VFA-25
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| Strike Fighter Squadron 25 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-25 Insignia |
|
| Active | 1943 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname | "Fist of the Fleet" |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
The Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at NAS Lemoore, their tail code is NE, call sign is Fist, and they fly the F/A-18C Hornet.
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[edit] History
The Fist of the Fleet was originally commissioned Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) in 1943, and fought during World War II with TBF Avenger and SB2C Helldiver attack bombers.
Following WWII, the squadron was redesignated as VA-6B, then again as VA-65 in December 1947. This coincided with the squadron's transition to the plane it would fly for the next 21 years, the A-1 Skyraider, affectionately nicknamed the "Spad." The squadron sailed aboard the USS Coral Sea on its maiden voyage in early 1948.
The outbreak of hostilities with Korea saw the squadron transferred to NAS Moffett Field. Then in 1950, the squadron deployed to Korean waters aboard the USS Boxer, logging 1,645 combat missions.
In 1959 the squadron was redesignated VA-25. In 1962, the squadron moved to its current home, the newly-completed NAS Lemoore.
From 1965 through 1968, the squadron made three deployments to Southeast Asia, still flying the A-1. During this period, Fist pilots flew over 3,000 combat missions, dropping more than 10 millions pounds of ordnance on enemy targets. On June 20, 1965, a division of "Spads" were attacked by a section of Vietnamese MiG-17's deep in North Vietnam — the Fists successfully scored a guns kill against one of the jet-powered fighters.
When the Fists turned in their A-1 "Spads" in 1968, it was the last tactical propeller driven squadron in the Navy. The squadron next obtained the A-7 Corsair II, with which it again deployed to Southeast Asia after only four months of training, aboard the USS Ticonderoga. It was during this cruise that the Fists set a record — in 33 flying days, Fist pilots flew 1,650 sorties in combat. During this period, each squadron pilot averaged over 92 hours in the air.
In October 1970, the Fists began a long and successful relationship with the USS Ranger, nicknamed "Top Gun." In the following two years, the squadron made two more combat cruises, expending over 15 million pounds of ordnance on targets in Laos and Vietnam.
The squadron made four more deployments aboard the USS Ranger, including one to the Indian Ocean during the Iran hostage crisis.
In May 1983, the Fists began training in the then-new F/A-18A Hornet. The squadron was redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25) on July 1, 1983. Operational air wing training in multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises with the USS Constellation were conducted for the remainder of 1984 through January 1985.
In February 1985, the Fists departed on the historic "first deployment" of the F/A-18 Hornet aboard the USS Constellation.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the Fists responded onboard the USS Independence, flying combat patrols near the Kuwaiti theater of operations for three months before being relieved.
In 1994, the squadron, aboard the USS Carl Vinson operated extensively in the Persian Gulf, flying missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1996, the Fists continued their participation in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Strike.
After being on station for more than three very busy months, the Fists returned from deployment on November 12, 1996. In 1998, the Fists deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, where they enforced United Nations no-fly zones in Iraq. In 2000, the Fists dropped several bombs on selected tactical targets in southern Iraq, and continued to patrol the skies in the Persian Gulf.
[edit] Present day
In July 2002, the Fists left NAS Lemoore for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. There the Fists saw action in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as over Iraq, performing missions required for Operation Southern Watch. In the fall and winter of 2002, as the United States moved closer to decisive action in dealing with Iraq, the USS Abraham Lincoln was ordered to stay on station in the Persian Gulf. After a total of three extensions and approaching their tenth month away from home, war was declared against Iraq.
On March 19, 2003, the Fists began combat sorties in earnest and Operation Southern Watch abruptly turned into Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Fist of the Fleet led the way to Baghdad, participating in first-night air strikes on the Iraqi capitol in what has become known as the Shock and Awe campaign. The squadron put in long days, achieving an average daily combat sortie count of 20, while pounding roads from Basra to An Nasiriya, Al Kut, Najaf, Al Hillah and ultimately Baghdad. The squadron’s more than 850 hours flown on 272 combat sorties over 18 straight days resulted in relentless and deadly strikes on the Iraqi regime’s Medina, Baghdad, and Nebuchadnezzar Armored Divisions, military airfields, facilities and command and control infrastructure.
With its duties in the Persian Gulf complete, VFA-25 returned to the United States in May 2003.
[edit] Trivia
- The squadron insignia on the F-14s in film Top Gun were not fictitious but rather taken from other non F-14 squadrons. The characters Iceman, Slider and their F-14 can be seen sporting the VFA-25 insignia
