VFA-102
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| Strike Fighter Squadron 102 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-102 Insignia |
|
| Active | July 1, 1955 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Garrison/HQ | NAF Atsugi |
| Nickname | "Diamondbacks" |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Restore Hope Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Carrier Air Wing Five |
Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at NAF Atsugi. Their call sign is Diamond, tail code is NF, and they fly the F/A-18F Hornet.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 1950s to the 1970s
Fighter Squadron 102 (VF-102) was established July 1, 1955 in Jacksonville, Florida. The first aircraft to carry the distinctive Diamondback markings was the F2H Banshee, a single-seat, twin-engine fighter-bomber with four 20 mm internal cannons. The Diamondbacks' inaugural cruise took place aboard the USS Randolph in July 1956. After returning from deployment, the squadron transitioned to the F4D Skyray. In addition to four 20 mm internal cannons, the Skyray carried the new AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.
After a final cruise with the Skyray on the USS Forrestal in 1960, the squadron moved to NAS Oceana in Virginia, and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom. This was the beginning of a 20-year association with the Phantom. In 1964 and 1966 VF-102 won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E” efficiency awards. Highlights during this period included participation in Operation Sea Orbit on board the USS Enterprise, combat operations off Vietnam in 1968 and cross-deck operations aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1975 and 1978.
[edit] 1980s & 1990s
In June 1981 the Diamondbacks flew their last Phantom during an Indian Ocean cruise on board the USS Independence. During that summer, the squadron transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat. With the new aircraft, the Diamondbacks also received a new mission in addition to their traditional fighter role -- photo reconnaissance. The Diamondbacks deployed aboard USS America in the fall of 1982 to participate in the NATO Exercise Northern Wedding that required high temp operations in the heavy seas of north of the British isles which garnered considerable attention from Soviet Bear D reconnaissance aircraft. The first Tomcat deployment with Carrier Air Wing One began in 1983 and took the USS America through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean. Two VF-102 Tomcats flying a routine TARPS mission over Somalia were fired upon by a SA-2 SAM site and AAA in April 1983. Both aircraft returned without any damage.
VF-102 deployed in 1984 with the first KA-93 LOROP camera and ARC-182 Have Quick radios conducting OPEVAL for both systems at sea. In 1985, USS America participated in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari and again conducted operations in the challenging high seas and low visibility conditions near the Arctic Circle and inside Vestfjord, Norway attracting attention of Soviet Union surveillance aircraft, ships and submarines. While operating northwest of Ireland, a VF-102 TARPS aircrew flew an unprecedented 1200nm TARPS mission to locate a Soviet Kynda cruiser transiting the Engliah Channel and then returned to engage NATO aircraft attempting to locate and "attack" USS America. In March 1986, the Diamondbacks deployed on board the USS America, headed for the Gulf of Sidra joining USS Saratoga and USS Coral Sea to challenge the Libyan proclaimed Line of Death. A VF-102 Tomcat was first to be fired on by a Libyan SA-5 and triple-A while flying CAP for Operation Attain Document. A month later VF-102 flew cover for US Navy and US Air Force bombers in Operation El Dorado Canyon.
In the fall of 1990, the Diamondbacks joined the USS John F. Kennedy and USS Saratoga in the Red Sea as part of Operation Desert Shield arriving the day operations were to begin. USS America remained part of the Red Sea Battle Force until released to join USS Ranger, USS Roosevelt and USS Midway in the Persian Gulf. Thereby, VF-102 and VF-33 (VF-102's sister squadron) were the only squadrons to fly combat missions from both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea during the Gulf conflict, operating from USS America (CV-66). In the six week campaign VF-102 logged more than 1400 combat flight hours.
The Diamondbacks boarded the USS America again in December 1991 for a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. Highlights of the cruise included Operation Beacon Flash with the Omanis, Operation Eager Archer with the Kuwaitis, Operation Sand Storm with the Saudis, and Operation Ebony Flame with the Djiboutis.
