VFA-151
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| Strike Fighter Squadron 151 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-151 Insignia |
|
| Active | 1948 |
| 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 Lemoore |
| Nickname | "Vigilantes" |
| Motto | "Go Ugly Early" |
| Colors | Black and Yellow |
| Mascot | "Old Ugly" |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Shield Operation Southern Watch Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
CDR E.H. Venema |
The Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One Vigilantes (VFA-151) are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 2 and are attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Origins
Strike FIghter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) was originally established as Fighter Squadron 23 (VF-23) at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia on August 6, 1948. The squadron was attached to Air Group Two aboard the USS Midway (CV-41) and flew the F4U Corsair. The squadron adopted the nickname "Flashers" in 1949. Following an initial deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the squadron was tasked to support the Korean War.
[edit] Korean War
During the Korean War, the squadron flew two combat tours in the mighty Corsair before transitioning to the new F9F-2 Panther. The squadron flew a third combat tour in Korea in the Panther before returning to the United States in 1952. During the conflict, the squadron contributed to the support of the Inchon invasion, as well as the recapture of the Seoul and Kimpo airfields.
[edit] Inter-War Period
Upon returning to the US, the squadron was moved to the West Coast where it transitioned to the F2H Banshee and adopted a new role as an all-weather fighter squadron. During this time, the squadron transitioned to the F4D Skyray and the F3H Demon aircraft. The squadron was re-designated Fighter Squadron 151 (VF-151) on February 23, 1959 and assigned to Carrier Air Group 15 aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19). During this cruise, the squadron changed its nickname to "Vigilantes", symbolizing the unit's "around-the-clock" vigil of readiness. [1]
[edit] Vietnam War
In December 1964 the squadron transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II and deployed to the Vietnam War aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). During the eleven month combat deployment, the squadron flew nearly 1500 combat sorties, including support of the 1965 Operation Rolling Thunder bombing campaign against military targets in North Vietnam. The Vigilantes returned to Southeast Asia on their second deployment in December 1966 aboard USS Constellation (CV-64).
The squadron made its third deployment of the war aboard USS Coral Sea from July 1967 to April 1968. On October 24, 1967 the squadron's commanding officer, CDR C.R. Gillespie, and his RIO, LTJG R.C. Clark, were shot down by a surface-to-air missile over North Vietnam. CDR Gillespie became a POW and was not released until May 1973. LTJG Clark died in captivity.[2]
The squadron deployed with Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15) aboard the USS Coral Sea again following a short turn-around training period in 1968. The squadron made its fifth combat deployment of the war in September 1969 aboard USS Coral Sea and flew more than 2100 combat sorties, more than any other Navy squadron in FY1970. The squadron deployed on its sixth combat cruise of the war in April 1971 with Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) aboard USS Midway and flew 1012 combat sorties. In April 1972, the squadron deployed on its seventh and final deployment of the Vietnam War. During this deployment, the squadron spent 205 continuous days in combat flight operations, including support of Operation Linebacker I, the bombing campaign designed to disrupt supplies to the North Vietnamese. The squadron's 205 days of continuous combat flight operations was the longest period of combat flight operations in the history of the Vietnam conflict.
From 1965 to 1973 the Vigilantes participated in every major operation of the Vietnam War. The Vigilantes made more combat deployments (7) and spent more time on the line (927 days) than any other carrier based unit - including the longest deployment of the Vietnam War (331 days on USS Coral Sea) and the longest line period of the Vietnam War (208 days on USS Midway). [3]
[edit] Post-War Period
The Vigilantes returned to San Francisco, California from Vietnam in March 1973. At that time, the squadron transitioned to the F-4N variant of the Phantom. On a bright day in San Francisco harbor on 11 September 1973, the USS Midway with VF-151 aboard departed the US for the last time for many years to come. The squadron operated off the coast of Hawaii 18-22 September 1973 and then departed for Japan, arriving on 5 October. The ship was met by all of the squadron wives who had departed the US months before to “set up home” for their husbands. So, finally, the separation was over…or so the steely eyed Naval Aviators thought. But before all could leave the ship and depart for their new homes, a Japanese demonstration (demonstrating against the home porting of a US “Man-of-War” on Japanese soil) was on-going. So, all went to the O’Club for a libation to wait out the demonstrators. You could feel the “sexual tension” in the room, as many of the young Lts and their wives had been separated for several months.
