The VA-83 Rampagers Patch Handle Heritage Home Ports Air Wings Deployments Aircraft Unit C.O.s Events Awards Squadron Photograph Album Squadron Off-Duty Album The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit information. The SDO List. The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster. AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association. VF-916 Roaring Bull - about 1950 Courtesy Doctor Robert W. Driscoll VA-83 Attack Eagle - 1955 Courtesy Doctor Robert W. Driscoll VA-83 Rampager - 1957 Courtesy of Doctor Robert W. Driscoll VA-83 Rampagers Courtesy Gary Verver VA-83 Rampagers Courtesy Davidson Patch No additional info yet Back to Table of Contents Handle Rampagers, 1957 to present Back to Table of Contents Heritage February 1, 1951, Reserve Fighter Squadron NINE HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VF-916) was called to active duty. February 4, 1953, VF-916 was redesignated as Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VF-83). July 1, 1955, VF-83 was redesignated as Attack Squadron EIGHTY THREE (VA-83). March 3, 1988, VA-83 was redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY THREE (VFA-83). Back to Table of Contents Home Ports Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location: February 1, 1951 - - - - - Naval Air Station Jacksonville. September 1951 - - - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Oceana. June 15, 1966- - - - - - - Naval Air Station Cecil Field. Back to Table of Contents Air Wings Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing April 1951 - - - - - - - - - - E- - - - - - CVG-8 October 15, 1957 - - - - - - - AP - - - - - ATG-201 November 18, 1958- - - - - - - AJ - - - - - CVG-8 / CVW-8 August 25, 1968- - - - - - - - AB - - - - - CVW-1 June 1, 1970- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMLATWING 1 August 1, 1970 - - - - - - - - AA - - - - - CVW-17 March 2, 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - COMFAIRJACKSONVILLE. Back to Table of Contents Deployments Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations: 04-26-53 to 10-21-53 - CVG-8 - CVA 43 - - F9F-5 - - Mediterranean 03-12-56 to 09-05-56 - CVG-8 - CVA 11 - - F7U-3M- - Mediterranean 02-02-58 to 11-17-58 - ATG-201-CVA 9- - - A4D-2 - - Mediterranean/IO/WestPac 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-2N- - Mediterranean 08-03-62 to 03-02-63 - CVG-8 - CVA 59 - - A-4C- - - 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- - - Mediterranean/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- - - Mediterranean/NorLant 06-08-82 to 11-16-82 - CVW-17 - CV 59 - - A-7E- - - Mediterranean/lO 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/IO 06-05-87 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/Red Sea Back to Table of Contents Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: February 1951 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vought F4U-4 Corsair I December 1951 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F9F-2 Panther * May 1952- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat September 1952- - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F9F-5 Panther * August 1954 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vought F7U-3 Cutlass April 1955 - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - Vought F7U-3M Cutlass March 1957- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk ** December 15, 1957 - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk ** September 14, 1960- - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk ** May 1963- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A-4E Skyhawk August 1967 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas A-4C Skyhawk June 19,1970- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vought A-7E Corsair II April 25, 1988- - - - - - - - - - - - - Boeing F/A-18C Hornet * The F9F through the F9F-5 Panther have straight wings; The F9F-6 through the F9F-8 Cougar have swept wings. ** November 30, 1962 The A4D-1 designation was changed to A-4A The A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit Back to Table of Contents Commanding Officers Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer April 1950- - - - - - - - - LCDR A. J. Fecke December 16, 1952 - - - - - CDR W. R. Sisley December 1953 - - - - - - - CDR R. J. Swanson January 28, 1955- - - - - - CDR H. E. Vita September 12, 1956- - - - - CDR James L. Holloway III December 5, 1958- - - - - - CDR Albert H. Vito, Jr. January 15, 1960- - - - - - CDR David S. Stear December 2, 1960- - - - - - CDR James W. Nance December 15, 1961 - - - - - CDR James Spargo December 10, 1962 - - - - - CDR A. H. Cummings