Golden Dragons made their last deployment with the A-4F aboard USS Oriskany (CV-34)
. It was during this cruise that the squadron was recognized for an amazing safety record during extensive combat operations. Specifically, this safety record spanned over 55 accident-free months, 30,477 flight hours and 11,580 carrier landings. No other carrier jet squadron had ever achieved such a safety record up to that time. After this, the World Famous Golden Dragons Commanding Officer realized the squadron had earned the Super Smokin' Hot moniker leading to the S.S.H.W.F.G.D. name.
VA-192 took delivery of their first A-7E Corsair II
in February 1970. On 6 November 1970, the squadron deployed aboard . During this cruise, VA-192’s “Laotian Highway Patrol” set an all-time record for ordnance dropped on a single cruise, over 15 million pounds, while flying more than 6,600 flight hours and amassing 2,901 arrested landings. The Dragons delivered this record amount of ordnance on enemy supply routes both day and night, in all kinds of weather, without losing a single man or aircraft. After returning to NAS Lemoore in July 1971, the Dragons immediately began preparing for another combat cruise to Southeast Asia . On 17 February 1972, the squadron departed on their sixth Vietnam combat cruise, flying their first combat sorties on 5 March 1972.
In May 1972, squadron aircraft participated in the mining of North Vietnamese harbours and Linebacker I operations, concentrated air strikes against targets in North Vietnam. The Golden Dragons flew over 3,600 combat strikes while participating in seven combat line periods over a record 192 days.
From late 1973 to 1978, the squadron made several WestPac deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. In November 1973, VA-192 deployed with CVW-11 and Kitty Hawk as part of the first CV concept air wing deployment on the west coast. This concept employed all aspects of carrier aviation warfare into one air wing deployed on a single deck. On 3 March 1979 the squadron embarked aboard at Norfolk, Virginia
, for their first Mediterranean cruise.
The squadron deployed for a second Mediterranean cruise aboard America on from April to November 1981, spending 202 of 220 days at sea. In November 1982, the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing 9 and became a part of the team. In Jul–Aug 1983, Ranger, with VA-912 embarked, was ordered to operate off the coast of Nicaragua
in response to an unstable situation in Central America. From Oct 1983 to Jan 1984: Ranger, with VA-192 embarked, was extended on station in the Arabian Sea
due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf
.
By early 1985, the Golden Dragons began to prepare for transition to the F/A-18 Hornet
. About half of the A-7E’s and personnel who maintained them had been transferred from the squadron when the Dragons were ordered to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
under the Marine Corps
Unit Deployment Program
. In less than three months, the squadron was fully manned and equipped with 12 A-7E’s, and on June 3, 1985 launched for a three day transpacific flight to Iwakuni. Upon arrival, the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 12
under the 1st Marine Air Wing.
The squadron returned to Lemoore for Christmas, and on January 10, 1986 the Golden Dragons were re-designated Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Two (VFA-192). While in FA-18 Hornet transition training under VFA-125
. On February 14, 1986, exactly 16 years after the first Dragon Corsair II was accepted, VA-192 transferred its last A-7E. The squadron received their first FA-18A on 5 May 1986. This new beginning also included notification that the squadron would be changing homeport to join CVW-5 and out of Yokosuka, Japan. This change became official on 1 Jul 1986, and in November the Golden Dragons executed their second transpacific movement in eighteen months in new F/A-18 Hornets to NAF Atsugi, Japan.
1987 began with VFA-192’s first deployment embarked in Midway as a member of the restructured CVW-5. The next twelve months included 261 days of embarked operations in the South China Sea
, Indian Ocean
, and Arabian Sea
. During November and December, the Dragons participated in Operation Earnest Will
, providing air cover for the escort of reflagged Kuwait oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
and Persian Gulf
.
On October 2, 1990, the squadron set sail aboard Midway for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. When Operation Desert Storm began on the night of January 17, 1991, the Golden Dragons attacked Iraq
i missile batteries. Over the next 43 days, the Golden Dragons flew 576 combat sorties, dropping over 730,000 pounds of ordnance. In March, VFA-192 and the Midway Battle Group departed the Persian Gulf, returning home to Yokosuka following seven months of deployment.
