The VA-81 Sunliners
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VF-81 Black Cougar - 1955
VA-81 Black Cougar
Gary Verver
VA-81 Sunliner

VFA-81 Sunliner - 1988
Drawn by Bud Southworth

Patch
  • December 1955 - The Crusader Black Cougar patch was created.
    Crusader Black Cougar patch colors: a light blue background with an outer ring of alternating red and yellow sections, outlined in black; white cloud with black markings; black cougar with white markings and red eyes, mouth and claws; gray knight with black markings; red scarf; red and yellow helmet plume, shield and lance outlined in black; red scroll outlined in black, with yellow lettering.

  • Second Black Cougar Patch is probably during the Skyhawk period, 1959 to 1963. *

  • November 1963 - The Mach Shock Wave patch was created.
    Mach Shock Wave patch colors were: a black background outlined in international orange; international orange mach wave design; orange scroll with black lettering.

  • March 30, 1988 - When VA-81 was redesignated VFA-81 the patch was modified with supersonic aircraft and celestial stars.
    Colors for the upgraded Mach Shock Wave patch: a dark blue background outlined in orange; orange scrolls with black lettering; silver stars and stylized aircraft; gold aircraft contrails and an orange mach wave design.

  • * The patch with the panther was kept into 1963 with the orange one being adapted after return from the Med cruise. I guess "shock wave" is a more appropriate description but we referred to it as a "Supersonic Nothing"! Orange reflective tape lent itself nicely to being cut into that simple shape. Said cutouts then began to turn up "Anytime - Any place" including the seats in the women's room at the O club, doors, other readyrooms, etc.
    Comments from Bob Gohr.

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Handle
  • 1955 - 1963 -- Crusaders
  • 1963 - present -- Sunliners
  • 1971 - present "Zappers" - an unofficial slang nickname.
  • 2001 - "Liners" - an unofficial slang nickname.
  • Squadron Motto: 1963 to present -- "Anytime, Anyplace."

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Heritage
  • July 1, 1955 - Attack Squadron SIXTY SIX (VA-66) established.
  • July 1, 1955 (the same day VA-66 was established) - VA-66 redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTY ONE (VF-81).
  • July 1, 1959 - VF-81 redesignated Attack Squadron EIGHTY ONE (VA-81).
  • February 4, 1988 - VA-81 redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY ONE (VFA-81).

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • July 1, 1955 - - - - - - Naval Air Station Oceana
  • May 1, 1966- - - - - - - Naval Air Station Cecil Field
  • 199? - - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Oceana

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • July 1, 1955 - - - - - - O - - - - - ATG-182
  • November 1956- - - - - - R - - - - - CVG-17
  • December 1956 - - - - - O/AN*- - - - ATG-182
  • March 15, 1958 - - - - - AM- - - - - ATG-181
  • August 8, 1958 - - - - - AJ- - - - - CVG-8/CVW-8†
  • August 25, 1968- - - - - AB- - - - - CVW-1
  • March 2, 1970- - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE
  • June 1, 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - COMLATWING 1
  • August 1, 1970 - - - - - AA- - - - - CVW-17
  • * July 1, 1957 the tail code was changed from O to AN.
  • † December 20 1963 CVG-8 was redesignated CVW-8 when Carrier Air Groups (CVG) were redesignated Carrier Air Wings (CVW).

