VFA-2

Strike Fighter Squadron Two
VFA-2 Insignia
Active	1 October 1972
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Fighter/Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Carrier Air Wing 2
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station Lemoore
Nickname(s)	"Bounty Hunters"
Colors	Red, white, blue
Equipment	F/A-18F Super Hornet
Engagements	Operation Frequent Wind Iranian Hostage Crisis Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Unified Assistance
Decorations	Battle Efficiency "E"
Commanders
Current commander	Commander Shawn C. Kirlin
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F/A-18F Super Hornet

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". The Bounty Hunters 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 Ronald Reagan.

History

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.

1920s - 1930s

The First VF-2

F6C-1

The 1st VF-2 was originally established as Combat Squadron Four on 23 Sep 1921, home-based at Naval Air Station San Diego, California. The squadron was re-designated Fighter Squadron 2 on 1 Jul 1922, flying the Vought VE-7 biplane. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Chiefs," operated from Langley, the US Navy's 1st aircraft carrier. Between 1922 and 1925, VF-2/VF-2B experimented with carrier operations from Langley off the coast of California. Air activity was initially limited to scouting, but the Commander-in-Chief, US Fleet saw the potential of Naval Aviation and recommended that Lexington and Saratoga be completed as soon as possible.

F2F-1's while attached to Lexington

VF-2 flew the F2A-2 in 1941

Flying F6C Hawks in 1926, VF-2B was the 1st squadron to demonstrate the concept of dive-bombing, carrying out mock-attacks on Pacific Fleet ships. Commanders of the surface ships had expected standard, low-altitude, level bombing, but were surprised when the VF-2B aircraft attacked, unseen, from 12,000 feet making simulated drops before the ships defenses could be manned.

On 4 January 1927, VF-2B was re-designated VF-6. The squadron flew VE-7s, followed, by the F6C and FC-1. In 1927, the squadron was tasked to provide 1 aircraft to each fleet battleship, with the remaining planes shore-based at North Island. The squadron's FU-1s were launched from the ship's catapults, landed as seaplanes and then hoisted back aboard by the ship's crane.

In 1928, the squadron transferred to Langley and was redesignated VF-2B. Over the course of the next 15 years, the squadron was variously called VF-6B, VF-3, and VF-6 based on their ship assignment ("B" appended meaning the squadron was attached to the Battle Fleet, and "S" indicating that it belonged to the Scouting Fleet). In 1937, the last letter of Navy squadron designations were removed.

VF-6B made 2 Langley deployments in 1930 and 1931 flying F2Bs. They later transitioned to Boeing F3B high altitude fighters. VF-6 was disestablished on 1 Oct 1945.

The Second VF-2

The 2nd squadron to be designated VF-2 was established on 1 Jan 1927. Over the next 10 years, it was referred to as VF-2B, BF-2S, VF-2B and VF-2. At the time of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, VF-2 was flying the Brewster Buffalo, but soon transitioned to the F4F Wildcat.

The squadron’s 1st combat occurred during the 2-day Battle of the Coral Sea, the world’s 1st engagement between aircraft carriers. On 7 May 1942, VF-2's commanding officer led the escort of Lexington's strike aircraft against the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō. VF-2 claimed 6 confirmed aerial kills and 3 probable kills. The next day, Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku exchanged air strikes with the US force, and VF-2 lost 5 aircraft while claiming 11 kills. Lexington succumbed to torpedo damage and was sunk. Without an aircraft carrier, VF-2 was disestablished on July 1, 1942.

1940s - The Third VF-2

The 3rd distinct squadron to be designated VF-2 was established on 1 June 1943, at Naval Air Station Atlantic City. VF-2, known now as the "Rippers," became the 1st World War II fighting squadron to bear the same designation as a previous unit in the war. Several pilots came from VF-6 and VF-10. The squadron initially deployed 8 FM-1s but soon received the F6F Hellcat. VF-2 trained on the east-coast until October 1943 when the squadron headed west to San Francisco and then Hawaii. In Hawaii, VF-2 participated in a Marine landing exercise and so impressed the influential "Butch" O'Hare that he requested that VF-2 replace VF-6 in his Air Group aboard Enterprise. A notable pilot in the squadron was fighter ace Arthur Van Haren, Jr. From November 1943 to January 1944, VF-2 saw action during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, Makin Atoll and Tarawa Atoll. They also participated in raids against the Marshall Islands of Kwajalein, Ebeye and Roi-Namur. VF-2 participated in O'Hare-designed "bat teams" of 1 TBF Avenger and 2 Hellcats for night interceptions.