December 20, 1963 - - - - - CDR R. G. Thomson, Jr. December 19, 1964 - - - - - CDR F. B. Bromley December 7, 1965- - - - - - CDR E. S. Carver December 8, 1966- - - - - - CDR G. F. Brummitt November 1967 - - - - - - - CDR D. M. Trimble September 1968- - - - - - - CDR F. J. Almberg September 2, 1969 - - - - - CDR Theodore C. Casimes January 4, 1971 - - - - - - CDR William M. Shewchuk January 12, 1972- - - - - - CDR D. B. Gilbert January 3, 1973 - - - - - - CDR J. E. Craig, Jr. February 14, 1974 - - - - - CDR G. A. Appelhof May 15, 1975- - - - - - - - CDR A. H. Henderson August 5, 1976- - - - - - - CDR John M. Waples November 27, 1977 - - - - - CDR Robert J. Naughton February 28, 1979 - - - - - CDR R. E. Wolf May 29, 1980- - - - - - - - CDR Austin F.. Chapman January 21, 1982- - - - - - CDR Douglas J. Bradt April 28, 1983- - - - - - - CDR W. E. Franson September 10, 1984- - - - - CDR S. F. Bloyer April 24, 1986- - - - - - - CDR R. J. Nibe September 28, 1987- - - - - CDR Terry A. Miller June 3, 1988- - - - - - - - CDR Michael W. Longworth November 30, 1989 - - - - - CDR Dennis M. Gillespie Back to Table of Contents Events February 1, 1951: Reserve Fighter Squadron NINE HUNDRED SIXTEEN (VF-916) was called to active duty. VF-916 was assigned the Vought F4U-4 Corsair I. December 1951: VF-916 was assigned the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. May 1952: VF-916 was assigned the Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat. September 1952: VF-916 was assigned the Grumman F9F-5 Panther. February 4, 1953: Reserve Fighter Squadron NINE HUNDRED SIXTEEN was redesignated as Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VF-83). August 1954: Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-THREE was assigned the Vought F7U-3 Cutlass. July 1, 1955: Fighter Squadron EIGHTY-THREE (VF-83) was redesignated as Attack Squadron EIGHTY THREE (VA-83). March 1957: Attack Squadron EIGHTY THREE was assigned the Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk. On December 15, 1957 the Rampager were operational in the new A4D-2 Skyhawks. July through August 1958: During civil unrest in Lebanon, VA-83 operated from United States Ship Essex CVA 9. VA-83 flew missions during the U.S. Marine Corps landings in Lebanon. During the squadron's more than 500 flights, two of its Skyhawks were hit by small arms fire during road reconnaissance missions. August through September 1958: VA-83 operated from United States Ship Essex CVA 9, conducting flight operations while operating in the Taiwan Straits. VA-83 flew missions during the the People's Republic of China shelling assault on Quemoy Islands held by the Republic of China. September 14, 1960: The Rampagers were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk. February 7, 1963: A-4C Skyhawk BuNo.147805, flown by Lt(jg) Jay Blanke crashed and both pilot and aircraft were lost. According to the Forrestal Association newsletter Spot Sheet, he crashed into the water off the stern of the ship. The report states that pieces of the aircraft, uniform and human flesh were recovered. May 1963: The Rampagers were assigned the Douglas A-4E Skyhawk. August 1967: The Rampagers were assigned the Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk. June 19,1970: Attack Squadron EIGHTY THREE was assigned the Vought A-7E Corsair II. August 18, 1981: VA-83 participated in a Freedom of Navigation Mission in the Gulf of Sidra; two F-14 Tomcats from the United States Ship Nimitz CVN 68 shot down two Libyan SU-22 Fitters. March 24, 1986: After Libya fired a SA-5 missile at United States naval aircraft operating in the Gulf of Sidra, VA-83 aircraft participated in a retaliatory strike against the missile site at Surt, Libya. March 3, 1988: Attack Squadron EIGHTY THREE was redesignated as Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY THREE (VFA-83). April 25, 1988: Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHTY THREE was assigned the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet. Back to Table of Contents Awards Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates: NAVE 07-01-60 to 06-30-61 07-01-61 to 06-30-62 01-01-90 to 12-31-90 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 07-16-58 to 08-01-58 08-11-58 to 08-20-58 09-16-58 to 09-27-58 NEM 09-05-82 to 09-10-82 10-13-82 to 11-05-82 01-20-86 to 03-29-86 Navy Unit Commendation 10-10-85 to 10-11-85 03-23-86 to 03-29-86 01-17-91 to 02-28-91 SASM 08-22-90 to 09-21-90 10-23-90 to 12-09-90 01-06-91 to 03-11-91 KLM 01-17-91 to 02-28-91 Back to Table of Contents Sources: Doctor Robert W. Driscoll, M.D. Harry S. Gann Terry McGinnis Mr. R. L. Smith Joe Turpen Return To The Navy Units Page