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| Strike Fighter Squadron 105 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 November 1967 - present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of |  Carrier Air Wing Seven |
| Garrison/HQ |  NAS Oceana |
| Nickname | "Gunslingers" |
| Motto | "Tonight... we ride!" |
| Colors | Green, gray, yellow, black |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Prosperity Guardian 2024 missile strikes in Yemen Operation Poseidon Archer |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | CDR Travis "Sweet T" Amerine |
| Executive Officer | CDR Joel "FAIDS" Nogle |
| Command Master Chief | CMDCM (SW/AW) Antonnette G. Spruill |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | A-7 Corsair II |
| Fighter | F/A-18C Hornet F/A-18E Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) also known as the "Gunslingers" is aUnited States Navy strike fighter squadron based atNaval Air Station Oceana,Virginia. The "Gunslingers" are an operational fleet squadron and fly theF/A-18E Super Hornet. Their radio callsign is "Canyon" and the tail code is AG.
VA-105's insignia was approved by theChief of Naval Operations (CNO) on 20 September 1968, and has remained essentially unchanged. It features anOld West gun belt andsix-shooter resembling that worn by the main character in the television seriesHave Gun – Will Travel, with a goldknight chess piece emblazoned on the holster.
The squadron gained the nickname "105th Light Attack and Twilight Pursuit Squadron" during theVietnam War. "Twilight Pursuit" was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that squadron aircraft carried the air-airAIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The nickname became somewhat more formally accepted in the months leading up to the 1974-75 Mediterranean Cruise. Appearing on squadron patches, belt buckles, (stickers and lighters) proudly worn by officers and enlisted men alike, the moniker was heavily promoted by the squadron's pilots. The current squadron often refers to itself as the "105th Strike Fighter and Twilight Pursuit Squadron".
Two distinct squadrons have been designated VA-105. Thefirst VA-105 was established on 1 May 1952 and disestablished on 1 February 1959, and the second was later redesignated as VFA-105, the main subject of this article. Officially, the US Navy does not recognize a direct lineage with disestablished squadrons if a new squadron is formed with the same designation.[1] Often, the new squadron will assume the nickname, insignia, and traditions of the earlier squadrons.
Attack Squadron 105 (VA-105) was established on 1 November 1967 atNAS Cecil Field, flying the newA-7A Corsair II. On 4 March 1968 the squadron completed A-7A training underVA-174 and became an operational Atlantic Fleet unit.
The squadron embarked on their first deployment toSoutheast Asia aboardUSS Kitty Hawk, participating in combat operations in theGulf of Tonkin from January to October 1969. Following theshootdown of a Navy EC-121 by the North Koreans in April,Kitty Hawk was part of a continuing American presence being maintained off the coast ofKorea.
In September and October 1970 following the hijacking of several airliners byPalestinians, the outbreak ofserious fighting in Jordan and the invasion of Jordan bySyria,USS Saratoga, with VA-105 embarked, operated in the eastern Mediterranean, prepared to support an evacuation of Americans from Jordan and to show support for the Jordanian government.
From June–December 1972, the squadron participated inOperation Linebacker andOperation Linebacker II, heavy air strikes against targets inNorth Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies into South Vietnam.
In May 1973, the squadron upgraded to the A-7E.
As of December 1979 the squadron had two Western Pacific and six Mediterranean deployments to their credit.
In June 1982 following theIsraeli invasion of Lebanon, VA-105 operated fromUSS John F. Kennedy to support an evacuation of Americans.
From July–December 1984, the squadron deployed toMCAS Iwakuni, assigned toMAG-12, 1st MAW. This was the first time a Navy squadron participated in theUnited States Marine CorpsUnit Deployment Program (UDP) and the first Navy squadron since World War II to come under the command of a Marine Corps officer. While deployed with the Marines the squadron's major mission wasclose air support.
During the 1980s, the squadron completed eight overseas deployments, including six to the Mediterranean, and a 1983 around-the-world cruise aboardUSS Carl Vinson during her maiden voyage.
VA-105 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) on 17 December 1990, as the squadron transitioned to theF/A-18C Hornet. The squadron reported toCarrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) aboard USSJohn F. Kennedy on 1 September 1991. VFA-105 made their first Hornet cruise in October 1992. They returned from the Mediterranean in April 1993, and began workups for a deployment aboardUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1994. The squadron then started workups for a deployment aboardUSS Theodore Roosevelt in October 1996. VFA-105 and the rest of CVW-3 deployed in 1998 in support ofOperation Southern Watch andOperation Desert Fox on boardUSS Enterprise.
On 28 November 2000, VFA-105 embarked on the maiden deployment ofUSS Harry S. Truman to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf in support ofOperation Southern Watch (OSW). The Gunslingers deployed in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom aboardHarry S. Truman in 2003, operating from the Mediterranean Sea.
VFA-105 became the first East Coast squadron to transition to the F/A-18E Super Hornet in July 2006. In March 2007, VFA-105 became the first operational Navy strike fighter squadron to be commanded by a female when CDRSara Joyner took command.[2]
In May 2010 VFA-105 embarked on a 7-month deployment on board USSHarry S. Truman and returned home on 20 December 2010.
On 22 July 2013, VFA-105 deployed on board USSHarry S. Truman for a nine-month deployment in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom. In January 2014 two squadron F/A-18Es were deployed on board theFrench aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle for the first time.[3]
In October 2023, VFA-105 began a combat deployment within Air Wing Three onboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower. The deployment focused heavily within the CENTCOM AOR. For the majority of the deployment, VFA-105 operated from the Red Sea.
Constant combat operations occurred during the deployment, with VFA-105 conducting defensive and offensive operations against Houthi-Iranian military units in Yemen.
F/A-18Es from VFA-105 took part inair strikes on Yemen on 12 January 2024.[4]
After 32 years with Carrier Air Wing Three, the Gunslingers along withVFA-83 were transferred toCarrier Air Wing Seven and theUSS George H.W. Bush in October 2024.[5]
| Electronic Attack (VAQ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) | |||||
| Strike Fighter (VFA) | |||||
| Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) | |||||
| Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) | |||||
| Fleet Logistics Support (VR) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) | |||||
| Patrol |
| ||||
| Unmanned (VUP) | |||||
| Training (VT) | |||||
| Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) | |||||
| Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) | |||||
| Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) | |||||
| Helicopter Training (HT) | |||||
