| Strike Fighter Squadron 151 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 6 August 1948 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of |  Carrier Air Wing Nine |
| Garrison/HQ |  NAS Lemoore |
| Nickname(s) | "Vigilantes" |
| Motto(s) | "FIGHT UGLY!" |
| Colors | Black and Yellow |
| Mascot(s) | "Old Ugly" |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Southern Watch Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Prosperity Guardian Operation Poseidon Archer |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | CMD. Preston J. Ochoa |
| Executive Officer | CMD. Brian M. Hansen. |
| Command Master Chief | CMDCM Branden J. Wilkins |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F6F Hellcat F4U Corsair F9F Panther F2H Banshee F4D Skyray F3H Demon F-4 Phantom II F/A-18A/C Hornet F/A-18E Super Hornet |
Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) nicknamed theVigilantes are aUnited States NavyF/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed atNaval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron is a part ofCarrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). As part of CVW-9, the squadron'stail code isNG and its radio callsign is "Ugly".
The squadron's first insignia was approved byCNO on 9 August 1949, and consisted of a blue helmeted knight and a white shield. The squadron also adopted the nickname "Flashers" in 1949. The current insignia was approved on 26 May 1955. The squadron changed its nickname to "Vigilantes" in 1959, symbolizing the unit's "around-the-clock" vigil of readiness.[1]
Four distinct U.S. Navy squadrons have been designated VF-151. Thefirst VF-151 was established, and then disestablished, in 1945. The second was established at VF-153 in 1945 and eventually becameVFA-192. Thethird squadron was originally established as VF-65 in 1951 and was eventually disestablished as VA-23 in 1970. The fourth squadron to be designated VF-151 was established as VF-23 in 1948, eventually became VFA-151, and is the main subject of this article.
%2c_in_November_1948.jpg)
Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) was originally established as Fighter Squadron 23 (VF-23) atNaval Air Station Oceana,Virginia on 6 August 1948. The squadron was attached to Air Group Two aboardUSS Midway and flew theF4U-5 Corsair andF6F-5P Hellcat. By April 1949, the squadron flew the F4U-4 Corsair exclusively, embarking with that aircraft for aMediterranean Sea deployment from May–December 1949.
In August 1950, the squadron moved toNAS Alameda, California, and then deployed for the first of three cruises in support of theKorean War. On 15 September 1950, the squadron flew combat missions fromUSS Boxer in support of theamphibious landings at Inchon, Korea. Upon their return to the US, the squadron relocated toNAS Moffett Field in November 1950. The squadron transitioned to the jet age in Jan 1951, flying the straight-wingF9F-2 Panther on their second Korea deployment fromUSS Princeton. During their third Korean War deployment, while flying fromUSS Essex in August 1952, squadron aircraft participated in joint operations with the U.S. Air Force, striking targets inPyongyang and the surrounding area.
The squadron transitioned to theF2H-3 Banshee in March 1953 and adopted a new role as an all-weather fighter squadron. In March 1954, the squadron was deployed to the western Pacific aboard USSEssex when the carrier was ordered to operate off the coast ofVietnam during theBattle of Dien Bien Phu.
In December 1956, VF-23 transitioned to theF4D-1 Skyray, and in August and September 1958, the squadron flew sorties fromUSS Hancock in theTaiwan Straits after theChinese Communists bombarded Quemoy Island.
VF-23 deployed to the WestPac aboard USSHancock in 1958 and again 1959. The squadron, now known as theVigilantes, transitioned to theF3H-2 Demon in January 1959. A month later, the squadron was redesignatedFighter Squadron One Fifty One (VF-151) on 23 February 1959 and assigned to Carrier Air Group 15.
In July 1961, the squadron moved homeport toNAS Miramar and made the first of three WestPac deployments aboardUSS Coral Sea. In January 1964, the squadron transitioned to theF-4B Phantom and deployed for its firstVietnam War cruise on 7 December 1964. During the eleven month combat deployment, the squadron flew nearly 1500 combat sorties, including support of the 1965Operation Rolling Thunder bombing campaign against military targets in North Vietnam. The squadron returned to Southeast Asia on their second Vietnam deployment in May 1966 aboardUSS Constellation.
The squadron made its third deployment of the war aboard USSCoral Sea from July 1967 to April 1968. On 24 October 1967 the squadron's commanding officer, CDR C.R. Gillespie, and hisRadar Intercept Officer, LTJG R.C. Clark, were shot down by a surface-to-air missile over North Vietnam. CDR Gillespie became aprisoner of war and was not released until May 1973, while LTJG Clark died in captivity.[2]
In March 1968, USSCoral Sea, with VF-151 embarked, operated on station off the coast of Korea following the capture ofUSS Pueblo by North Korea. The squadron deployed again in September 1968 withCarrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15) aboard USSCoral Sea again following a short turn-around period. The squadron made its fifth combat deployment of the war in September 1969 aboard USSCoral Sea and flew more than 2100 combat sorties, more than any other Navy squadron in FY1970.
The squadron deployed on its sixth combat cruise of the war in April 1971 with Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) aboardUSS Midway, flying 1012 combat sorties. In April 1972, the squadron deployed on its seventh and final deployment of the Vietnam War. During this deployment, the squadron spent 205 continuous days in combat flight operations, including support ofOperation Linebacker, the bombing campaign designed to disrupt supplies to the North Vietnamese. The squadron's 205 days of continuous combat flight operations was the longest period of combat flight operations in the history of the Vietnam War. From 1965 to 1973, the squadron participated in every major operation of the Vietnam War, made more combat deployments (7) and spent more time on the line (927 days) than any other carrier based unit – including the longest deployment of the Vietnam War (331 days on USSCoral Sea) and the longest line period of the Vietnam War (208 days on USSMidway).[3]
The squadron returned to San Francisco, California from Vietnam in March 1973 and transitioned to the F-4N. On 11 September 1973, USSMidway with VF-151 aboard, departed the US for the last time for many years to come. The ship arrived at its new port ofUnited States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan and the squadron at its new home ofNAF Atsugi, Japan on 5 October. The ship was met by a group of Japanese demonstrators, railing against the home porting of a US "Man-of-War" in Japanese waters.