Crash landing of a VF-2 F6F-3 aboard Enterprise, 10 November 1943

In March 1944, VF-2 deployed aboard Hornet. From Hornet, VF-2 participated in strikes against the Marianas on the afternoon of 11 June 1944. Over 200 Hellcats were launched from American carriers 200 miles (320 km) from their targets of Guam and Rota (island). VF-2 claimed 23 victories during the attack over the Guam airfield, while squadron aircraft closer to Hornet destroyed 3 Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" medium bombers. A 2nd strike on Guam claimed another 10 Japanese aircraft. VF-2 scored 37 victories and only lost 1 plane. The next day, VF-2 attacked the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima with intent to destroy Japanese aircraft. Only pilots which had not previously scored aerial kills were sent on this mission, claiming 17 kills.

Between19 June 19 and 20 June 1944, VF-2 was credited with 47 victories with only 1 airplane damaged beyond repair. On the afternoon of 20 June, the Japanese carriers were located approximately 200 miles (320 km) to the west. A strike was ordered with bombs and torpedoes. After the strike, only 6 VF-2 aircraft returned to Hornet, the remaining having landed on other carriers. 5 aircraft were lost at sea. 5 days later, VF-2 claimed 67 kills in 1 day during a sweep of Iwo Jima, losing only 1 Hellcat (an additional one was damaged beyond repair). On 22 September 1944, the Rippers closed their victory log when "Spider" Webb downed an enemy aircraft over Manila. During the 1943-44 period, VF-2 had conducted 184 strikes and 2050 sorties, destroying 50,000 tons of ships and 216 airborne airplanes and 245 airplanes on the ground. Losses totaled 3 airplanes in aerial combat and 4 to anti-aircraft fire. VF-2 was disestablished on 9 Nov 1945.

The lead article in the 23 October 1944 edition of Life Magazine highlighted VF-2 in a seven-page spread. There are pictures of 27 of the unit's Aces including Roy "Butch" Voris, later to become Blue Angel 1 in the original Blue Angels flight demonstration team, Connie Hargreaves, who became an Ace in a Day, and Wilbur "Spider" Webb, another Ace in a Day.

1970s – The current VF-2

VF-2 F-14As aboard Enterprise during their first deployment, 1975

Twenty-seven years after disestablishment, a new VF-2, now known as the "Bounty Hunters," was established on 14 October 1972 flying the F-14A Tomcat.

VF-2 completed aircrew training and received its first Tomcats in July 1973, attaining full strength of 12 F-14As in the spring of 1974. The Bounty Hunters was the first Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) unit for both CVW-14 and later CVW-2.

VF-2's initial deployment was in 1974 with her sister squadron VF-1 aboard Enterprise. The squadron flew over Saigon in support of Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of US personnel in April, 1975.

1980s

VF-2 was assigned to USS Ranger (CVA-61) for the September 1980 deployment, 4 months of which were spent in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf during the Iran hostage crisis.

They deployed aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) in 1984 and returned for multiple Ranger deployments throughout the '80's.

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.

1990s

File:US Navy 030518-N-0295M-008 An F-14D Tomcat comes in for a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) after completing Aerial Combat Maneuvers (ACM) training.jpg

A VF-2 F-14D landing aboard Constellation, in 2003

The unit participated in Operation Desert Storm, flying over 500 combat mission from Ranger operating in the Persian Gulf. VF-2 performed escort, reconnaissance and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions. After the 1992-1993 cruise, 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 Tomcats 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 September 9, attacked Surface-to-Air Missile sites and anti-aircraft guns around Basra. The same day, a VF-2 Tomcat engaged 2 Iraqi MiG-23’s that were heading south into the No-Fly Zone from Al Taqaddum airbase, west of Baghdad with AIM-54 Phoenixes. The missile did not score as the MiGs turned north once they detected the Phoenix launch.

2000s

File:US Navy 050714-N-0000I-004 F-A-18F Super Hornets prepare to launch from the flight deck aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).jpg

VFA-2 F/A-18Fs aboard Abraham Lincoln, in 2005

In the summer of 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, Combat Air Patrol and strike missions. On February 28, 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/JDAM/MK-82 bombs.

On 1 July 2003, VF-2 was redesignated VFA-2, and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. On 6 October 2003, VFA-2 took delivery of its first Super Hornet.

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 Abraham Lincoln on a 7-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, returning home on 8 October.

2010s

Between 24–31 March 2006, during Foal Eagle 2006 exercises, strike squadrons VFA-2, VFA-34, VFA-137, and VFA-151 from Carrier Air Wing Two 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 Bounty Hunters have transitioned to newer Block II F/A-18F Super Hornet's equipped with the AESA radar.

See also

• Naval aviation
• Modern US Navy carrier air operations
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
• United States Naval Aviator
• Military aviation
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons