Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131), also known as the "Wildcats", is aUnited States NavyF/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed atNaval Air Station Oceana. Their radio call sign is "Wildcat" and their aircraft tail code isAG.

Strike Fighter Squadron 131
Active	3 October 1983 – present
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(s)	"Wildcats"
Motto(s)	"Airlant's First and Finest"
Colors	Red, white, blue
Engagements	Gulf War Operation Deny Flight Operation Southern Watch Operation Decisive Endeavor Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Prosperity Guardian 2024 missile strikes in Yemen Operation Poseidon Archer
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F/A-18 Hornet F/A-18E Super Hornet

VFA-131 was established atNaval Air Station Lemoore,California, on 3 October 1983,^[1] and trained in the F/A-18 Hornet underVFA-125. The squadron received their first F/A-18A in May 1984. In January 1985, the squadron moved toNaval Air Station Cecil Field,Florida, becoming the Atlantic Fleet’s first F/A-18 squadron.

In March 1986 duringFreedom of Navigation exercises in theGulf of Sidra, the squadron’s aircraft flew Combat Air Patrols during which aLibyanSA-5 Gammon missile was fired against an American aircraft operating in international waters. On 14–15 April 1986, squadron aircraft participated inOperation El Dorado Canyon, along with other units of CVW-13 andA-7s fromCVW-1, providing air-to-surface Shrike andHARM strikes against Libyan surface-to-air missile sites atBenghazi. This was the first use of the F/A-18 in combat.^[1]

From 15 October 1987 to 12 Apr 1988 the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing Thirteen (CVW-13) and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USSCoral Sea

VFA-131 embarked onUSS Independence from 15 August – 8 October 1988 for the carrier's transit from Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to its new home port atNAS North Island viaCape Horn.^[1]

In August 1990 while embarked on USSDwight D. Eisenhower, squadron F/A-18s flew missions in theRed Sea in support ofOperation Desert Shield, the build-up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion ofSaudi Arabia byIraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal fromKuwait. TheEisenhower task force was the first U.S. force in position to deter Iraqi incursion into Saudi Arabia.^[1]

Upon return from deployment in September 1990, the squadron transitioned to F/A-18C Lot XIII Night Strike Hornets.^[1] One year later, the squadron again deployed aboard USSDwight D. Eisenhower to theRed Sea and NorthPersian Gulf in support of OperationDesert Storm.

In May 1994, the squadron was part of the maiden deployment ofUSS George Washington. They flew sorties in support ofOperation Deny Flight overBosnia-Herzegovina andOperation Southern Watch over southern Iraq. In October 1994, they returned to the Persian Gulf and participated inOperation Vigilant Warrior, in response to Iraqi aggression.

In January 1996 the squadron once again deployed aboard USSGeorge Washington to the Mediterranean,Adriatic Sea, and the Persian Gulf in support ofOperation Decisive Endeavor and Operation Southern Watch. In February 1998, the squadron deployed for the "Around the World", maiden deployment ofUSS John C. Stennis, again supporting Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. Upon return to the United States in December 1998, they relocated from NAS Cecil Field, Florida, toNAS Oceana, Virginia.

On 11 September 2001, the squadron was underway aboardUSS John F. Kennedy off the Virginia Capes. Within hours of theSeptember 11 attacks, armed squadron Hornets were conducting air patrols overWashington, D.C., andNew York City as part ofOperation Noble Eagle. In February 2002, the squadron deployed to the NorthArabian Sea to take part inOperation Enduring Freedom (OEF), flying combat sorties overAfghanistan.

From January to July 2004, VFA-131 deployed aboard USSGeorge Washington in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron deployed from October 2006 to June 2007 aboardUSSDwight D. Eisenhower in support ofOIF, OEF, and operations inSomalia.

Between June and December 2016 the squadron deployed aboard USSDwight D. Eisenhower withCarrier Air Wing Three in support ofOperation Inherent Resolve, flying combat missions in Iraq and Syria.^[2][3]On 22 September 2017, VFA-131 flew theF/A-18C Hornet for the last time at NAS Oceana, before transitioning to theF/A-18E Super Hornet, a process that at the time was expected to finish by 2019.^[4]

From January to August 2020 VFA-131 was embarked on board USSDwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69) in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. VFA-131 flew combat missions into Afghanistan, provide armed overwatch for Strait of Hormuz transits, and conducted other missions in the 5th Fleet AOR. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, VFA-131 remained embarked for the duration of the deployment.

Beginning in December 2023, VFA-131 has taken part inOperation Prosperity Guardian, conducting air-to-ground strikes within Yemen and engaging HouthiUnmanned Aerial Vehicles

In December 2024, the Wildcats were transferred back to Carrier Air Wing 7, but in a different position than they were in previously.

The squadron’s insignia, featuring the head of a wildcat, was approved byChief of Naval Operations on 26 January 1984.^[1]

• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons