VFA-81
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| Strike Fighter Squadron 81 | |
|---|---|
 VFA-81 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 | NAS Oceana |
| Nickname | Sunliners |
| Motto | “Anytime, Anyplace” |
| Engagements | Operation Desert Storm Operation Deny Flight Operation Southern Watch Operation Deliberate Force Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
CDR Michael E. Boyle |
Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA-81), also known as the "Sunliners", 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 17 and their tail code is AA. In 2008, they will be transitioning to the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
To conduct prompt and sustained combat operations from the sea, putting fuzed ordnance on target, on time...
Now with CVW 11, tailcode NH. Based out of Nas Oceana. They will return to CVW-17 during the summer of 2008, after they transition to the F/A-18 E Super Hornet.
[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VFA-81) were originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VF-81), and all weather fighter interceptor squadron on 1 July 1955, flying the Grumman F9F-8 "Cougar". Originally called the "CRUSADERS" the squadron made two Mediterranean cruises before their mission, designation, and aircraft changed with a transition to the A4D-2 "Skyhawk" in March 1959. April 3, 1963: The VA-81 Crusaders were renamed the Sunliners. The Sunliners were assigned the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk. July 10, 1964 through March 13, 1965 and August 24, 1965 through April 7, 1966: The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4E Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59. After becoming Attack Squadron EIGHT ONE (VA-81), they made multiple deployments with Second and Sixth Fleet aboard USS SHANGRI-LA (CVA-38) and USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59). From April to December 1969, while assigned to CVW1, VA-81 made the maiden cruise of the USS John F Kennedy CVA 67 to the Mediterranean.
During this time, the orange "Supersonic Nothing" adorned the vertical stabilizer of three types of A-4's. In 1963 the squadron had adopted the name Sunliners, and the motto "Anytime, Anyplace"
In February 1970, the Sunliners won the coveted Navy Battle "E" for East Coast A-4 squadrons and were selected to be the first East Coast squadron to receive the Navy's newest attack aircraft, the A-7E Corsair II. The Sunliners took their new aircraft aboard USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) with Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17) in January 1971 on their twelfth Mediterranean deployment. By the end of the 1974 competitive cycle, the orange tailed "ZAPPERS" had demonstrated sustained excellence by winning three Light Attack Wing ONE bombing derbies and a second Navy Battle "E".
[edit] The Gulf War & the 1990s
On 7 August 1990, the Sunliners deployed along with CVW-17 aboard USS SARATOGA (CV-60) for their first F/A-18 "Hornet" cruise and new mission as a Strike Fighter Squadron. They were one of the first carrier based squadrons to fly combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. This deployment took place one week after Iraq had invaded Kuwait, and VFA-81 participated in both Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM as part of the Red Sea Battle Force. Before the war's end the Sunliners scored the Navy's only two aerial victories by downing two Iraqi MiG-21's. VFA-81 returned to NAS Cecil Field on 27 March 1991, following the swift coalition victory. They participated in the last Mediterranean deployment of the carrier USS Saratoga (CV 60); which was decommissioned in August 1994.
On January 17, 1991, LCDR. Scott Speicher's F-18 Hornet was shot down on the first night of the Persian Gulf war while flying a mission west of Baghdad. It is disputed whether he was shot down by a SAM, or by a Mig-25 near Baghdad. No Search and Rescue mission was ever launched. LCDR. Speicher was declared Killed In Action prematurely before the USG had any facts to prove this claim. In early 2001, his status was changed to Missing In Action after evidence continued to pour in showing the possibility that LCDR. Speicher might be alive and held in captivity based on intelligence that he had survived the crash and that Iraq's were holding an American pilot. During a visit to the crash site several years ago, investigators found Speicher's flight suit. Over the years he has been MIA LCDR Speicher has been promoted to the rank of Captain.
More information on CPT. Michael Scott Speicher can be found at: http://www.nationalalliance.org/gulf/gulfdx.htm