The homecoming was short lived, as the ship left the port of Yokosuka for training. One particular night, 22 October, was very sobering for many of the first tour guys in the squadrons. An EA-6 from VMCJ-1 had a TACAN failure and was being brought back to the ship by an A-7 from VA-52. Somehow, the A-7 pilot became disoriented and the two aircraft flew into the water. The rescue helicopter from HC-1 launch from the bow of the ship and the pilot immediately became disoriented and also flew into the water. That night 6 of our shipmates had lost their lives…..and this was peacetime.
On 26 November 1973, the ship departed Japan once again and headed for Vietnam. The squadron operated off Dixie and Yankee station and ended up at Yankee station “Way North”. “Up there”, CAG decided that all flight leads and all single ship aircraft had to be experienced Vietnam aviators, so all crews who had been there before, got to do it more than the others. The squadron departed Vietnam and headed back to Japan, arriving just in time for Christmas on 21 December 1973.
On 1 April 1975, the squadron departed Atsugi, headed for the coast of Viet Nam for what would ultimately be called “Operation Frequent Wind” or the evacuation of Saigon. The ship took aboard Marine helicopters as it passed Okinawa and offloaded them when in the vicinity of Cubi Point in the Philippines. The ship then headed for the coast of Vietnam and the squadrons flew Combat Air Patrols in support of “Buffalo Hunter” missions as the North Vietnamese moved quickly South through South Viet Nam. On 13 April about ½ the F-4s from VF-151 and VF-161 and many other aircraft were offloaded and replaced with Marine ground troops and helicopters. On about 19 April, the ship pulled out and headed for the coast of Vietnam. History knows that the days and nights of 29/30 April 1975 were busy on the carriers and other ships off the coast of Vietnam as the exodus that we all have seen took place.
Following the evacuation from Saigon, the USS Midway headed for Thailand and took aboard many F-5s and other aircraft flown there by South Vietnamese pilots. The carrier then headed for Guam where these aircraft were offloaded. On the way back, the crew were notified that the Mayaquez (a merchant ship) had been capture off the coast of Cambodia on 13 May. The USS Midway hurried back at full speed to the Philippines to pick up the fighters from VF-151 and VF-161 and other CAG-5 squadrons to join the operation to recover the crew. On the morning of 15 May, word was received that Marines had boarded the Mayaquez and shortly thereafter, the crew was recovered.
In late October 1975, the ship once again headed out to sea, this time to Singapore and the Indian Ocean. 1 November 1975, many of the crew met Davy Jones for the first time and traded their “polliwog” status for full-fledged Shellbacks as the ship crossed the equator.
Shortly thereafter, the ship pulled into Karachi, Pakistan and for the first time experience a port call where “the sailors refused to go on liberty”. Karachi at that time was extremely poor, and the sailors could experience all that was available in a couple of hours…..so many later on in the port call, chose to just relax and sun themselves on the flight deck.
1977 the squadron transitioned to the F-4J variant of the Phantom. In 1978 the squadron was named the top TACAIR squadron in CVW-5 and received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" award. The squadron made three Indian Ocean deployments between 1979 and 1980 and transitioned to the F-4S variant of the Phantom in 1981. The squadron made history on March 24, 1986 as it flew off the USS Midway for the last time as VF-151. This event also marked the end of an era as it was the last flight of the F-4 Phantom II from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The squadron reported to NAS Lemoore, California for transition to the new F/A-18 Hornet. The squadron was re-designated Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) on June 1, 1986. In October of that year, the squadron returned to the USS Midway as it took up its new home field at NAF Atsugi, Japan.
From 1973 to 1991, the squadron was a forward deployed unit that participated in numerous operations, including support for the US evacuation of South Vietnam, the US hostage crisis in Iran, the shoot-down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983, presence operations over the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and Operation CLASSIC RESOLVE.
[edit] Operations DESERT SHIELD & DESERT STORM
The Vigilantes deployed on board USS Midway in October 1990 in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Hostilities escalated in Iraq, and on January 17, 1991 the squadron participated in the initial air strikes of Operation DESERT STORM. During the campaign, the squadron dropped more than 817,000 pounds of ordnance on key targets in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Northern Persian Gulf.
[edit] New Homeport and Around the Horn
In August 1991, the squadron left Japan aboard USS Midway bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the USS MIDWAY's last underway period. At Pearl Harbor, CVW-5 transferred to the USS Independence (CV-62); however, the Vigilantes remained on board all the way to San Diego, California where the USS Midway was decommissioned under a Vigilante fly-by. In February 1993 the squadron transitioned to upgraded F/A-18C Hornet Lot XV aircraft. In May 1993, the Vigilantes embarked on USS Constellation and brought her from the East Coast around the tip of South America to her new homeport in San Diego, California.
