VFA-34
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| Strike Fighter Squadron 34 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-34 Insignia |
|
| Active | October 15, 1943 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | Carrier Air Wing 2 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Oceana |
| Nickname | Blue Blasters |
| Motto | “Have guns….Will travel.” |
| Battles/wars | World War II Vietnam War Operation El Dorado Canyon Operation Desert Shield Operation Deliberate Force Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Strike Fighter Squadron 34 (VFA-34), also known as the "Blue Blasters", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 2 and are attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War II
The squadron was originally commissioned the VF-20 "Jokers" on October 15, 1943 as part of Air Group 20 stationed at NAS San Diego, California. The squadron was composed of numerous newly winged Naval Aviators along with a few combat hardened pilots. Flying F6F Hellcats from the deck of USS Enterprise, VF-20 was heavily involved in the initial invasion operations in the Philippines, including the epic Battle of Leyte Gulf. As part of Admiral Halsey's Northern Strike Group, VF-20 assisted in sinking one of the world's largest battleships, the IJNS Musashi (sister ship to the IJNS Yamato), and was given credit for partial kills on several Japanese cruisers and destroyers. After the deployment, VF-20 cross-decked to the "Grey Ghost", the USS Lexington (CV-16). From her decks, "The Jokers" struck various targets from Taiwan to the Japanese mainland. During WWII, eight VF-20 pilots became aces, 12 pilots received the Navy Cross and 22 received the Silver Star. VF-20 was credited with the destruction of over 15 ships and 407 aircraft, not counting the even greater number that were damaged but not destroyed.
[edit] Vietnam War
The squadron served in the Gulf of Tonkin and North Vietnam in 1967 during the Vietnam War onboard USS Intrepid (CV-11). Attack Squadron 34 was disestablished on May 29, 1969. Less than a year later, on January 1, 1970, the Blue Blasters were reestablished at NAS Oceana, Virginia, as the Atlantic Fleet’s sixth A-6 Intruder squadron.
[edit] The 1980s
The Blue Blasters participated in Operation Prarie Fire and Operation El Dorado Canyon. VA-34 was the first squadron to employ the AGM-84 Harpoon in combat, successfully defending ships of the U.S. 6th Fleet against threatening Libyan forces. Less than one month later, the Blue Blasters conducted a daring night, low-level, high-speed attack against Libyan barracks and aircraft storage facilities.
[edit] The 1990s
The Blue Blasters departed in January 1996 for their last deployment flying the venerable A-6E Intruder on the USS George Washington (CVN-73). They flew in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor over Bosnia Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. Typical missions included close air support and Airborne Forward Air Controller assisting US and United Nations troops on the ground.
[edit] Global War on Terror
The Blue Blasters embarked on the USS George Washington in June of 2002 for another deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. The Blasters also flew many sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