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 07-02-56 to 12-30-56 - - ATG-181 - CVA 42 - F9F-8 -- - Mediterranean
  • 01-21-57 to 07-27-57 - - ATG-182 - CVA 39 - F9F-8/8B - Mediterranean
  • 05-09-58 to 08-08-58 - - ATG-181 - CVA 11 - F9F-8 -- - NorLant
  • 01-28-60 to 08-31-60 - - CVG-8 - - CVA 59 - A4D-2 -- - Mediterranean
  • 02-09-61 to 08-25-61 - - CVG-8 - - CVA 59 - A4D-2 -- - Mediterranean
  • 08-03-62 to 03-02-63 - - CVG-8 - - CVA 59 - A4D-2 -- - Mediterranean
  • 07-10-64 to 03-13-65 - - CVW-8 - - CVA 59 - A-4E - - - Mediterranean
  • 08-24-65 to 04-07-66 - - CVW-8 - - CVA 59 - A-4E - - - Mediterranean
  • 09-29-66 to 05-20-67 - - CVW-8 - - CVA 38 - A-4E - - - Mediterranean
  • 11-15-67 to 08-04-68 - - CVW-8 - - CVA 38 - A-4C - - - Mediterranean
  • 04-05-69 to 12-21-69 - - CVW-1 - - CVA 67 - A-4C - - - Mediterranean
  • 01-05-71 to 07-02-71 - - CVW-17- - CVA 59 - A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 09-22-72 to 07-06-73 - - CVW-17- - CVA 59 - A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 03-11-74 to 09-11-74 - - CVW-17- - CVA 59 - A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 03-05-75 to 09-22-75 - - CVW-17- - CV 59 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 04-04-78 to 10-26-78 - - CVW-17- - CV 59 -- A-7E - - - Med/NorLant
  • 11-27-79 to 05-07-80 - - CVW-17- - CV 59 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 03-02-81 to 09-15-81 - - CVW-17- - CV 59 -- A-7E - - - Med/NorLant
  • 05-08-82 to 11-16-82 - - CVW-17- - CV 59 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 04-02-84 to 10-20-84 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 08-26-85 to 04-16-86 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 05-05-87 to 11-17-87 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- A-7E - - - Mediterranean
  • 08-07-90 to 03-28-91 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean
  • 05-06-92 to 11-06-92 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean
  • 1994 - - CVW-17- - CV 60 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean
  • 1996 - - CVW-17- - CVN 65 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean
  • 06-10-98 - - CVW-17- - CVN 69 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean
  • 06-21-00 - - CVW-17- - CVN 73 -- F/A-18C -- Mediterranean

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
    Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • July 1, 1955 - - - - - - CDR Merle M. Hershey
  • July 30 1957 - - - - - - LCDR Robert Godman
  • August 15, 1958- - - - - LCDR J. M. Scarborough
  • October 17, 1958 - - - - CDR Lawrence Heyworth, Jr.
  • November 4, 1959 - - - - CDR William P. Kiser
  • November 9, 1960 - - - - CDR Richard E. Rumble
  • October 31, 1961 - - - - CDR John N. Longfield
  • December 1, 1962 - - - - CDR Robert B. Gohr
  • October 1, 1963- - - - - CDR Grover K. Gregory
  • October 6, 1964- - - - - CDR Nicholas A. Castruccio
  • October 16, 1965 - - - - CDR Burton H. Sheperd
  • September 20, 1966 - - - CDR Edward A. Grunwald
  • September 19, 1967 - - - CDR Melville D. Cunningham
  • September 25, 1968 - - - CDR Lloyd M. Westphal
  • July 24, 1969- - - - - - CDR John J. Lahr
  • June 12, 1970- - - - - - CDR Richard J. Damico
  • April 14, 1971 - - - - - CDR Thomas C. Watson, Jr.
  • February 18, 1972- - - - CDR Jerry O. Tuttle
  • February 18, 1973- - - - CDR Kenneth A. Dickerson
  • February 21, 1974- - - - CDR Ralph E. Whitby
  • March 3, 1975- - - - - - CDR Robert V. Sallada
  • June 3, 1976 - - - - - - CDR Richard Birtwistle III
  • June 30, 1977- - - - - - CDR Jerry O. Yarborough
  • July 14, 1978- - - - - - CDR Philip H. Jacobs
  • July 26, 1979- - - - - - CDR James E. Killian
  • December 18, 1980- - - - CDR George J. Webb, Jr.
  • March 9, 1982- - - - - - CDR William C. Miller III
  • September 1983 - - - - - CDR William E. Beaty III
  • March 7, 1985- - - - - - CDR Kenneth C. Cech
  • July 2, 1986 - - - - - - CDR Jay M. Munninghoff
  • February 4 1988- - - - - CDR William N. Deaver, Jr.
  • May 11, 1989 - - - - - - CDR Gerald L. Hoewing
  • August 29, 1990- - - - - CDR Michael T. Anderson
  • September 4, 1991- - - - CDR W. L. McKee
  • November 12, 1992- - - - CDR P. B. O'Keefe
  • December 15, 1993- - - - CDR D. R. Moore, Jr
  • March 10, 1995 - - - - - CDR Mark I. Fox
  • November 4, 1996 - - - - CDR Kenneth C. Albright
  • March 8, 1998- - - - - - CDR Jack W. Holt
  • May 6, 1999- - - - - - - CDR Douglas M. Andre
  • September 7, 2000- - - - CDR Joseph M. Clarkson

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Events
  • July 1, 1955:
    Attack Squadron SIXTY SIX (VA-66) established at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Later that same day, July 1, 1955, VA-66 was redesignated Fighter Squadron EIGHTY ONE (VF-81) and took the Crusaders moniker. The VF-81 Crusaders were assigned the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar which sported the orange "Supersonic Nothing" on the vertical stabilizer.

