VFA-83

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Strike Fighter Squadron 83
VFA-83 Insignia
Active	April, 1950
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Fighter/Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Carrier Air Wing 7
Garrison/HQ	NAS Oceana
Nickname	Rampagers
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Iraqi Freedom

Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83), also known as the "Rampagers", 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 7.

[edit] History

VFA-83 was originally formed as Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron 916 at NAS Squantum in Massachusetts in April 1950, shortly thereafter VF-916 moved to NAS Oceana in Virginia. They flew the F4U Corsair, the F8F Bearcat, the F9F Panther and the F7U Cutlass from aircraft carriers USS Saipan (CVL-48), USS Midway (CV-41) and USS Coral Sea (CV-43).

By 1955 VF-916 was re-designated as Light Attack Squadron 83 and received the A-4 Skyhawk in 1957. Between 1957 and 1966, they operated from the carriers USS Essex (CV-9), USS Forrestal (CV-59), USS Saratoga (CV-60), USS Shangri-La (CV-38) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). In 1961 and 1962 they won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E”.

In 1966 they re-located to NAS Cecil Field in Florida and transitioned to the A-7 Corsair in 1970. In January 1971, VA-83 deployed with CVW-17 on the Forrestal, achieving a perfect safety record and was one of the first squadrons to deploy with the A-7. In 1973, the squadron wont its third CNO Aviation Safety Award and in March 1974 they began their 14th Mediterranean Sea deployment. In 1975 they completed their 25th year as an active squadron, 20, 000 accident free flight hours which earned them another CNO Safety Award.

Between 1975 and 1982 they made three deployments, including training operations with NATO allies in the North Atlantic. In 1982 they deployed to support peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. During the 1985-1986 cruise they supported operations in the Indian Ocean as well as operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya.

1987 marked their final deployment with the Corsair and in November they began the transition to the F/A-18C Hornet and on March 1, 1988 they were re-designated to Strike Fighter Squadron 83. In the summer of 1990 they made their first Hornet deployment onboard the USS Saratoga which took them to the Red Sea, supporting Operation Desert Storm. For 43 days they flew 237 combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait, they were awarded the 1990 COMNAVAIRLANT Battle “E” and the 1991 CNO Aviation Safety Award.

In 1992 they deployed to the Adriatic Sea supporting United Nations operations in former Yugoslavia. In 1994 they made a second deployment to the area, which also marked the first ever detachment to Jordan. They were awarded their sixth CNO Aviation Safety Award in 1994. In 1996 the Rampagers deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1996 they were awarded the Battle “E” and CNO Michael J. Estocin Award, declaring VFA-83 the best F/A-18 squadron in the US Navy.