On August 21, 1991, VFA-192 and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard Midway prior to her retirement and replacement as the forward deployed carrier by . During the turnover at Pearl Harbor
, Hawaii
, the squadron also traded their F/A-18A aircraft for newer F/A-18Cs.
On April 15, 1992, the Golden Dragons deployed for the first time aboard Independence, participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea in Sydney, Australia . The Dragons were also a part of the battle group that spearheaded Operation Southern Watch
(OSW), establishing the Iraqi no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel north
.
In Fall 1993, Summer 1995, and again in Winter 1998, the Golden Dragons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW. On July 7, 1998, the Golden Dragons and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard Independence. In Hawaii, the squadron moved to , and upgraded aircraft to Lot 17 F/A-18Cs.
The Golden Dragons deployed again on March 2, 1999 for the South Pacific
and to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW.
while Kitty Hawk sortied from Yokosuka. Within a week the Dragons were again carrier qualified and ready to sail. Instead, CVW-5 was divided to fill urgent requirements elsewhere in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. CVW-5 Detachment A, comprised FA-18Cs from VFA-192 and VFA-195
, S-3’s from VS-21 and HH-60’s from HS-14
, sailed aboard Kitty Hawk to the Indian Ocean
with a large Special Operations contingent embarked. The Spec Ops force moved from Kitty Hawk into Afghanistan
while the aircraft provided close air support
(CAS) until November 2001. Detachment B, comprised FA-18Cs from VFA-27 and manned with pilots from all three CVW-5 Hornet squadrons, deployed to the U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia
to provide air defense of the Maritime Pre-positioned Fleet and USAF bomber force deployed there.
In January 2003, VFA-192 deployed aboard Kitty Hawk to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron flew 339 combat missions and dropped 224,000 pounds of ordnance including 283 JDAM and LGB bombs. After 100 consecutive days at sea, the Dragons returned to Japan in May.
On December 15, 2009, VFA-192 departed NAF Atsugi and CVW-5 as part of a homeport change to NAS Lemoore and CVW-9
. Likewise, VFA-115
arrived in NAF Atsugi on December 13, 2009 to be the replacement squadron for the Dragons. Upon arrival at NAS Lemoore, VFA-192 Joined CVW-9.
Safety Awards. They are six time recipients of the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award, most recently for 2009. They have twice been awarded the Michael J. Estocin award for being the top Strike Fighter Squadron in the Navy. In 1979, the Golden Dragons were awarded the Bruce Carrier Award for excellence in aviation maintenance. The Golden Dragons earned the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Safety-S award consecutively for 1999 and 2000, and again for 2005 and 2006.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 9, their tailcode is NG, and their radio callsign is Dragon.
Squadron Insignia and Nickname
CNO
CNO is a three-letter initialism. It can mean:* "chartay nahi o??" BFSF, abbreviated CNO in the context of the GPS* Chief of Naval Operations* Chief Networking Officer* Chief Nuclear Officer* Chief Nursing Officer* Chino Airport IATA symbol: CNO...
on 11 October 1945 and consisted of a reddish brown kangaroo with crimson boxing gloves on a white cloud. The squadron was known as the Fightin' Kangaroos. Following the squadron’s redesignation to VF-15A, the squadron changed its name to the Black Knights and a new insignia was approved on 24 November 1947. It was a black helmet with gold markings and a gold shield. When the squadron was redesignated VF-151, the helmet/shield insignia was modified and the Latin inscription In Omnia Paratus was added, meaning ever ready. A new squadron insignia was approved on 8 August 1950, consisting of a silver dragon and grey/black aircraft carrier. This design was modified with a yellow dragon, white nuclear symbol and white cloud with a red rising center when the squadron became VA-192 on 21 June 1956. The squadron took on the nickname Golden Dragons at this time.
1940s
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 was originally established as Fighter Squadron 153 (VF-153) on March 26, 1945 at NAS Atlantic City flying the F6F-3 HellcatF6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
. The squadron received F6F-5s in April, and relocated to NAAS Oceana in June. The squadron moved to NAS Alameda in Aug 1946, and was redesignated to Fighter Squadron 15A on 15 November 1946.