  • November through December 1956:
    VF-81 Crusaders embarked on United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA 42, deployed off the coast of Spain during the Suez Canal crisis.

  • January 21 through July 27, 1957:
    The VF-81 Crusaders deployed to the Mediterranean with ATG-182 on United States Ship Lake Champlain CVA 39. Lake Champlain and VA-81 operated off the coast of Lebanon during the Jordan crisis.

  • May 9 through August 8, 1958:
    The VF-81 Crusaders deployed to the North Atlantic with ATG-181 on United States Ship CVA 11.

  • March 4, 1959:
    VF-81 Crusaders are assigned the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk.

  • July 1, 1959:
    VF-81 Crusaders with the Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk were redesignated Attack Squadron EIGHTY ONE (VA-81) Crusaders.

  • October 16, 1959:
    LTJG Lawrence Gerald Stable flying BuNo145006 disappeared at sea.

  • January 28 through August 31, 1960:
    The VA-81 Crusaders flying the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59.

  • February 9 through August 25, 1961:
    The VA-81 Crusaders flying the A-4B Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59.

  • October 1961 through February 1962:
    VA-81 Det 45 deployed to the North Atlantic embarked aboard United States Ship Essex CVS 9. The detachment was part of CVSG-56, and with it's A-4B Skyhawks employing Sidewinder missiles, provided air cover for antisubmarine units embarked aboard Essex. The detachment was the first jet unit to function as part of an antisubmarine killer force.

  • August 3, 1962 through March 2, 1963:
    The VA-81 Crusaders flying the A-4B Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59.

  • April 3, 1963:
    The VA-81 Crusaders were renamed the Sunliners. The Sunliners were assigned the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk.

  • July 10, 1964 through March 13, 1965:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4E Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59.

  • August 24, 1965 through April 7, 1966:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4E Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59.

  • May 1, 1966:
    The VA-81 Sunliners moved to Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

  • September 29, 1966 through May 20, 1967:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4E Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Shangri La CVA 38.

  • September 29, 1966 through May 20, 1967:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4E Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Shangri La CVA 38.

  • September 1967:
    The Sunliners were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk.

  • November 15, 1967 through August 4, 1968:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4C Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVG-8 on United States Ship Shangri La CVA 38.

  • April 5 through December 21, 1969:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-4C Skyhawk deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-1 on United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA 67. In September Kennedy and her air group were ordered to operate off the coast of Libya following a September 1, 1969 coup that overthrew Libya's monarchy.

  • February 1970:
    The Sunliners were awarded the Navy Battle "E" for the East Coast A-4 Skyhawk squadrons and were selected to be the first East Coast squadron to receive the Navy's newest attack aircraft.

  • May 1970:
    The Sunliners were assigned the Vought A-7E Corsair II.

  • January 5 through July 2, 1971:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the Vought A-7E Corsair II deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-17 on United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA 67.

  • September 22 1972 through July 6, 1973:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-7E Corsair II deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-17 on United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA 67. December 2 through 5, 1972 the Sunliners conducted cross-deck operations with the British carrier HMS Ark Royal.

  • March 11 through September 11, 1974:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-7E Corsair deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-17 on United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59. The air group operated in the vicinity of Cyprus following a coup in that country and its invasion by Turkish forces. Surveillance and cover missions were flown by the Sunliners during the crisis.

  • Fall 1974:
    The VA-81 Sunliners had won three Light Attack Wing ONE bombing derbies and were awarded a second Navy Battle "E".

  • March 5 through September 22, 1975:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-7E Corsair deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-17 on United States Ship Forrestal CV 59.

  • April 4 through October 26, 1978:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-7E Corsair deployed to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic with CVW-17 on United States Ship Forrestal CV 59.

  • November 27, 1979 through May 7, 1980:
    The VA-81 Sunliners flying the A-7E Corsair deployed to the Mediterranean with CVW-17 on United States Ship Forrestal CV 59.

  • May through June 1981:
    Embarked in United States Ship Forrestal CVA-59, VA-81 operated in the eastern Mediterranean following Israeli reprisal raids against Syrian missile batteries located in southern Lebanon.

  • August 1981:
    The squadron participated a Freedom of Navigation Exercise in the Gulf of Sidra. During this exercise two F-14 Tomcats from Nimitz CVN 68 shot down two Libyan SU-22 Fitters on 18 August. Tensions escalated and VA-81 flew reconnaissance missions over potentially hostile Libyan ships.

  • March 24, 1986:
    Following a Libyan SA-5 missile firing against United States naval aircraft operating in the Gulf of Sidra during a Freedom of Navigation exercise, VA-81 aircraft participated in a retaliatory strike against the missile site at Surt, Libya. Squadron aircraft acted as the decoy group for VA-83's HARM strike against the Libyan missile radar site.