In early August 1993, the Diamondbacks embarked on the USS America to begin their third Mediterranean deployment in three years. During this deployment the squadron conducted humanitarian operations off the coast of Bosnia-Herzegovina supporting Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight. In late October the squadron supported Operation Restore Hope off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia. By Mid-December they were supporting Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. This was a history-making deployment for the squadron, breaking records in total flight hours, sorties flown, and consecutive sorties flown.
After a detachment to Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, in June 1994, the Diamondbacks returned home and transitioned to the F-14B aircraft. The Diamondbacks 1995–1996 Mediterranean cruise began with an emergency sortie to the Adriatic Sea to take part in Operation Deliberate Force. The squadron also participated in Operation Bright Star with the Egyptians in November en route to the Persian Gulf. While in the Persian Gulf, they flew missions in support of "Southern Watch", but the placing of U.S. ground forces in Bosnia led to another emergency sortie back to the Adriatic in December. The Diamondbacks remained in the Adriatic for the remainder of the cruise, logging more than 4,000 hours and over 1,900 traps during the deployment.
VF-102 became USS America's sole F-14 unit and by February 24, 1996 the unit had completed its final deployment on-board America, returning to NAS Oceana. After America's retirement VF-102 (and the rest of CVW-1) have moved to USS George Washington (CVN-73), with CVN-73's previous airwing, CVW-7, having moved to the newest Navy carrier, USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).
In 1997, the Diamondbacks deployed on board the USS George Washington, participating in Operation Bright Star, a biannual event featuring forces from the USA, Egypt, Italy, France, the UK, UAE and Kuwait.
A port visit to Haifa was cut short late in November as the carrier battle group was ordered to the Persian Gulf, part of the build up of forces in the region. The crisis began when Saddam Hussein barred UN weapon inspectors from carrying out their assigned tasks. As it grew the George Washington joined the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) . The carriers provided around 50 strike aircraft apiece and with their new LANTIRN system VF-102 were highly in demand, often working with RAF Harrier GR.7's from the HMS Invincible. Whilst flying as part of Operation Southern Watch the Diamondbacks flew 557 sorties (including training), a completion rate of 99.7%. As the crisis eased in late February VF-102 and the rest of the airwing began the long trip home, arriving back in Norfolk on March 13, 1998.
In late April VF-102 they took part in JTF98-2, flying as adversaries to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) battle group, which was just beginning its cruise. After that it was a quick trip to New York on board the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as part of Fleet Week, an annual gathering of ships in New York harbor. If that weren't enough the squadron deployed to Gander, Canada, in June, acting as 'Orange Air' for a Canadian exercise.
Continuing the busy schedule the Diamondbacks deployed to Puerto Rico in August 1998, providing the chance to fire live ordnance. October saw the carrier work up cycle begin in earnest with SFARP (Strike Fighter Air Readiness Program). By the summer of 1999 VF-102 were well into the work up cycle once more, deploying to NAS Fallon for airwing exercises, swiftly followed by an at sea COMPUTEX period.
Autumn of 1999 saw VF-102 deploy for a 'Millennium Cruise', crossing the Atlantic and spending much of the cruise enforcing the Operation Southern Watch no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Daily patrols were undertaken across the entire zone, looking for Iraqi land or air forces attempting to breach the no-fly zone. Ground forces proved a regular threat and the Diamondbacks were called to action from the very first day on station. As the cruise continued VF-102 carried out strikes on numerous anti-aircraft and radar sites. For four months VF-102 enforced the zone. When not called upon to attack ground targets the F-14's were busy employing TARPS pods for imagery or flying CAPs.
[edit] 2000s
On September 19, 2001 the VF-102 Diamondbacks departed NAS Oceana for the Arabian Sea. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the squadron began its scheduled deployment as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom and began combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During that deployment VF-102 flew 3,346 combat hours and dropped 645 bombs as well as guiding more then 50,000 pounds of precision guided munitions launched by other aircrafts[1].
Following the their return from deployment, the squadron was transferred to NAS Lemoore, California to begin transition training in the Navy's newest Strike Fighter, the F/A-18F. The Diamondbacks have now been assigned to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.
The Tailcode for VFA-102 is NF. This is the tailcode for CVW-5. VFA-102 recently celebrated their 50th anniversary at Atsugi NAS.