The squadron’s first deployment was aboard from March-October 1947. Immediately following their return, the squadron transitioned to the F8F-1 Bearcat
F8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engined fighter aircraft...
in Nov 1947. The squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151) on 15 July 1948. In February 1949, half of the squadron’s personnel and aircraft deployed aboard USS Boxer (CV-21)
USS Boxer (CV-21)
USS Boxer was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a British ship captured by the Americans during the War of 1812...
for a Pacific Fleet Minor Cold Weather Exercise near Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
. They upgraded to the F8F-2 model of the Bearcat in July 1949.
1950s
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
.
The squadron deployed aboard from Nov 1950 to June 1951 in support of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. On 5 Dec 1950, the squadron flew its first combat missions, providing close air support for U.S. Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Changjin Lake Campaign ,Official Chinese sources refer to this battle as the Second Phase Campaign Eastern Sector . The Western Sector is the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River. was a decisive battle in the Korean War...
in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. On 1 May 1951, the squadron participated in a special strike against the Hwachon Dam with VF-193 and VA-195
VA-195
VA-195 or VA 195 may refer to:* Strike Fighter Squadron 195, a unit of the United States Navy* State Route 195 , a road in the Commonwealth of Virginia...
. The purpose of the mission was to destroy the flood gates and raise the level of the river to form a natural barrier against the enemy’s advance. VF-192 F4U-4s were tasked with flak and small arms suppression.
After deployment, the squadron the squadron moved to NAS Moffett Field and began to transition to the jet-powered F9F-2 Panther
F9F
F9F may refer to:* Grumman F9F Panther jet fighter * Grumman F9F Cougar jet fighter...
, receiving several of these aircraft in Jul 1951. However, all of these aircraft were transferred to VF-191 in October 1951, and VF-192 continued to fly the F4U-4.
The squadron deployed for Korea aboard Princeton again from Mar-Nov 1952. On 23–24 Jun, the squadron, along with units from two other carrier air groups, conducted coordinated air strikes against North Korean hydroelectric plants. Squadron aircraft struck the Suiho hydroelectric plant on the Yalu River
Yalu River
The Yalu River or the Amnok River is a river on the border between North Korea and the People's Republic of China....
, the Kyosen hydroelectric plant and the Fusen hydroelectric plant. In July, VF-192 participated in one of the major joint Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps air strikes of the war, hitting industrial targets in North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
.
Early in 1953, the Black Knights entered the jet age by receiving the F9F-2 and F9F-5 Panther
F9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
fresh off the assembly line.
The squadron deployed aboard in September 1953, and during that cruise to the Orient, the pilots participated in the filming of The Bridges at Toko-Ri
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
The Bridges at Toko-Ri is a 1954 film based on a novel by James Michener about a naval aviator assigned to bomb a group of heavily defended bridges during the Korean War. It was made into a motion picture by Paramount Pictures and won the Special Effects Oscar at the 28th Academy Awards...
. It was the debut of this film that earned the squadron the name “World Famous Golden Dragons.”
On January 19, 1956, the squadron upgraded to the swept-wing F9F-6 Cougar and their mission changed to include the aircraft's ground weapons delivery capability. On March 15, 1956, the official designation of the squadron was changed from Fighter Squadron to Attack Squadron 192 (VA-192). The squadron received its first F9F-8s in Jun 1956.
VA-192, now known as the Golden Dragons, transitioned to the FJ-4B Fury
FJ Fury
The North American FJ-2/-3 Fury were a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based on the United States Air Force's F-86 Sabre, these aircraft featured folding wings, and a longer nose landing strut designed to both increase angle of attack upon...
in Dec 1957, and following an exchange of aircraft, maintainers and support equipment with VA-216, transitioned again to the A4D-2 Skyhawk
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
in July 1959.
1960s
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. A new and more powerful A-4E “Skyhawk,” with the ability to carry a greater bomb load, was received in June 1966.
The squadron deployed again to Yankee Station
Yankee Station
Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station...
in Oct 1966 aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)
USS Ticonderoga was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for historic Fort Ticonderoga, which played a role in the American Revolutionary War...
