The Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115) have released the trailer to their 2014 WESTPAC cruise video, and what a stunner it is! Come along for the ride!
This follows the recent VFA-27 video, giving the Atsugi bubbas a plethora of eye-watering Super Hornet goodness for the enjoyment of all. It will have your blood pumping for the entire 4 ½ minutes, as the Echo Drivers of VFA-115 spend some quality time raging around while deployed on the USS George Washington.
VFA-115 traces its roots back to Torpedo Squadron 11 (VT-11), beginning life as a Grumman Avenger (Milestone Monday, anyone?) squadron flying off the USS Hornet. After the end of WWII, the squadron was based at NAS North Island and became known as Attack Squadron 12 Able (VA-12A), and switched again to VA-115 as they picked up the Douglas AD Skyraider, trading one large single-engine radial for another.
The 1960s were a strange time for many, and the Eagles were no exception. They moved north to NAS Lemoore, but the squadron was inactive for a few years while they awaited delivery of their new Grumman A-6 Intruders.
When the Intruders finally arrived in 1970, the squadron moved to NAS Whidbey Island in Washington, where they were slated to join Carrier Air Wing 16. Their deployment with CVW-16 never materialized, and the squadron then joined CVW-5 on the USS Midway and there they picked up their current ‘NF’ tailcode.
The Midway deployed twice to Vietnam with VA-115 onboard, and soon after both the carrier changed homeport to Yokosuka, Japan. CVW-5 was thus stationed at NAF Atsugi, which is still home to the Eagles.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet with the “Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73) during the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 fly-on. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ramon G. Go/Released)
In 1996, VA-115 changed their home station again, going back to NAS Lemoore as they transitioned to the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, and added the fighter mission to their repertoire, becoming VFA-115. They didn’t stay in the legacy Hornet for long, only 2 deployments, as they were the first Navy squadron to transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Not only that, they got to be the first to employ the Advanced Tactical FLIR, giving them all the good toys!
The Eagles continued to make history with the first Super Hornet combat cruise in 2002, supporting both OEF and OIF while deployed on the USS Kitty Hawk. They’ve racked up a huge amount of awards throughout their history, with plenty of Battle E’s and both Presidential and Navy Unit Commendations to go around.
That’s enough to get you started on VFA-115, now go watch the video! EFR!
(Featured Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)