Истребительная эскадрилья VFA-2: История и боевые действия

Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA 2) also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a United States Navy F/A 18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet". They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW 2), a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions that deploy aboard the Carl Vinson.

Four distinct squadrons have been designated VF 2. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation. Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.

VF 2 was assigned to Ranger for the September 1980 deployment, 4 months of which were spent in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf during the Iran hostage crisis. The squadron was the first Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) unit for both CVW 14 and later CVW 2. VF 2 deployed aboard Kitty Hawk in 1984 and returned for multiple Ranger deployments throughout the 1980s. On 2 June 1984, VF 2 became the first squadron to launch an F 14 from an aircraft carrier while towing an air to air gunnery target. In 1987, the squadron logged Ranger’s 260,000th landing.

The unit participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying over 500 combat mission from USS Ranger operating in the Persian Gulf. VF 2 performed escort, reconnaissance and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions. After the 1992 1993 cruise, USS Ranger was decommissioned (along with VF 2’s sister squadron VF 1), and VF 2 was switched to the Constellation. At the same time, VF 2 transitioned to the F 14D Tomcat. Several months after the 1995 cruise, VF 2 was awarded the battle "E" and relocated from NAS Miramar to NAS Oceana due to a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision to make Miramar a Marine Corps Air Station. In April 1996, VF 2's F 14Ds were modified to carry the LANTIRN infrared targeting pod, giving them precision strike capabilities. During their 1999 cruise, VF 2 supported Operation Southern Watch and on 9 September, attacked Surface to Air Missile sites and anti aircraft guns around Basra. The same day, a VF 2 Tomcat engaged 2 Iraqi Air Force MiG 23’s that were heading south into the No Fly Zone from Al Taqaddum Air Base, west of Baghdad with AIM 54 Phoenixes. The missiles did not score as the MiGs turned north once they detected the missile launch.

In mid 2001, VF 2 deployed aboard Constellation in support of Operation Southern Watch. During the 2002 2003 deployment, the final cruise with the Tomcat, VF 2 participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom flying a wide range of missions including reconnaissance, close air support, CAP and strike missions. On 28 February 2003, during Operation Southern Watch, a VF 2 aircraft delivered the 1st Tomcat JDAM in combat. During this deployment, VF 2 flew 483 sorties and dropped 294 Laser guided bomb's/JDAMs/MK 82 bombs. On 1 July 2003, VF 2 was redesignated VFA 2, and began transition to the F/A 18F Super Hornet receiving its first aircraft on 6 October 2003. VFA 2 deployed to the Western Pacific aboard Abraham Lincoln with CVW 2 in October, 2004. They returned in March 2005 after supporting Operation Unified Assistance which provided humanitarian support to Southeast Asia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In 2006, VFA 2 and CVW 2 embarked on a WESTPAC deployment. On 13 March 2008, VFA 2 embarked with CVW 2 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln on a 7 month deployment to the Persian Gulf, returning home on 8 October.

Between 24 and 31 March 2006, during Foal Eagle 2006 exercises, strike squadrons VFA 2, VFA 34, VFA 137, and VFA 151 teamed with U. S. Air Force aircraft from the 18th Wing based at Kadena Air Base to provide combat air patrols and coordinated bombing runs via the exercise's Combined Air Operations Center. On 11 September 2010, VFA 2 deployed with CVW 2 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln to the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. The squadron has transitioned to newer Block II F/A 18F Super Hornet equipped with the AESA radar.

The squadrons current Commanding Officer, CDR Timmester, will be the last navy squadron commander to have flown in the F 14 Tomcat. VFA 2 is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 on the USS Carl Vinson.