VFA-86
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The VFA-86 Sidewinders is a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Their call sign is Winder, tail code is AB, and they fly the F/A-18 Hornet.
[edit] History
The Sidewinders began in the early 1950s as Reserve Fighter Squadron 921 (VF-921), flying the F4U Corsair, the F8F Bearcat, and the F9F Panther. In 1953, the squadron was redesignated VF-84. In 1955 the squadron began flying the F7U Cutlass, and was redesignated VA-86. In 1957 the squadron began flying the A4D Skyhawk.
The Sidewinders were deployed in response to the seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran in 1979.
On July 15, 1986, VA-86 was officially redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 86 (VFA-86), and began flying the F/A-18 Hornet. The squadron flew combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm and NATO missions off the coast of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Following the decommissioning of NAS Cecil Field, the squadron relocated to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.
[edit] External links
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