  • 1987:
    In the last year of Corsair II operation, the VA-81 Sunliners were awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle "E".

  • February 4, 1988:
    VA-81 was redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-ONE (VFA-81) Sunliners.

  • March 30, 1988:
    Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-ONE Sunliners were assigned the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet.
    Sunliner Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Instrument Pannel.
    USN Photograph

  • August 7, 1990 to January 17, 1991:
    VFA-81 Sunliners and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed on the United States Ship Saratoga CV-60 to the Mediterranean. VFA-81 operating the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet participated in Operation Desert Shield. Desert Shield was the American and Allied force build-up to counter a threatened Saudi Arabian invasion by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force withdrawal from Kuwait.

  • January 17, through March 27, 1991:
    VFA-81 participated in Operation Desert Storm. The Sunliners were one of the first carrier based squadrons to fly combat missions during Desert Storm. While on a bombing mission over Iraq two Sunliners scored two head-on MIG kills and then proceeded to hit their ground targets. These were the only Navy MIG kills during Operation Desert Storm. VFA-81 lost Lieutenant Commander Michael Scott Speicher during the first hours of Desert Storm on January 17, 1991. Commander Speicher failed to return from the first carrier strike into Iraq. VFA-81 returned to Naval Air Station Cecil Field on 27 March 1991.

  • May 6 through November 6, 1992:
    The Sunliners s and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed to the Mediterranean onboard the United States Ship Saratoga (CV-60) to participate in several NATO exercises.

  • 1994:
    VFA-81 Sunliners and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed to the Mediterranean onboard the United States Ship Saratoga (CV-60). The squadron participated in Operations DENY FLIGHT and PROVIDE PROMISE supporting United Nations (UN) resolutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the last deployment of the Sarah. This was VFA-81's third Hornet cruise, and the first Atlantic Fleet deployment with the AMRAAM missile.

  • 1996:
    VFA-81 Sunliners and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed to the Mediterranean onboard the United States Ship Enterprise CVN-65. VFA-81 participated in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and made the first carrier port call to Bahrain. This was VFA-81's 26th Mediterranean Cruise.

  • June 10, 1998:
    VFA-81 Sunliners and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed to the Mediterranean onboard the United States Ship Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 to operate in the Operation SOUTHERN WATCH arena. This was the first East Coast cruise using the new Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), a long range glide cluster bomb.

  • September 1999:
    The Sunliners deployed to Naval Air Station Boca Chica at Key West, Florida for Inter-deployment Training Cycle training with the strike fighter advanced readiness program (SFARP) Air-to-Air Det. The Sunliners flew mock combat against Air Force and VFC-12 bandits.

  • October 1999:
    The Air-to-Ground portion continued at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada. At Fallon the Sunliners were able to add to lessons learned at Key West as well as to put steel on the desert.

  • December 1999:
    The Sunliners deployed on the United States Ship George Washington CVN-73 for carrier qualifications, cyclic operations, and the initial ship/air wing integration.

  • Winter 2000:
    The VFA-81 Sunliners deployed to Naval Air Station Fallon to participate in a pre-deployment CVW-17 Air Wing work-up.

  • June 21 through December 22, 2000:
    VFA-81 Sunliners and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), deployed aboard United States Ship George Washington CVN-73 with the FA-18 Hornet for a Mediterranean cruise.
    • June 28 and 29, 2000:
      The Sunliners participated in two days of airwing strikes on the Vieques Island Puerto Rico target range.
    • July 5, 2000:
      The George Washington arrived in the Straits of Gibraltar. A few days of Mediterranean operations followed enroute to the Adriatic Sea to support operations in that theater.

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Awards
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • NAVY E:
    • July 1, 1968 to December 31, 1969
    • January 1, 1973 to June 30, 1974
    • January 1, 1987 to December 31, 1987

  • Navy Unit Commendation:
    • October 10, 1985 to October 11, 1985
    • March 23, 1986 to March 29, 1986
    • January 17, 1991 to February 28, 1991

  • Military Unit Commendation:
    • February 28, 1979 to May 7, 1980

  • NEM:
    • September 5, 1982 to September 10, 1982
    • October 13, 1982 to November 5, 1982
    • January 20, 1986 to March 29, 1986

  • SASM:
    • August 22, 1990 to September 21, 1990
    • October 23, 1990 to December 9, 1990
    • January 6, 1991 to March 11, 1991

  • KLM:
    • January 17, 1991 to February 28, 1991

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Sources:
  • Harry S. Gann
  • Bob Gohr

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