. During this deployment, Golden Dragon LCDR Michael J. Estocin
Michael J. Estocin
Michael J. Estocin was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
greatly distinguished himself in the air arena, posthumously earning the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his gallantry and courage while flying two separate missile suppression
SEAD
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , also known as "Wild Weasel" and "Iron Hand" operations in the United States, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses , primarily in the first hours of an attack.One fourth of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD...
missions to Haiphong
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
. On the second mission, Commander Estocin's A-4 was shot down and he was listed as MIA; on 10 November 1977 his MIA status was changed to presumed KIA. In his memory, the Navy’s award for the best F/A-18 Hornet squadron is called the Michael J. Estocin Award.
In July 1967, the Golden Dragons became the first operational fleet squadron to receive the new A-4F Skyhawk, and in December of that year the Dragons again deployed aboard Ticonderoga. In March 1968, VA-192, along with other squadrons in CVW-19, conducted flight operations from Tico in the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
as part of Operation Formation Star - a continuing show of American forces in the area following the capture of USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President...
by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
In April 1969, the Golden Dragons made their last deployment with the A-4F aboard USS Oriskany (CV-34)
USS Oriskany (CV-34)
USS Oriskany – nicknamed Mighty O, The O-boat, and Toasted O – was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany.The history of...
. It was during this cruise that the squadron was recognized for an amazing safety record during extensive combat operations. Specifically, this safety record spanned over 55 accident-free months, 30,477 flight hours and 11,580 carrier landings. No other carrier jet squadron had ever achieved such a safety record up to that time. After this, the World Famous Golden Dragons Commanding Officer realized the squadron had earned the Super Smokin' Hot moniker leading to the S.S.H.W.F.G.D. name.
1970s
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
in February 1970. On 6 November 1970, the squadron deployed aboard . During this cruise, VA-192’s “Laotian Highway Patrol” set an all-time record for ordnance dropped on a single cruise, over 15 million pounds, while flying more than 6,600 flight hours and amassing 2,901 arrested landings. The Dragons delivered this record amount of ordnance on enemy supply routes both day and night, in all kinds of weather, without losing a single man or aircraft. After returning to NAS Lemoore in July 1971, the Dragons immediately began preparing for another combat cruise to Southeast Asia . On 17 February 1972, the squadron departed on their sixth Vietnam combat cruise, flying their first combat sorties on 5 March 1972.
In May 1972, squadron aircraft participated in the mining of North Vietnamese harbours and Linebacker I operations, concentrated air strikes against targets in North Vietnam. The Golden Dragons flew over 3,600 combat strikes while participating in seven combat line periods over a record 192 days.
From late 1973 to 1978, the squadron made several WestPac deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. In November 1973, VA-192 deployed with CVW-11 and Kitty Hawk as part of the first CV concept air wing deployment on the west coast. This concept employed all aspects of carrier aviation warfare into one air wing deployed on a single deck. On 3 March 1979 the squadron embarked aboard at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, for their first Mediterranean cruise.
1980s
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in response to an unstable situation in Central America. From Oct 1983 to Jan 1984: Ranger, with VA-192 embarked, was extended on station in the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
due to the Iranian threat to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
By early 1985, the Golden Dragons began to prepare for transition to the F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
. About half of the A-7E’s and personnel who maintained them had been transferred from the squadron when the Dragons were ordered to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
under the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Unit Deployment Program
Unit Deployment Program
To reduce the number of unaccompanied tours and improve unit continuity, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, established the Unit Deployment Program to provide for the deployment of units to the Western Pacific for periods of approximately six months...
. In less than three months, the squadron was fully manned and equipped with 12 A-7E’s, and on June 3, 1985 launched for a three day transpacific flight to Iwakuni. Upon arrival, the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.-Mission:The...
under the 1st Marine Air Wing.
The squadron returned to Lemoore for Christmas, and on January 10, 1986 the Golden Dragons were re-designated Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Two (VFA-192). While in FA-18 Hornet transition training under VFA-125
VFA-125
Strike Fighter Squadron 125 , also known as the "Rough Raiders", was a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Rough Raiders" were a Fleet Replacement Squadron flying the F/A-18 Hornet.-History:...
. On February 14, 1986, exactly 16 years after the first Dragon Corsair II was accepted, VA-192 transferred its last A-7E. The squadron received their first FA-18A on 5 May 1986. This new beginning also included notification that the squadron would be changing homeport to join CVW-5 and out of Yokosuka, Japan. This change became official on 1 Jul 1986, and in November the Golden Dragons executed their second transpacific movement in eighteen months in new F/A-18 Hornets to NAF Atsugi, Japan.