On 1 April 1975, the squadron departed NAF Atsugi and headed for the South China Sea for what would ultimately be calledOperation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of US personnel fromSaigon as the country fell to the North Vietnamese. The ship took aboard Marine helicopters as it passed Okinawa and offloaded them when in the vicinity ofNaval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines. The ship then headed for the coast of Vietnam and the squadrons flew Combat Air Patrols as the North Vietnamese moved quickly through South Vietnam.
From August to September 1976, the squadron conducted flight operations near the Korean Peninsula following theAxe-murder Incident.
In August 1977, the squadron transitioned to the F-4J. In 1978 the squadron was named the top TACAIR squadron in CVW-5 and received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" award. The squadron made three Indian Ocean deployments between 1979 and 1980. During 1979 USSMidway, with VF-151 embarked, deployed to theGulf of Aden following the outbreak of fighting between North and SouthYemen and theIranian Revolution. During the 1980 deployment following theIranian seizure of the American Embassy inTeheran, USSMidway, with VF- 151 embarked, proceeded to theGulf of Oman and remained on station until relieved in early February 1980.
In December 1980, the squadron transitioned to the F-4S.
On 24 March 1986, the squadron flew off USSMidway for the last time as VF-151. This event also marked the end of an era, as it was the last flight of the F-4 Phantom II from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The squadron reported toNAS Lemoore, California for transition to the newF/A-18A Hornet. VF-151 was one of only two F-4 fighter squadrons to transition to the F/A-18A and be redesignated a strike fighter squadron. The squadron was re-designatedStrike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) on 1 June 1986. In November of that year, the squadron returned to USSMidway and NAF Atsugi.
In September 1988 during the1988 Summer Olympics inSeoul,South Korea, the squadron was embarked on USSMidway and operating in theSea of Japan to demonstrate U.S. support for a peaceful Olympics.
In December 1989, USSMidway, with VFA-151 embarked, maintained station off the coast of thePhilippines during anattempted coup in that country.
_BuNo_162900.png)
VFA-151 deployed aboard USSMidway in October 1990 in support ofOperation Desert Shield. Hostilities escalated in Iraq, and on 17 January 1991 the squadron participated in the initial air strikes ofOperation Desert Storm. During the campaign, the squadron dropped more than 817,000 pounds of ordnance on key targets in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Northern Persian Gulf.
In August 1991, the squadron left Japan aboard USSMidway bound forNS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the USSMidway's last underway period. VFA-151 then transferred toCVW-2, and moved to NAS Lemoore, California. In February 1993, the squadron transitioned their aircraft to upgraded Lot 15 F/A-18C Hornets. In May 1993, the squadron embarked on USSConstellation and travelled from the East Coast aroundCape Horn South America to her new homeport in San Diego, California.
The squadron contributed to the enforcement of "no-fly" zones over southern Iraq during combat-zone WestPac deployments in support ofOperation Southern Watch in 1994–1995. Additional WESTPAC deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch continued on-board USSConstellation in 1997 and 1999.
The squadron was the recipient of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific's Battle "E" award for CY2000 and deployed on USSConstellation again in 2001.
The squadron deployed for its final deployment aboard USSConstellation in November 2002. Following a successful combat deployment, USSConstellation was decommissioned in San Diego, California 7 August 2003. VFA-151, along with CVW-2, moved toUSS Abraham Lincoln. In October 2004, the squadron deployed on its first WESTPAC/Surge in support of the US Navy's new Fleet Response Plan. While deployed, the squadron participated inOperation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian relief effort to assist survivors of thetsunami that struck Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.
Between 24–31 March 2006, duringFoal Eagle 2006 exercises, squadronsVFA-2,VFA-34,VFA-137, and VFA-151 from CVW-2 teamed with U.S. Air Force aircraft from the18th Wing based atKadena Air Base to provide combat air patrols and coordinated bombing runs via the exercise's Combined Air Operations Center.[1]
_on_10_November_2008.jpg)
In 2008 VFA-151 deployed again on board the USSAbraham Lincoln in theFifth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) which upon returning they again received the Battle "E" for the year of 2008.
The squadron deployed again aboard USSAbraham Lincoln in support of Operation New Dawn andOperation Enduring Freedom in the Fifth Fleet AOR from October 2010 to March 2011. The squadron was awarded the Battle "E" for the year of 2010 as well as theMichael J. Estocin award.
In December 2011 the squadron was deployed again in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom in the Fifth Fleet AOR for a five-month "surge" deployment. After extending twice, the squadron returned home in August 2012. After five months flying the F/A-18C post-deployment, VFA-151 began transitioning to Lot 35/36F/A-18E Super Hornets in February 2013. With the transition, the squadron left CVW-2 and moved toCVW-9 attached toUSS John C. Stennis on 1 June 2013. August 2019 the Squadron lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet flown out of NAS Lemoore, it crashed into the wall of what is known as "Star Wars Canyon", near Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake. The aviator did not survive.[2]
The squadron has been awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, eight Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, four Battle "E" awards, six Safety S's, six Navy Unit Commendations, the Michael J. Estocin award and seven Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citations.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| 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) | |||||