[edit] Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA)
The squadron contributed to the enforcement of "no-fly" zones over southern Iraq during combat-zone WestPac deployments in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in 1994-1995. One VFA-151 F/A-18C jet fighter (side number 301) was lost at sea during the 1994 WESTPAC deployment. The surviving pilot which ejected was recovered by the CVW-2 helicopter squadron HS-2 whose team specializes in search and rescue operations.
Additional WESTPAC deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch continued on-board the USS Constellation in 1997, 1999, and 2001.
In October 2000 a Vigilante fighter jet was lost at sea during workups off the coast of San Diego. The pilot, LT Darren Jewell, was killed during the mishap, which occurred during a night catapult launch. The squadron was the recipient of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific's Battle "E" award for CY2000.
[edit] Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
The squadron deployed for its final deployment aboard USS Constellation in November 2002. Following a successful combat deployment, the USS Constellation was decommissioned in San Diego, California August 7, 2003. The Vigilantes, along with CVW-2, moved to the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). In October 2004, the squadron deployed on its first WESTPAC/Surge in support of the US Navy's new Fleet Response Plan. While deployed, the Vigilantes participated in Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, the humanitarian relief effort to assist survivors of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.
[edit] Awards
Included among the many achievements in VFA-151's proud history are the receipt of the Presidential Unit Citation, eight Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, four Battle “E” awards, five Safety S's, six Navy Unit Commendations, and seven Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citations.
[edit] Commanding Officers
VF-23 LCDR T. J. Gallagher, Jr. (AUG48-OCT49), LCDR C. E. Russell (JUL50-MAR51), LCDR R. C. Mueller (MAR51-FEB52), LCDR C. C. Aikins (FEB52-JUN53), CDR W. J. Maran (JUN53-OCT54), CDR W. H. Neal (OCT54-OCT56), CDR C. A. Knight (OCT56-FEB58), CDR J. H. Stewart (FEB58-FEB59)
VF-151 CDR J. H. Stewart (FEB59-FEB60), CDR M. S. Alexatos (FEB60-JUN61), CDR R. H. Prothro (JUN61-JUL62), CDR C. C. Brooks (JUL62-JUN63), CDR E. P. Hermann (JUL63-JUL64), CDR J. M. Schnelders (JUL64-APR65), CDR J. D. Ward (APR65-APR66), CDR J. J. Chambers (APR66-MAR67), CDR C. R. Gillespie, Jr. (MAR67-OCT67), CDR B. D. Willard (NOV67-NOV68), CDR R. E. Davis (NOV68-NOV69), CDR R. B. Winton, Jr. (NOV69-NOV70), CDR B. F. Keene (NOV70-DEC71), CDR C. G. Kother (DEC71-DEC72), CDR J. S. Disher (DEC72-AUG73), CDR D. T. Schwaab (AUG73-DEC74), CDR E. D. Conner (DEC74-APR76), CDR J. D. Curry (APR76-JUL77), CDR J. H. Hall (JUL77-OCT78), CDR H. D. Wisely (OCT78-SEP79), CDR G. M. Hughes (SEP79-DEC80), CDR R. S. Farrell (DEC80-APR82), CDR C. C. Buchanan, Jr. (APR82-OCT83), CDR C. L. Robinson (OCT83-APR85), CDR R. M. Taylor II (APR85-MAY86)
VFA-151 CDR T. S. Heath (MAY86-APR88), CDR T. A. Perkins (APR88-SEP89), CDR J. R. Goddard (SEP89-MAR91), CDR J. L. Schubert (MAR91-JUN92), CDR J. V. Stivers (JUN92-OCT93), CDR T. W. Trotter (OCT93-DEC94), CDR T. A. Hejl (DEC94-FEB96), CDR D. L. Philman (FEB96-APR97), CDR V. A. Steinman (APR97-SEP98), CDR S. C. Grant (SEP98-NOV99), CDR C. B. Conners (NOV99-MAR01), CDR S. C. Bos (MAR01-JUN02), CDR K. D. Bohnstedt (JUN02-AUG02), CDR M. A. Hubbard (AUG02-FEB04), CDR K. F. Greene (FEB04-MAY05), CDR J.T. Ross (MAY05-AUG06) CDR R. A. H. Cady (AUG06-NOV07), CDR E.H Venema (NOV07-)