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. During November and December, the Dragons participated in Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military protection of Kuwaiti owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of...
, providing air cover for the escort of reflagged Kuwait oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman....
and Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
1990s
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i missile batteries. Over the next 43 days, the Golden Dragons flew 576 combat sorties, dropping over 730,000 pounds of ordnance. In March, VFA-192 and the Midway Battle Group departed the Persian Gulf, returning home to Yokosuka following seven months of deployment.
On August 21, 1991, VFA-192 and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard Midway prior to her retirement and replacement as the forward deployed carrier by . During the turnover at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, the squadron also traded their F/A-18A aircraft for newer F/A-18Cs.
On April 15, 1992, the Golden Dragons deployed for the first time aboard Independence, participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea in Sydney, Australia . The Dragons were also a part of the battle group that spearheaded Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
(OSW), establishing the Iraqi no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel north
32nd parallel north
The 32nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 32 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
.
In Fall 1993, Summer 1995, and again in Winter 1998, the Golden Dragons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW. On July 7, 1998, the Golden Dragons and CVW-5 embarked for the last time aboard Independence. In Hawaii, the squadron moved to , and upgraded aircraft to Lot 17 F/A-18Cs.
The Golden Dragons deployed again on March 2, 1999 for the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
and to the Persian Gulf in support of OSW.
2000s
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the squadron began preparations for an emergency deployment and began training at Iwo JimaIwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
while Kitty Hawk sortied from Yokosuka. Within a week the Dragons were again carrier qualified and ready to sail. Instead, CVW-5 was divided to fill urgent requirements elsewhere in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. CVW-5 Detachment A, comprised FA-18Cs from VFA-192 and VFA-195
VFA-195
Strike Fighter Squadron 195 , also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi...
, S-3’s from VS-21 and HH-60’s from HS-14
HS-14
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Fourteen is a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron permanently forward-deployed on NAF Atsugi, Japan and aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington...
, sailed aboard Kitty Hawk to the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
with a large Special Operations contingent embarked. The Spec Ops force moved from Kitty Hawk into Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
while the aircraft provided close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
(CAS) until November 2001. Detachment B, comprised FA-18Cs from VFA-27 and manned with pilots from all three CVW-5 Hornet squadrons, deployed to the U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia is a tropical, footprint-shaped coral atoll located south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean at 7 degrees, 26 minutes south latitude. It is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory [BIOT] and is positioned at 72°23' east longitude....
to provide air defense of the Maritime Pre-positioned Fleet and USAF bomber force deployed there.
In January 2003, VFA-192 deployed aboard Kitty Hawk to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron flew 339 combat missions and dropped 224,000 pounds of ordnance including 283 JDAM and LGB bombs. After 100 consecutive days at sea, the Dragons returned to Japan in May.
On December 15, 2009, VFA-192 departed NAF Atsugi and CVW-5 as part of a homeport change to NAS Lemoore and CVW-9
CVW-9
Carrier Air Wing Nine is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis...
. Likewise, VFA-115
VFA-115
Strike Fighter Squadron 115 , also known as the "Eagles", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi...
arrived in NAF Atsugi on December 13, 2009 to be the replacement squadron for the Dragons. Upon arrival at NAS Lemoore, VFA-192 Joined CVW-9.
Awards
From 1966 to 1969, the Golden Dragons received four consecutive Chief of Naval OperationsChief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
Safety Awards. They are six time recipients of the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Award, most recently for 2009. They have twice been awarded the Michael J. Estocin award for being the top Strike Fighter Squadron in the Navy. In 1979, the Golden Dragons were awarded the Bruce Carrier Award for excellence in aviation maintenance. The Golden Dragons earned the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific Safety-S award consecutively for 1999 and 2000, and again for 2005 and 2006.
See also
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Navy Carrier air wings
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- Naval aviationNaval aviationNaval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
- Modern US Navy carrier air operationsModern US Navy carrier air operationsModern United States Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or non-combat missions. Modern United States Navy aircraft carrier flight operations are highly evolved, based on experiences...
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
- United States Naval AviatorUnited States Naval AviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- Military aviationMilitary aviationMilitary aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
- List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons