Combat aircraft

Above left to right:

VFA-113 ‘Stingers’

was the last

west coast fl eet

F/A-18C unit at

Lemoore before it

converted to the

F/A-18E in 2016.

Jamie Hunter

VFA-122 still

employs a handful

of T-34Cs as

range clearance/

spotter

aircraft.

Ted Carlson/

Fotodynamics

This image:

VFA-122 ‘Flying

Eagles’ is the

west coast Super

Hornet RAG. It has

access to a useful

variety of local

training areas.

Jamie Hunter

NAS LEMOORE FIGHTER SQUADRONS

Squadron Aircraft Tail code

VFA-2 ‘Bounty Hunters’ F/A-18F NE

VFA-14 ‘Tophatters’ F/A-18E NG

VFA-22 ‘Fighting Redcocks’ F/A-18F NA

VFA-25 ‘Fist of the Fleet’ F/A-18E AG

VFA-41 ‘Black Aces’ F/A-18F NG

VFA-86 ‘Sidewinders’ F/A-18E AC

VFA-94 ‘Mighty Shrikes’ F/A-18F NA

VFA-97 ‘Warhawks’ F/A-18E NG

VFA-113 ‘Stingers’ F/A-18E NA

VFA-122 (FRS) ‘Flying Eagles’ F/A-18E/F NJ

VFA-125 ‘Rough Raiders’ F-35C NJ

VFA-136 ‘Knighthawks’ F/A-18E AB

VFA-137 ‘Kestrels’ F/A-18E NE

VFA-146 ‘Blue Diamonds’ F/A-18E NH

VFA-147 ‘Argonauts’ F/A-18E NH

VFA-151 ‘Vigilantes’ F/A-18E NG

VFA-154 ‘Black Knights’ F/A-18F NH

VFA-192 ‘Golden Dragons’ F/A-18E NE

Note: VFA-147 will transition to the F-35C in 2018

in the Navy,’ says LT Chase ‘Chode’

Strickland of VFA-151 ‘Vigilantes’, a pilot

with around 1,000  ight hours under

his belt. Of his squadron’s F/A-18Es, he

says, ‘Our aircraft are being upgraded

continually, as is the base — a re ection

of the changes here. We will integrate

the F-35C into the air wings, focusing on

the air defense mindset.

‘We are assigned to CAG [Carrier Air

Group/Carrier Air Wing] Nine. We started

the transition [to the F/A-18E] in June

2013 and we were declared safe for

 ight that August. Our F/A-18Es were

delivered to us direct from Boeing until

we had received our full complement

of 10 aircraft. In each air wing, two

squadrons have 10 jets, while the

other two have 12. The ‘Vigilantes’ and

VFA-97 [‘Warhawks’] are the two 10-jet

squadrons in our air wing, with VFA-14

[‘Tophatters’] and VFA-41 [‘Black Aces’]

having 12 jets each.’

Strickland explains the reason behind

the varied complements: ‘Initially the

two extra jets in the squadrons were

for tanking duties back when the air

wings had a mix of Super Hornets and

C-models, but with all Super Hornets

on the boats, all four squadrons now

provide tanking.

‘Originally, we were with CAG-2,

but with our transition and based on

deployment schedules we found a new

home with CAG-9 ‘Team Shogun’ on

the USS John C. Stennis [CVN 74]. We

swapped out with VFA-192 [‘Golden

Dragons’], which is a CAG-2 tenant now.

We returned from deployment in August

2016, having left in January, so it ended

up being a seven-and-a-half-month

deployment. We will deploy again in

roughly three years from now.’

Life at sea

Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9)

operations o cer CDR Brett ‘Ivana’

Holdiman has 2,100 hours on various

Hornet models. Having started out with

VFA-131 ‘Wildcats’  ying the F/A-18C,

he was an instructor at VFA-106 at NAS

Oceana, Virginia, and then with the

The great thing about the ‘Rhino’ is it

has been continually upgraded over the

years. It allows the acquisition world to provide

the fl eet with the latest software

versions, weapons,

and capabilities

CDR Brett Holdiman

FORCE REPORT // WEST COAST STRIKE FIGHTERS

26 March 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

24-29 Lemoore C.indd 26 19/01/2018 11:10